AirPort 4.2 Update

[telecomm]

Hey all, Airport Software version 4.2 is available in Software Update.

This wouldn't be of much interest, except that it's increased my signal (on a 12" PB) from 12 to the full 15 bars. Nice!

[Stampyhead]

Does anyone know if this update is just for Airport Extreme, or if it will work for the older Snow base stations too? I couldn't find any info about it anywhere.

[telecomm]

It's not base station software, it's OS software (admin utility, etc.). I should perhaps also add that I'm still on 10.3.9.

[solaris]

It's not base station software, it's OS software (admin utility, etc.). I should perhaps also add that I'm still on 10.3.9.
I think you're wrong!
When I opened AirPort Admin Utility after installinh Airport Software 4.2 it prompted me to update the software on both my AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express.

[telecomm]

Hmmm... mine didn't update my Express.

Edit: Oops... after I clicked Configure it did prompt me to install the Express software (v6.2).

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

AirPort 4.2 is now in Software Update.

For Mac OS X:AirPort 4.2 for Mac OS X software supports all models of Apple AirPort base stations including the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express models.

This update fixes compatibility with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2) security software on AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme base stations. This update also resolves IPv6 link local configuration issues.
For Windows:This update fixes compatibility with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2) security software on AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme base stations. It also resolves issues with WPA2 on Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Microsoft update KB893357.
Direct downloads:AirPort 4.2 for Mac OS X 10.4.2 (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airport42formacosx1042.html) (14MB)

AirPort 4.2 for Mac OS X 10.3.3 (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airport42formacosx1033.html) (13MB)

AirPort 4.2 for Windows (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airport42forwindows.html) (12.5MB)

[tangerineyum]

there's a whole lotta updating goin on these days, many busy programmers over at apple.

[mainstreetmark]

there's a whole lotta updating goin on these days, many busy programmers over at apple.

Based on my experience on corporate programming, I'd say the programmers are all idled now, and that these updates are just leaving testing and are being released. Odds are, if they are busy, it's on Airport 4.3, and that they finished with 4.2 like 3 months ago. :)

[biohazard6969]

why is this considered page 2 news while the other updates weren't?

[abrooks]

there's a whole lotta updating goin on these days, many busy programmers over at apple.

Heading into holiday season, things slow down over this season so things are being thrown to leave room for more updates just at a slower pace.

[Bibulous]

there's a whole lotta updating goin on these days, many busy programmers over at apple.

I hope so, that's why we buy apple systems and software...
(not those dam ipods) :D

[Doctor Q]

why is this considered page 2 news while the other updates weren't?Simply because it is of interest to a smaller user group and the changes made are likely to affect many fewer people than updates to, say, Mac OS X, iPhoto, etc.

[treblah]

Simply because it is of interest to a smaller user group and the changes made are likely to affect many fewer people than updates to, say, Mac OS X, iPhoto, etc.

Perhaps it's because I'm at college and everyone has a laptop but wifi usage is much more prevalent than iPhoto usage. Heck, even my parents whose VCR still blinks 12:00 have a wireless router for their DSL. Out of curiosity, how many people here use wifi on their macs?

[glennsan]

Perhaps it's because I'm at college and everyone has a laptop but wifi usage is much more prevalent than iPhoto usage. Heck, even my parents whose VCR still blinks 12:00 have a wireless router for their DSL. Out of curiosity, how many people here use wifi on their macs?

I do!!! Have a PB 15" 1.67 and am looking forward to using it out in the back yard which I could not do previously. Hopefully this will increase my range like it has for others.

[hob]

Simply because it is of interest to a smaller user group and the changes made are likely to affect many fewer people than updates to, say, Mac OS X, iPhoto, etc.
I thought Page 2 was for uncertain rumours. This is neither uncertain or a rumour!! Sorry to moan, but it does seem pretty important to me!

Hurrah for updates! (I have used Wireless for 5 years or so, recently switched to two Airport Express's after my linksys one finally burned out...)

[hob]

I do!!! Have a PB 15" 1.67 and am looking forward to using it out in the back yard which I could not do previously. Hopefully this will increase my range like it has for others.
I do hope not! I just bought a second Airport Express to extend range! Literally 2 days ago!

