I have Mac Sierra, the Airport Extreme model A 1408, my modem is ARRIS ™ 1602. I also have the Airport Express as my extender.
I have a wifi Honeywell thermostat Vision Pro 8000, model TH8321wf1001, and other Apple devices, which I presume will all have to learn the "new network"
iMac, Mac OS X (10.6.8), canon mx330
may I change the network name to something more generic
Yes, simply use AirPort Utility to edit the Wireless Network Name box. In the example below, you can see that the name of my wireless network is TWNDB.
Tip....avoid using long names and special characters like an apostrophe, asterisk, etc. in the name. Use only normal letters and numbers.
without causing problems with my other devices?
This all depends on what you mean by "problems". None of your wireless devices will be able to connect....until....they select the newly named network. They may also need to enter the wireless password again.
This is not difficult, but if you have 5-6 devices, it might take 15-20 minutes or so to get everything set up to work with the new network.
The AirPort Express will need to be reset back to factory settings and then set up again to connect to your "new" network.
I meant will my other devices be able to find the "new network, which as I understand, I will have to let it find it by entering the new name
Devices will not automatically "find" the network. If you have a Mac, for example, you will have to click on the WiFi menu at the top of the Mac's screen to "see" the new network. Then, click directly on the name of the network to select it. If you are asked to enter the password, type it in.
Is it only the Express that will need to be reset,
Yes, since you will have already edited the settings on the AirPort Extreme.
how would I do it with the Express?
With the Express powered on, hold in the reset button on the Express for 7-8 seconds and release. Allow a minute for the Express to restart to a slow, blinking amber light status.
Click the WiFi menu at the top of the Mac's screen and click directly on AirPort Express under the listing of New AirPort Base Station.
When you click on AirPort Express, that will activate the setup "wizard" to help you with the setup....like the example below. Follow the prompts to assign a device name to the Express.....(you can use the same device name that you used before).....then click Next and the wizard will set up things automatically.
If you just set up a new Wi-Fi network with this equipment, then yes, all of your wireless devices will need to be configured to join this network.
By default, the wireless network created by the AirPort base stations, is NOT "hidden."
may I change the network name to something more generic without causing problems with my other devices?
It is always hard to know what people mean.. network name can refer to the name of the airport, or the wireless network..
It is fairly simple to change the actual name of the router..
Jump into your airport utility, click the icon for the Extreme or express which you are changing the name. Click edit on the summary page.. the first screen to pop up is this one.
Change the base station name here.. it should work without affecting anything on the network.. but if it does just reboot stuff..
If you want to change wireless name.. that will obviously effect everything.. all clients will have the wrong name including the Express extending the Extreme so you will need to connect to everything post the change and fix things.
Thank you so much, Bob. I agree with you, which is why I wanted to "broadcast" this network, seeing Apple's instruction on my iPad, but I was intimidated by some instructions to "connect ethernet cable to router, etc, put router off, etc etc." The simple instruction of " how to hide your Airport Extreme's Wireless Network " helped. I simply unchecked the "Create a Closed Network" checkbox. I was hesitant to do so since someone else said then I would have to configure my other devices, but they actually all joined the broadcast network now!
I do have a question though - may I change the network name to something more generic without causing problems with my other devices? and how and where would I do that?
thanks for the quick reply
Thank you for the detailed and quick reply. By "problems" I meant will my other devices be able to find the "new network, which as I understand, I will have to let it find it by entering the new name. Is it only the Express that will need to be reset, and not the Extreme, and how would I do it with the Express?
Thank you, your answers are very clear, sorry if they bring up more questions in my head!
Thank you for the concise instructions! I have a stupid question now, then I shall be done--- I presume the Airport Express is the small square that has the plug into the wall outlet?
These all sound somewhat intimidating at the moment, but will print out your instructions to keep on file... to try another time.
Thank you so much Bob!!
Yes, I meant wireless network name, which as you said, will have to change everything.
thanks!
I presume the Airport Express is the small square that has the plug into the wall outlet?
An older Express looks like this:
The current version of the Express looks like this:
Thank you! I am grateful and done ....🙂
Marietta
For what its worth, Apple does not recommend that you "hide" your network.
Recommended settings for Wi-Fi routers and access points - Apple Support
The network is never really "hidden" anyway, since there are any number of free utilities that will display the network name in seconds. So, it will be very easy and quick for anyone who wants to see your network to do so.
My next door neighbor tried this, thinking that it improved the security of his network, but I showed him his so called "hidden" network on my Mac a few minutes later. And, I am a lousy hacker.
How do I make a hidden network visible?
