Airport Express

What's the problem with it?

M

Hi Marius,

Surprise, Surprise, My son finally choose to buy a MacBook over a cheaper priced, windows based laptop! I knew he'd come back to Mac. Anyway we also bought an Airport Express, so we could wireless print, me from my iMac and he from his MacBook. Now as you know i never had any problems with the wireless internet, we have a MSI network already in place and the iMac and MacBook joined it seamlessly, but i just can not get the Airport express to join it. We reset it, the mac finds it, we make all the settings and then after it restarts neither computer can find the Aiport Express! I think the MSI uses 40 bit WEP encoding, we put the $ sign in front of password --- but still nothing ---

Hi Michelle,

The AirPort Express uses WDS (wireless distribution standard) when extending the range of a wireless network. Not all wireless routers use the WDS protocol and some only work with their own branded equipment.

Also check out the Tech Specs on the Apple AirPort Express page which states that the AirPort Express only supports "WPA-Personal" when joining an existing network.

For the record there are known issues with WDS between routers from different manufacturers. This is not to say that it can't be done, just that even if it can be done you may run into major difficulties.

In my opinion probably the easiest solution would be to replace the MSI with the AirPort Express and just use that as your main router.

can i create a separate network? As i have to keep the MSI for what is was originally installed for(tv-satelite)

Normally yes (but use different wireless channels to avoid interference). However I'm not familiar with your setup so I can't confirm for sure.

I think i am begining to have a love / hate relationship with "wireless"

I managed to connect to the internet via airport express, but still can not print!! But with this setup the MSI was completly disconnected so i created more problems than i solved ie no satelite AND no printer versus no printer only

I think it would be wiser to run two separate networks in this case.

I don't seem to have enough holes in the modem!!!

I mean one on the MSI and another on the Airport Express ;)

answer is still the same, one onvol modem, one pc which needs to connect either by ethenet or usb and then an MSI and Airport express. Three plugs, 2 holes! Though i do know it if possible to make the internet go into the MSI and then on to the PC and connect via usb, Thats the way it was when it was first set up, but when i dissconnected the old iMac, i removed a wire, and i'll be damded if i can remember the original configuration!!