Any Apple experts in the house? Specifically Apple Airport?

[Saab2000]

Having trouble with the connection with my Apple Airport device. It loses the internet signal when plugged into my router.

The graphic display of the internet to my device (using the Airport Utilities application on my MacBook Air) goes amber and dies when I connect to the network from the device. When I connect to my router's network, it's fine. I dug the device out of storage in order to try to increase the range of my signal, which dies quickly with distance and a couple thin walls. The Apple Airport worked well in my old house in MI.

When I plugged it in and connected to it, it needed to be updated and it did that just fine, so that's not an issue. The device is alive but doesn't seem to accept the internet signal from my router. I believe the cabling is correct.

I'm more than happy to continue this conversation via PM if anyone has any suggestions.

[summilux]

Some of the older Airport devices have trouble working with newer home routers. This happened to my previous UFO shaped Airports and plug shaped Airport Expresses. My "tower" Airport works. Built in obsolescence I guess.

[j44ke]

So by router, do you mean modem? And that your modem also has a built-in router that creates an WIFI connection so devices can connect to the internet?

The Airport is an Airport Express (small square) or an Airport Extreme (large flat or large tall)?

The Airport is connected to the modem/router by an ethernet cable? Or did you use Airport Utility to connect the Airport to your modem/router's WIFI connection in order to extend your network?

[Saab2000]

So by router, do you mean modem? And that your modem also has a built-in router that creates an WIFI connection so devices can connect to the internet?

The Airport is an Airport Express (small square) or an Airport Extreme (large flat or large tall)?

The Airport is connected to the modem/router by an ethernet cable? Or did you use Airport Utility to connect the Airport to your modem/router's WIFI connection in order to extend your network?

Yes, I believe I mean modem. It's the piece I got my my ISP. I connect the Airport, and yes, I believe it's the Airport Express and is 3 or 4 years old, with an ethernet cable.

It is connected to the modem with an ethernet cable and it shows up on Airport Utility. When I'm on the network from my ISP it shows green lines between the devices. When I connect to the network from my Airport Express, it goes amber and shows no internet connectivity. So the internet signal is not going from the modem to the Airport Express. That's how I'm seeing it.

[spopepro]

So I think this is tough to diagnose over the interwebs. When you say "goes amber and dies" what do you mean by "dies" exactly? Are there any other wired or wireless devices as part of the network? How are you supposed to connect to your ISP? (Bridged, DHCP, PPPoE... ?)

Unless the airport itself is broken, I don't think this is a problem with the airport itself, but with configurations.

[Saab2000]

Unless the airport itself is broken, I don't think this is a problem with the airport itself, but with configurations.

I think this is the issue..... A buddy of mine who is way smarter with computers than I am said the same thing. Alas, he's 350 miles away.

Any suggestions on how to configure properly?

I used this device when I lived in Michigan and put it in storage when I moved to Virginia Beach. I just took it out of the box today to try to enhance my signal strength knowing full well it may or may not work as I desire.

I can built a bike wheel and do a perfect bike build and fly an airplane but I don't know very much at all about computers.

[j44ke]

Sounds like you just connected it and expected it to work. You have to set it up to work by following the procedure to set it up using Airport Utility. Search the internet for "Extend existing network with Airport Express." An Apple instruction sheet will be one of the links. Follow their instructions .

Also unplug the Ethernet cable between the AE and your modem. Leave them separate to do the set up correctly. Once you set up the AE and it is part of your wifi network, you can move it elsewhere in your house so it is actually extending the network. You won't need the Ethernet cable. The connection will be WIFI based.

Since your modem from your IP is already issuing a WIFI signal, the easiest set up is to use that as the base and the AE as an extender of that WIFI signal.