[biohazard6969]

yea. all of my computers except for my imac g3 400mhz are internet ready with an airport card with the exception of the imac G4 which is connected to airport base station through ethernet

[Bradley W]

_

[Doctor Q]

I thought Page 2 was for uncertain rumours.This question does come up routinely, even though the division of stories this way has been the same for a couple of years. Here is the original explanation that "Page 2 will contain links/commentary about news and rumors of lesser importance or unknown reliability."

Anyone with comments/suggestions about this type of issue is welcome to post them in the Site and Forum Feedback forum (http://forums.macrumors.com/forumdisplay.php?f=66).

[ahoover]

G5 Dual 2.5 CTO - 1 GB RAM with Dual 23" Cinema HD Displays/NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra, Airport Extreme, BT, and 2 Airport Express base stations.

Airport Express used for Internet and iTunes remote to B&O BeoSound 9000.

Al

[mikeyredk]

AirPort 4.2 for Windows (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airport42forwindows.html) (12.5MB)


FOR WINDOWS :eek: is this true?

[zv470]

Hey all, Airport Software version 4.2 is available in Software Update.

This wouldn't be of much interest, except that it's increased my signal (on a 12" PB) from 12 to the full 15 bars. Nice!

Um, 12 bars to 15 bars? Wow... But...
Aren't the bars just a REPRESENTATION of the signal strenght? They've just shifted the upper limits. So... now dB that used to measure as 12 are now worth 15. I suspect your range will be just the same. ;) Sorry.

[telecomm]

Um, 12 bars to 15 bars? Wow... But...
Aren't the bars just a REPRESENTATION of the signal strenght? They've just shifted the upper limits. So... now dB that used to measure as 12 are now worth 15. I suspect your range will be just the same. ;) Sorry.

Could be, but I feel slightly better about things anyway. ;)

I don't really have enough space in my apartment to test how the range has actually been affected, but I'd be curious to see if anyone else can put this to the test...

[Doctor Q]

FOR WINDOWS :eek: is this true?From apple.com:

AirPort Express Base Station: supports both Macs equipped with an AirPort Extreme Card and Wi-Fi-compliant 802.11g Windows PCs, as well as Macs with the older AirPort Card and 802.11b Windows PCs.

AirPort Extreme Base Station: supports AirPort-enabled and AirPort Extreme-enabled Mac computers, as well as Windows PCs with Wi-Fi certified 802.11b cards installed.

[MarkCollette]

Somewhere in the bowels of Cupertino is a programmer who is reading this thread and chuckling to himself about how everyone keeps thinking their wireless connectivity is improving, when he just fills in more bars each release.

Suckers! ;)

[mad jew]

Anyone else here with multiple AirPorts have a bit of trouble uploading the update to the second station? It took about three attempts for me. :(

[RndmAxess]

Deleted

[mad jew]

I just DL'd this using Software Update, restarted, and am now *unable* to connect to my Snow base station. WTF?


I'm assuming you waited for it to restart, right?

[Wonder Boy]

after the 10.4.2 update, my wireless is finally acting normal again. dare i fix whats not broke?

[RndmAxess]

Deleted

[mad jew]

after the 10.4.2 update, my wireless is finally acting normal again. dare i fix whats not broke?


Be a devil, go for it. I haven't had any problems with it apart from initial installation on my second Express and an unnaturally long time for them to restart.

[big duane]

After I installed 10.4.2, my wireless connection became really spotty. When checking mail or accessing websites, it would take 30 to 60 seconds to connect, if it did at all. Did anyone else experience this? With the airport 4.2 and the subsequent firmware updates to 5.6 (extreme) and 6.2 (express), things are WAY better.

[dsharits]

All's well, no problems here. :)

[Mechcozmo]

Simply because it is of interest to a smaller user group and the changes made are likely to affect many fewer people than updates to, say, Mac OS X, iPhoto, etc.

