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I setup the old Buffalo Air Station today to replace the NetGear router I fried yesterday but can't get the AirPort Express to connect. Both show up when I click the AirPort icon in the menu bar as Apple Network e40b41 & Apple Network e462cd.
AirPort Setup Assistant tells me the Airport card is not configured. If I click Okay it say an error has occurred communicating with the card. When I click Okay to that it quits. This shouldn't be an issue since the Mac mini doesn't use the AirPort card to get on line. If I skip it & try to setup a new network it finds nothing to connect to. If I try to change an existing account I can't because it doesn't find anything connected.
The Apple Networks mentioned show up under the Network Names in the AirPort Network Preferences. It shows the wireless router, the 2 AirPort Expresses & the Westell modem. It makes no difference if "Ask to join new networks" is checked or not.
I've tried everything I know to do & still can't get these things to work. Could the problem be with the Buffalo router?
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I would reset the Buff router to factory defaults by leaving the power hooked up and pressing the red reset button (NOT the AOSS button, if any) for 15 seconds and then releasing. After the full reboot, about a minute or so, you can log in via ethernet using your browser and change whatever settings you need to.
Its default LAN IP will most likely be 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1. For log-in, the default user ID is "root" and password is left empty. It currently may be hiding its SSID, which means you won't see it in the list of available connections. If another router, perhaps built into the modem, is supplying the DHCP and NAT, then you need to disable those functions on the Buff, which turns it from a router into a Wi-Fi hub/switch.
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> Could the problem be with the Buffalo router?
It's not clear. Too much information, not enough specificity.
What's the topology of the network you're trying to setup? It sounds like you have a cable or DSL modem and are connecting the Buffalo router to that and then are connecting two Airport Express routers to that...?
Let's start with the simplest part of the problem: Does the Buffalo router work to connect you to the Internet via Ethernet?
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>the Mac mini doesn't use the AirPort card to get on line.
So you have an ethernet cord going from the Mini to the Buff? And then you want the AE to pick up the Buff's signal and vice-versa, yes? If the Mini doesn't use the Airport card, can you take it out and see if you can connect? Better yet, first, check your internet settings and make sure they're set to Ethernet (not AirPort) -- that is, IF you're on a wired connection. It probably wouldn't hurt to wipe out all your internet settings and start fresh with a new set.
Sounds like the card is trying to connect with the wireless network instead of the wired router doing the work. Although this shouldn't be a problem if everything is configured correctly...assuming all the equipment and settings are kosher.
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I have BellSouth (ATT) DSL with a Westell modem.
The modem is connected to the Buffalo router. It's been restored to factory defaults.
The Mac mini is connected to the internet via ethernet.
It also says it's connected via AirPort to the Buffalo with a different IP address. If I turn AirPort off the APXpresses don't show up.
I can't take the AP out of the mini.
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I had no problem getting on the Internet; it was not having music in the kitchen & living room that was making this a priority. The AirPort Expresses worked flawlessly with the NetGear router & required very little effort on my part to set up & I was expecting (or hoping) the same with the Buffalo Air Station.
After resetting both APXs & the Buffalo several times while trying out new profiles finally allowed both to show up in AirPort Utility. I was able to configure both & now have music in the kitchen & living room again.
I have no idea what I did differently this last time around other than hard resetting both AirPort Expresses after each new profile.
The MacBook finds the network, music is streaming to opposite ends of the house, & all is well again.
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Magic, that old magic.......
