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Luther Mac

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Oct 31, 2015
20
8
Recently "upgraded" to High Sierra (10.13.2) on my Macbook Air.

Moved into our new home.

Set up network. I have a dedicated modem (no wifi router built in) that sends internet to my Airport Time Capsule. A (hidden) wireless network is dispersed from there. Nothing fancy.

Then brought my old Airport Expresses out of storage. (they are the kind that are built into these outdoor speakers so I can use them for Airplay). Thought I'd lay that out there before anyone suggests I just get new generation Airport Expresses.

Updating their firmware with Airport Utility was a no go as Im sure youre all aware that Airport Utility stopped supporting these older Airport Expresses years ago.

I used ethernet to get the Airport Express Firmwares up to date.

I then attempted to download and use Airport Utility 5.6.1 for Mac in all the various ways it's suggested to work around High Sierra and other newer OS'. Didnt work.

Then I downloaded Airport Utility 5.6.1 for Windows on my old PC (running Windows X). BOOM. We have hope.

I try several times to set up the old Airport Express wirelessly (changing the name, setting up the base station password, etc). 20 tries later (with factory resets in between), still nothing. I try it via ethernet, it worked once, then I unplugged the Speaker/Airport combo and moved it to the other room (very strong WiFi signal) and it never links back up.

Then I attempt to do it without changing the base station's name. Boom. It works.

So I think I have it figured out, and I decide I am going to reset the Express one more time, and this time change the base station name to what I want it to be. Big mistake. It doesnt work. Im back to a blinking amber light. So it must be the name change that's the issue right? Wrong.

I attempt it 20 or more so times w/o the name change. Scratching my head as to what variable I might've changed. I cannot figure it out. I make sure the Express is about 5 feet from the Time Capsule. There is no possible way there is signal interference. Nothing is working.

So then I attempt to make my Network NOT hidden anymore. Thinking that maybe it is struggling to pick up the hidden network. This is my last ditch effort. Boom. That works.

Im not satisfied. So I change my network back to hidden (doing this from my Mac on the Time Capsule). The Airport Express goes dead again.

So I factory reset it again and set the network to NOT hidden again and instantly the Airport Express links up and extends the network. So now Ive been able to recreate success and control the variables.

Im still perplexed as to why it worked just once with the network hidden and it wont work again.

Anyone dealt with this situation in general before? What am I not getting about this?
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure why hiding the network is causing issues, but to be honest, hiding a WiFi network adds nothing to security. Any wireless card can find these easily with the utilities out there.

It's more important to use WPA2 and a strong password and not mess with MAC filtering or hiding the SSID.
 
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