I'd like to point out that Airport is used by a LOT of people. With every iBook, PowerBook, and iMac G5 with Airport it might be time to classify this under the "slightly more relevant to people" category, seeing as it caught be off guard.
I wondered why MacRumors didn't have it... so I submitted it, and was about to start a thread on it but searched and guess what? Its already been out. :o

[Flying Llama]

Hey, I like the download links, nice touch! Like when you guys started putting a Macrumors and MacBytes icon on top of stories.

llama

[WM.]

This is pretty cool. When you select WPA for your wireless network, the default is to allow both WPA and WPA2 clients. This means (or at least I hope it does) that it will use AES encryption for capable clients, so you will have maximum security for them, while still allowing non-WPA2-capable clients onto your network with pretty respectable security. I would LIKE to do this on our home network, but printing wirelessly to our ancient Personal LaserWriter 320 from 10.3.x clients is still broken when using WPA encryption. I can print from my PowerBook with 10.4.2 over WPA2, but on the ancient iBook G3 with 10.3.9 (original AirPort card, so it can't use WPA2), printing is broken. Switching back to WEP instantly fixes it. (Yes, I sent feedback to Apple about a year ago...aaaarrgghh.)

On another note, the update mentions that it's supposed to fix some IPv6 thing, but I still don't see anything about IPv6 in AirPort Admin Utility. (Not that I'd be able to use it anyway, but still.) Do the base stations actually support it?

[Darwin]

Another feature that I've noticed is found in Base Station Options and its called NAT port mapping protocol, only works with 10.4 clients, anybody explain exactly what this is? Apple doesn't seem to have documentation out at the moment

[StevieStets]

How is this a "Page 2" news item? This should be a front page item. Wait a minute, it's not even a RUMOR!!!

[FoxyKaye]

How is this a "Page 2" news item? This should be a front page item. Wait a minute, it's not even a RUMOR!!!
See above.

Interesting though - I applied this update to my Tiger machines at home and they didn't blink once. Applying this to my Panther Mini at work (which I mainly do to keep Software Update from popping up with a list of crap), I needed to reboot and it fracked with my wireless settings that I then needed to redo.

Oh well, no damage done...

[WM.]

Another feature that I've noticed is found in Base Station Options and its called NAT port mapping protocol, only works with 10.4 clients, anybody explain exactly what this is? Apple doesn't seem to have documentation out at the moment
Yeah, I noticed that too. I looked through the help and there's no mention of it. If you hover over that checkbox it says something like "allows other computers on the network to discover services that this base station offers".

*shrug* I'm too lazy to try turning it on. :D

[WM.]

See above.

Interesting though - I applied this update to my Tiger machines at home and they didn't blink once. Applying this to my Panther Mini at work (which I mainly do to keep Software Update from popping up with a list of crap), I needed to reboot and it fracked with my wireless settings that I then needed to redo.

Oh well, no damage done...
Can your 10.3.x clients now access WPA2 networks? (Go to the AirPort menu ---> Other... and see if WPA2 Personal and Enterprise show up in the encryption options.)

If so, that means that the update actually updated the AirPort client software on Panther machines, whereas on Tiger, the needed support was added in 10.4.2. The AirPort 4.2 update for Tiger only updates the Admin Utility and Setup Assistant and the Apple80211 framework, which...well, I don't know what it does, but evidently taking advantage of it doesn't require a restart. :)

FWIW, I haven't gotten around to installing the AirPort 4.2 update on our Panther machines yet.

[wdlove]

Not using an Airport Base Station. Using the Zwire provided by Earthlink. My wife installed on her 15" PowerBook her signal strength improved by one bar, now up to four more often. On the iBook that I'm using is increased the signal strength to the full four bars. :)

[swindmill]

I am using a linksys router and I am using an Airtunes Express for music only. After installing the update, my wireless network was screwed up. I just now have it working again after unplugging Airtunes and the Linksys, and connecting via the ethernet directly from the modem. I noticed that when I tried to update the firmware on the Airtunes, my wireless LAN signal would dissappear while the Airport Admin. said "waiting for Airport Express to restart". So I unplugged it and now all is well. The question is: Now what?

EDIT: is there any way to revert back to 4.1?

[WM.]

