“Unplugged all Airport satellites — wifi now works from the Airport Extreme. I guess I will try replugging in the others one at a time.”
Ok, here’s the root idea, with details below: you do have to start with one base station as the hub, the master. Test basic connectivity and range.
Now, some details, sort of psychological:
Networking is a real arcane process. You gotta either know what’s up, or do what the software tells you.
Airport devices are actually easier than other manufacturers, but they are still the least Apple-simple items in the consumer lineup. You have to be ready to reset all of them to factory defaults and start from scratch one airport at a time. It’s also important to know that Apple doesn’t sanction using more than three airport devices on a given network. Multiple base stations (comprising both Extremes and Expresses) should be connected as an atom looks: a nucleus with satellites, as opposed to in a chain or series, which configuration I have found unreliable.
Ok, here’s the root idea, with details below: you do have to start with one base station as the hub, the master. Test basic connectivity and range.
Then plug in and reset ONE Express. When you get that one green-lighted, stop. Then use your network for a few days and see how it feels.
Test network range, speed, and ease of connection with all devices, e.g. taking a computer or phone away from the house, using a different wifi network, then bringin’ ’em home and seeing if they hook back up without you having to kick ’em in the pants. Also, test any peripheral services such as AirTunes — playing audio wirelessly from iTunes and other applications; you gotta know about Airfoil (http://www.rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/)! — and printing to a printer plugged into the Express’ USB port.
Then call me to discuss.
Now, some details, sort of psychological:
Networking is a real arcane process. You gotta either know what’s up, or do what the software tells you.
Airport devices are actually easier than other manufacturers, but they are still the least Apple-simple items in the consumer lineup. You have to be ready to reset all of them to factory defaults and start from scratch one airport at a time. It’s also important to know that Apple doesn’t sanction using more than three airport devices on a given network. Multiple base stations (comprising both Extremes and Expresses) should be connected as an atom looks: a nucleus with satellites, as opposed to in a chain or series, which configuration I have found unreliable.
The most crucial recommendation I can make about configuring a wifi network is to have patience, about 3 or 4 hours worth on your first try with multiple base stations. You’ll get it, you just have to turn the puzzle pieces around a couple of times.
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