use airport extreme A1354 to provide wired connection

When the AirPort Extreme is configured to "extend" an existing wireless network, the Ethernet ports on the AirPort Extreme are all enabled, so Ethernet devices can be connected to the AirPort that way.

However, the "Ethernet" signal will only be as strong and fast as the wireless "hop" between the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme allows. If the wireless signal must pass through 3-4 walls or a ceiling and a few walls, not much of the signal from the Time Capsule will make it to the AirPort Extreme.

If you locate your laptop or another wireless device at the point where you want to install the AirPort Extreme, are you able to get a good, solid Internet connection that way?

If yes, then something is amiss with your setup, and more troubleshooting will be required to solve the issue.

You mention that you are using Mac OS X (10.7.4) in your tagline. Is that the current operating system that you are using?

If not, what operating system is being used currently on the Mac that will be used to set up the AirPort Extreme?

Do you happen to have an iPhone or iPad handy, in case the Mac will not allow the AirPort Extreme to be configured?

OK, thanks for the information.

Please power off your Time Capsule for a minute and then restart it again and let it run for a full minute.

Locate the AirPort Extreme where it will be needed.

Perform a Factory Default Reset on the AirPort Extreme as follows:

Power off the Extreme...if it is on....for a minute or two

Then, hold in the reset button first, and keep holding it in for an additional 8-10 seconds while you simultaneously plug the power back into the AirPort Extreme. (This is a bit tricky, as you almost have to have 3 hands to do this)

Release the reset button and allow a full minute for the AirPort Extreme to restart to a slow, blinking amber light

On the iPad home screen, tap Settings

Tap WiFi

Look for a setting of Setup a New AirPort Base Station

Tap on AirPort Extreme below that

That will get the utility going. If all is well, the utility will suggest that the AirPort Extreme will be configured to extend the Time Capsule network. Enter a name that you want to call the AirPort Extreme and tap Next.

The utility will set up everything for you. When you see the message of setup complete, tap Done.

The AirPort should now be extending the network and the Ethernet ports will be active to allow a device to connect that way to one of the three LAN <--> Ethernet ports.

Please post on your progress

That's unfortunate, since it indicates that the AirPort Extreme is not functioning correctly.

I asked you to use an iPad for the setup to eliminate the Mac from the process...and the AirPort Extreme is behaving the same way.

I'm afraid that all that you can do is try the complete factory default reset again a few time on the AirPort Extreme and try the setup again a few times to see if that will allow it to extend the network.

Any luck in getting things working?

There is nothing that needs to be done on the Time Capsule that would allow another AirPort to extend the signal, so if the new TC is operating correctly, that part of the network is done.

The only exception might be if you had set up Timed Access controls on the new Time Capsule that would allow....or not allow....a wireless device to connect to the network. Most users do not make use of this feature, but if you have enabled and set up Timed Access, that might not allow the AirPort Extreme to connect to the network depending on how the settings were configured.

Can you clarify on that?

If you have the time and a spare Ethernet cable handy, give this a shot.

Perform a Factory Default Reset on the AirPort Extreme again as before

Restart both the Time Capsule and your Mac

Connect an Ethernet cable....any length will do.....from the Mac to one of the three LAN <--> ports on the AirPort Extreme to see if a wired "umbilical" cord connection will allow the AirPort Extreme to accept the setup correctly.

If it works, move the AirPort Extreme back to the area where is will be needed and power it up.

If it does not work, then it's time to accept the fact that something has gone wrong with the AirPort Extreme.

If you want to try an AirPort Express, buy from an Apple source and you have a 14 day return privilege in case the gremlins are loose on your network.

Let me see if I can help..

I am a great believer in fully manual setups.

If you have another computer running older OS.. up to Mountain Lion is fine or even windows you can load the old 5.6 utility which can be a big help for this.

Anyway please put the TC back as the main router.

When you do the setup.. please make sure all the names are short, no spaces and pure alphanumeric.

And I want you to setup different names for the different bands. So for eg. Base Station name = TCgen5 and wireless names TC24ghz and TC5ghz.

Please set WPA2 personal password that is 8-20 characters pure alphanumeric.

Please set the 2.4ghz channel to 11. (you can use other ones.. but 11 is a good start.. in UK or Europe you can use 13 instead).

So your wireless will look something like this.

Never hide the network.. Radio Mode probably won't exist .. and country will be where you are.. not Australia.

Now on the AE 1354 reset to factory again.

Give it a nice simple name.. AEgen4 would be nice.

Setup the wireless.

This should then work when you update.

I recommend you start in the same room.. so you know the link will work with no bother about signal level.

If you get errors at this point tell us or give screenshot (even better) of what is going on.

Do not use the setup wizard.. although you may need to start that way.. just so you can get to the edit.

I do have a similar setup and I have to say 7.6.4 firmware is terrible.. YMMV but I always have issues.. although I am doing the repeater between TCgen4 and a AEGen4 (same as yours).

It might provide an alternative.. just grab a second hand Gen4 or Gen5 AE and use that for the bridge.. run both on 7.6.1 and it could well work fine.

A secondhand AE is much better and cheaper than newest Express. Better wireless and more useful routing. Gigabit ports.