I am using a linksys router and I am using an Airtunes Express for music only. After installing the update, my wireless network was screwed up. I just now have it working again after unplugging Airtunes and the Linksys, and connecting via the ethernet directly from the modem. I noticed that when I tried to update the firmware on the Airtunes, my wireless LAN signal would dissappear while the Airport Admin. said "waiting for Airport Express to restart". So I unplugged it and now all is well. The question is: Now what?
How exactly is your network configured? It sounds like you have the Linksys thing plugged into your broadband modem, and it's responsible for creating the network, and then you're just using the AirPort Express (not "AirTunes"--that's the music-streaming feature, not the hardware product) to stream music to your stereo or whatever.

So, I assume you have the AirPort Express in client mode?

EDIT: is there any way to revert back to 4.1?
Yes, you can download the 6.1.1 firmware for the AP Express here (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airportexpressfirmware611formacosx.html). However, I suspect that we can find a way to get things working with the new 6.2 firmware...

[mkrishnan]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I looked through the help and there's no mention of it. If you hover over that checkbox it says something like "allows other computers on the network to discover services that this base station offers".

*shrug* I'm too lazy to try turning it on. :D

I'm not exactly sure what the update involves, but NAT is the protocol that, in at least part of what it does, allows computers on the downstream network (hooked into the router) to communicate via the upstream IP address.... But maybe this has to do with querying the AE to find out if Airtunes or Bonjour services are available?

BTW, can anyone help me understand what WPA2 is? So is this the first time Airport Extreme has supported it? If my network consists of an iBook G4 and an AEBS, can I switch from WPA to WPA2, and if so, why would I want to? ;)

Thanks! :)

[Applespider]

When I applied the update to my AEBS and Express, I could suddenly no longer get online. Printing and Airtunes worked but I couldn't connect to the modem any longer.

Repairing permissions (yes, there was one in there to do) and then switching off the Mac, Airport and modem before turning them all back on again in reverse order seemed to work.

[WM.]

I'm not exactly sure what the update involves, but NAT is the protocol that, in at least part of what it does, allows computers on the downstream network (hooked into the router) to communicate via the upstream IP address.... But maybe this has to do with querying the AE to find out if Airtunes or Bonjour services are available?
Yeah, I think that might have something to do with it:

The port mapping that AirPort base stations have always offered only works when you're not using NAT. <speculation>So, perhaps this NAT Port Mapping Protocol allows to you turn on NAT and still allow clients on the WAN side of the base station to see that something on the LAN side has (Bonjour or other?) services to offer.</speculation>

BTW, can anyone help me understand what WPA2 is?
I believe it's the same as WPA except that it uses a much better--and more computation-intensive--encryption algorithm.

So is this the first time Airport Extreme has supported it?
Yes. I was under the impression that most existing hardware, especially access points/base stations, wouldn't be able to support WPA2, but apparently that's not true because Apple's done it. :)

If my network consists of an iBook G4 and an AEBS, can I switch from WPA to WPA2, and if so, why would I want to? ;)
Yes; much more secure encryption. <speculation>However, since WPA2's AES encryption requires more computation, and I don't think the AirPort Extreme card's chipset can handle it (if it even handled the encryption before), I imagine you might see more CPU usage on the clients, and the number of clients that each base station can serve might decrease.</speculation> Although, with your one client, I don't think that part would pose a problem. :)

[chukronos]

After I restarted my iBook, my signal bars went from 2-3 bars to 4 solid bars. my signal has appeared to improve in our house. How do I check to actually see if it is faster? i guess I could try a broadband tester.

[chukronos]

I tested my broadband speed and it is at 2.8 mbps. I don't know if it is faster, but my computer seems to pull up pages a lot faster

[mkrishnan]

Yes; much more secure encryption. <speculation>However, since WPA2's AES encryption requires more computation, and I don't think the AirPort Extreme card's chipset can handle it (if it even handled the encryption before), I imagine you might see more CPU usage on the clients, and the number of clients that each base station can serve might decrease.</speculation> Although, with your one client, I don't think that part would pose a problem. :)

Thanks! I found a FAQ page from the wifi alliance about this. They're funny, because they try very hard to say that WPA has enhanced security while simultaneously saying that the security in WPA is completely sufficient. :D

It did state repeatedly that WPA2 had greater computational demands... I wonder if what you speculate is true. There was no statement about a max number of clients. And Apple tends to use over-engineered hardware in this category. So you never know.

