Why does Airport Utility not support Airport Express A1084?

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Why does Airport Utility not support Airport Express A1084?

Airport Utility 1.3.4 (134.22) on my iPad (iOS 8.1.2 (12B440)) and the version of Airport Utility included with the very latest issued version of OSX on my iMac do not recognize Airport Express model A1084. I can still get on the internet via the AE A1084. Because I cannot configure the AE A1084 I am unable to set password protection on the wifi network or perform other functions.

Is there a fix or work around?

Has Apple abandoned these older AE's (programmed obsolescence), meaning I'll have to buy a new device?

Safari on the iPad has been having problems with web sites, dropping and reloading them - attempts to fix that by resetting network settings resulted in losing access to the AE wifi network. The Airport Express network appears in the "Set up new Airport Base Station" window, but attempts to access it produce the message "The Airport Express named "Apple Network XXXX" cannot be set up by this software."

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)

Posted on Feb 5, 2015 9:27 AM

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Answer 1

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Bob Timmons

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Feb 5, 2015 9:44 AM in response to ggangell

Has Apple abandoned these older AE's

Apple dropped support of the older AirPort models when they introduced the Lion operating system about 3 years ago.

Is there a fix or work around?

You can use AirPort Utility on a Mac running Leopard or Snow Leopard, or a PC with AirPort Utility installed to administer the older A1084 version of the Express.

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Answer 2

ggangell Author

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Feb 6, 2015 6:24 AM in response to Bob Timmons

SO, since Apple has abandoned these older model Airport Expresses, what problems can I anticipate if I revert to Snow Leopard?

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Answer 3

Feb 6, 2015 6:44 AM in response to ggangell

That is a complex question, and would assume that you had Snow Leopard on the Mac at one time. Best to post your question in the support forum for the operating system that you are using now. Click the link and select your current operating system.

Mac OS & System Software

Doing something like this not for the faint of heart, and should be best left to an IT technician. That is going to be a significant expense.

For far less money, and many less headaches trying to revert to an earlier operating system, and knowing that most Express devices only lasted about 5 years, on average, if it were me, I would buy a new Express device or devices and be thrilled that I got about twice as much use as normal from the older A1084 model.

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