Airport Extreme question

Okay, so I hook it up using my ethernet cable to the Airport. All is well BUT I noticed that when looking at configurations, it says that "Ethernet is not found." Why doesn't it recognize that the cable's in the Airport? Also, sometimes after logging on when the computer has been dormant, I am unable to get a wifi signal. I see my wifi listed but I cannot connect. Other devices have wifi signal and connection. Sigh.

It's a little complicated to post here.

Google: Configure Airport Extreme as Access Point (main idea is 'bridge' mode).

WiFi - check with computer manufacturer for updates to the WiFi radio (firmware). Sounds like a 'wake-up' issue. If you reboot the computer does the WiFi work OK?

Sir_Dave said:
It's a little complicated to post here. ">
Google: Configure Airport Extreme as Access Point (main idea is 'bridge' mode).
WiFi - check with computer manufacturer for updates to the WiFi radio (firmware). Sounds like a 'wake-up' issue. If you reboot the computer does the WiFi work OK?

Hmmm...how would I access Access Point via Google?

Wifi is through FIOS. Don't recall receiving chances to update the firmware.

And yes, sometimes it does take a reboot to get it going again, but it's really a PITA because it's sometimes.

I think Sir_Dave is suggesting you might need to update the firmware on your computer.

Use Google to search for this:

Configure Airport Extreme as Access Point

Apple article is probably best and I believe the term they use is 'Bridge Mode' for the AE (Airport Extreme). The AE is by default a router, not necessarily an Access Point.

Yes, firmware on the computer. Vendors typically produce updates for the various components they put in your computer. It could be firmware or software, but it's user-installable. The problem you describe sounds, on the surface, to be the computer's problem, not the FIOS router.

Personal recommendation: When you get the AE configured so you can use it's WiFi instead of the FIOS router's WiFi, turn off the WiFi on the FIOS router. I think you'll find the AE has a much greater range than the FIOS router.

What are you trying to accomplish?

Trying to boost range and improve wifi in the house overall. My son has a dead zone somewhere in his room and wifi on his Macbook and/or iPhone will shut off w/out him knowing it and it kills our data. As of yesterday, he says there is an improvement.

Yesterday I did everything from scratch. Found a great YouTube video on how to connect Airport Extreme and followed that step-by-step. Mr. K originally connected it and I think a step was somehow missed. Anyway, I no longer have the issue of the wifi on my desktop not connecting when dormant.

Glad to hear it.

Alas, it's still spotty. Two mornings in a row, I got the exclamation point inside of where the wifi signal should be. I have to go into my network settings and "find" my wifi. Once I choose it, all seems well. The only issue is once chosen, I can't hit "Apply." It's not highlighted. I think if I were able to hit "Apply" my choice would be solid.

What kind of router is connected to your cable modem? If you have FIOS, does the FIOS router provide the origin of the wifi network?

If you use the FIOS router to create the wireless network, I recommend getting another Apple routers, an Airport Express. Disable the wireless function of the FIOS router and place the Airport Extreme near the FIOS router. Set the Airport Extreme to create a wireless network. Place the Airport Express in a spot midway between the Extreme and the area with bad coverage. The idea is for it to have good radio paths to each of the two ends, with a minimum of heavy walls and other obstructions along each of those two paths. Configure the Express to extent an existing wireless network. The Express will serve as a range extender. I've done this quite a lot, and it works extremely well.

The FIOS router that was once connected to my desk top is now connected to the Airport Extreme. I have moved the Apple tower around a bit to get better service and this has helped.

What is the Apple Tower? Is that an Airport Extreme? Whatever you moved, for it to provide a reliable improvement in coverage, it must be in the "extend" mode, not "join".

Tom_Reingold said:
What is the Apple Tower? Is that an Airport Extreme? Whatever you moved, for it to provide a reliable improvement in coverage, it must be in the "extend" mode, not "join".

Move it to where? I don't know what a good point would be. Hallway? Living room? I'm at a loss.

Also, doesn't my ethernet need to be attached to the Airport Extreme in order for it to be "extended"? If moved to another area of the house, this will be impossible.

No, the Airport Express can act as a relay station if you put it in Extend mode. It relays by listening over the air and retransmitting over the air.

Try this Google search.

As for where to place it, place it where you get a good signal from the router and where you think it can provide a good signal to the area that has bad coverage. This might be in the middle.

Also, if your son is racking up a big data bill, you could ask him to put the phone into airplane mode and then turn wifi on. This will keep cellular data off. Then again, he's a teenager, and you can't rely on him remembering to do this.

In other words, the airport express can be a range extender WITHOUT having the cable run into it. In fact, I think running a cable into it doesn't help at all.

Thanks so much for the link. Alas, I don't understand any of it.

http://www.housebeautiful.com/home-remodeling/renovation/a4547/how-to-extend-wifi/

I admit I haven't had the patience to read through this and try to implement it.

kibbegirl said:
Thanks so much for the link. Alas, I don't understand any of it.

Sounds like it's time to call in someone who can help. I'm not available any more, but there are some good people near you. David Dantowitz can probably do this handily.

Tom_Reingold said:

kibbegirl said:
Thanks so much for the link. Alas, I don't understand any of it.

Sounds like it's time to call in someone who can help. I'm not available any more, but there are some good people near you. David Dantowitz can probably do this handily.

Yeah, I just might have to. I can accomplish a lot when left up to my own devices but this is driving me to drink. The info is great but there's too much of it for a layman to decipher.

shh said:
http://www.housebeautiful.com/home-remodeling/renovation/a4547/how-to-extend-wifi/
I admit I haven't had the patience to read through this and try to implement it.

Thanks, @shh. I'll give this one a go.