[Applespider]

My Powerbook really doesn't like this update. Soon as I installed the firmware update on my Extreme/Express, I lost my internet connection. I couldn't get the admin utility to let me leave it at WPA personal - it kept trying to do a hybrid mixture of WPA2 which is when everything stopped working. I could have internet and no Airtunes or Airtunes and no internet (and yes, the Express was still a client on the network so no clue why!)

I gave up in the end and reverted them both back to the earlier firmware. Problem solved...

[ggbrown]

My Powerbook really doesn't like this update. Soon as I installed the firmware update on my Extreme/Express, I lost my internet connection. I couldn't get the admin utility to let me leave it at WPA personal - it kept trying to do a hybrid mixture of WPA2 which is when everything stopped working. I could have internet and no Airtunes or Airtunes and no internet (and yes, the Express was still a client on the network so no clue why!)

I gave up in the end and reverted them both back to the earlier firmware. Problem solved...

There is a known problem with Firmware 5.6 and PPPoE. After updating to firmware Firmware 5.6, many DSL users are losing their connection to their ISP, and reverting 5.5.1 is the solution. I just went though this last night/this morning.

G

[Diatribe]

Weird. I have DSL and everything is working fine for me. :confused:

[dolphin842]

After I installed 10.4.2, my wireless connection became really spotty. When checking mail or accessing websites, it would take 30 to 60 seconds to connect, if it did at all. Did anyone else experience this? With the airport 4.2 and the subsequent firmware updates to 5.6 (extreme) and 6.2 (express), things are WAY better.

10.4.2 messed up my previously solid AirPort connection on my 12" PB (using a Linksys .11b router). Many times during the day it will drop the connection for ~10 seconds, then recover. Sometimes it'll just drop completely (I'm not too far away from the router so it always has 15 bars). Un/replugging the cable modem and router seems to work most of the time. My 10.4.1 backup drive holds a connection without a hitch. Any idea what could be up?

The AirPort update didn't help, but I'm assuming that was for the base station and not the card itself?

[eva01]

My powerbook seems to love this update for some weird reason :/ oh well i enjoy it ^^

[maddav]

Well I know that my signal strength has increased, not just the number of bars, I recently started using my iBook (with Airport Extreme) with my new LCD TV, and with a bit of jiggery pokery got a wonderful true 1360 x 768 resolution. I noticed however that my download speeds (via a speed test) were about a third of what they were before, after updating i'm getting speeds that make it seem like my laptop is right next to my brother's base station :) (which is btw, a d-link router)

:D

[droolboy]

When I applied the update to my AEBS and Express, I could suddenly no longer get online. Printing and Airtunes worked but I couldn't connect to the modem any longer.

Repairing permissions (yes, there was one in there to do) and then switching off the Mac, Airport and modem before turning them all back on again in reverse order seemed to work.

I have a similar problem, but that didn't work for me. I can connect to my wireless network, the green light is on the AExpress (showing that it's connected to the ethernet modem & the internet), but I can't get online via Airport since the firmware update.

I gave up in the end and reverted them both back to the earlier firmware. Problem solved...

How d'you do that then?

[glooo]

How exactly is your network configured? It sounds like you have the Linksys thing plugged into your broadband modem, and it's responsible for creating the network, and then you're just using the AirPort Express (not "AirTunes"--that's the music-streaming feature, not the hardware product) to stream music to your stereo or whatever.

So, I assume you have the AirPort Express in client mode?


Yes, you can download the 6.1.1 firmware for the AP Express here (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airportexpressfirmware611formacosx.html). However, I suspect that we can find a way to get things working with the new 6.2 firmware...

I have the exact same problem. (PB G4, Linksys router, OS 10.3.9) I just did a software update to Airport 4.2 and Airport does not work anymore. Airport Admin Utility found my Airport Express (which is set up as a client on the Linksys router network) and updated its firmware, but Internet Connect says "No Airport Hardware Found." Help!

[ibook30]

Woo Hoo The update fixed my Airport Express bug!!!!

[Applespider]

How d'you do that then?

Find the .dmg for the old firmware (5.5.1 for Extreme and 6.1 for Express) on either Apple's support site or softpedia's mirrors etc.

Then turn off any security you currently have one and make your networks visible (the security bit is important if you were running WPA beforehand). Double click the firmware dmg and it should come up with a list of base stations that you can use it on. Select the base station you want to downgrade and follow the instructions. Occasionally, you might not see any base stations in the list. In that case, hook up your Mac and the base stations with an ethernet cable and try again.

[droolboy]

Find the .dmg for the old firmware (5.5.1 for Extreme and 6.1 for Express) on either Apple's support site or softpedia's mirrors etc.

Then turn off any security you currently have one and make your networks visible (the security bit is important if you were running WPA beforehand). Double click the firmware dmg and it should come up with a list of base stations that you can use it on. Select the base station you want to downgrade and follow the instructions. Occasionally, you might not see any base stations in the list. In that case, hook up your Mac and the base stations with an ethernet cable and try again.

YES! All back to normal - thanks very much for the advice. :D

[hansen]

I just today installed Airport Express for AirTunes (in client mode).

I have periodic outage when I stream music and sometimes the time in the iTunes song progress displays goes really fast - but no music is playing. At one time iTunes lost connection to Airport Express.

I have a new PB 12" that I'm using to stream.

I updated with the new firmware right away, so I don't know if that has anything to do with this.

Anybody else has this kind of problem?

[XNine]

My signal is now running like a sex-starved chicken! It's even faster than a wired connection! WOOT!

[pubwvj]

I upgraded but haven't noticed any difference good or bad.

[EricNau]

Those of you that report your signal strength improved...I'm jealous. My bars went way up, but my speed is exactly the same. Why would Apple change the way they measure signal strength? (I really doubt that the signal actually got better (I could be wrong though).)
I did notice that now it grabs the right network that I listed. (Before it would grab my neighbors Linksys, but now it grabs my Adhoc network between my printer and my computer.)

[TiBookG4/5]

This update is an utter disaster. WPA Personal passwords now cause computers using the AirPort (not Extreme) card to be unable join WAP protected networks. WEP protected networks seem to be unaffected. This has been documented throughout Apple Support discussions. Its yet another sloppy update from Apple--even the K-Base tech document on update refers to AirPort Extreme cards as "AirPort Express cards".

[hansen]

Find the .dmg for the old firmware (5.5.1 for Extreme and 6.1 for Express) on either Apple's support site or softpedia's mirrors etc.

Then turn off any security you currently have one and make your networks visible (the security bit is important if you were running WPA beforehand). Double click the firmware dmg and it should come up with a list of base stations that you can use it on. Select the base station you want to downgrade and follow the instructions. Occasionally, you might not see any base stations in the list. In that case, hook up your Mac and the base stations with an ethernet cable and try again.

I just tried this and though I had no problems installing the previous version it didn't solve my problem. When I've played a few tunes over AirTunes suddenly there starts to be longer and longer period of abrubt silence in the songs - very annoying! It gets worse and worse and at the end iTunes looses connection to Airport Express and stops playing. I can then press play again but with the same result. Sometimes iTunes stops responding and has to be terminated. grrrrrr

[hansen]

I just tried this and though I had no problems installing the previous version it didn't solve my problem. When I've played a few tunes over AirTunes suddenly there starts to be longer and longer period of abrubt silence in the songs - very annoying! It gets worse and worse and at the end iTunes looses connection to Airport Express and stops playing. I can then press play again but with the same result. Sometimes iTunes stops responding and has to be terminated. grrrrrr

After a few hours I think I have to revise the above. It might have improved the situation, but it is definitely not gone.

[vaprof]

Is it just me, or does this software update force the Airport Express to put out a constant signal rather than turning off when there is no audio input??? My DSP shows a constant timing lock now -- the Airport Express used to turn off when it had no input.