"AirPort Utility was unable to find any Apple wireless devices" silliness

[Stiksi]

I would check proximity of your Expresses to your TC. Even when attached via Ethernet your Expresses must be within range of the TC or they will loose communication & disassociate. The network traffic may run across the Ethernet but they must be able to see each other over wireless in order to successfully negotiate clients to move from one to the other, so if they loose the ability to see each other over wireless the Expresses will flip out. This has been my observation anyway. The expresses are also extremely weak in comparison, I have not found them to be much use as far as range extension but they are handy when you want to force N on your time capsule & then keep the Expresses for your slower b/g devices. Your wifi is only as fast as your slowest device so even if your laptop says connected at 140 or even 300Mbps an older Mac connected at 54Mbps will slow your entire network down to 54Mbps.

No, the Airport Utility actually is a piece of cr*p. Basically anything that's wireless from Apple has been a major pain – keyboards, mice, airport express and time capsule. All need restart after restart. Range isn't really an issue in our 41 square metre flat but the devices wigging out regularly is. Apple's wireless departement works like Corel – "It isn't stable? That's ok, we'll give them a couple of new features and they'll forget about it."

Basically I can sum my experience with Apple in this: "Have a wire? Things irie."

 

[fnowtjohn]

No, the Airport Utility actually is a piece of cr*p.

Yep, and each new version seems to create new issues. It seems that the last version to work reliably for me to set up Airport devices was back in 10.4.8 which I retain only to reset airport devices. Airport Utility from Leopard, SL and lion are simply increasingly dodgy.

The problem does seem to not be Hardware, but Software conflicts between the OS and Airport Utility. If Airpot Utility is working for you DO NOT Update Utility to a newer version (irreversible step). Perhaps more recent versions of Airport Utility only scan one band or causes the computers airport card to become randomly locked into one band or the other, or assumes availability of N speed or b/g speed?

Maybe someone out there knows how to edit the Airport Utility configuration file, to enable the same level of scan that earlier versions?
Or is there an alternative software tool (or list of Terminal commands) that would enable setup of Airport devices without recourse to Airport Utility?

 

[Mapletyne]

Try turning Wi-Fi OFF and then ON again....that does it for mine every time

 

[inscrewtable]

Sometimes it takes two or three hard resets, separated by lunch or a long walk. It's also a good idea after a hard reset to click the airport utility app but leave the room quickly before it opens as if you don't care. Remember a watched airport utility never boils.

 

[lilpete]

I've had my airport extreme for around 8 or 9 months now. At first I was able to get it on my utility by creating a guest network, switching to it, then switching back to my regular one, but after the first week of doing this I've never been able to get it up on my airport utility, even after hard resets. its useless.

 

[keelio]

I have this issue too. I have a pretty new Airport Extreme (latest generation) and a 2010 Airport Express. The Express is used solely for airplay, and is only about 15 feet away from the Airport. Airplay appears to be random. It plays for a while, gets lost, I wait a bit, restart ITunes, and it comes back. Only to drop out again after another few hours. Repeat process.

This whole time wireless internet access work, and this whole time the Airport Utility can't find anything.

?? any tips good people ??

 

[PrincessPea]

Hey All!
I recently moved in with a roommate, and am now using his wireless network, instead of the one that all my devices were originally set up on. I set up my iMac and plugged in my Time Capsule and Airport Express, but of course, Airport utility can't find any wireless devices. Is there some trick that I forgot about for setting these things up on a new network - maybe like the order in which you turn things on?

 

[PrincessPea]

Hey All!
I recently moved in with a roommate, and am now using his wireless network, instead of the one that all my devices were originally set up on. I set up my iMac and plugged in my Time Capsule and Airport Express, but of course, Airport utility can't find any wireless devices. Is there some trick that I forgot about for setting these things up on a new network - maybe like the order in which you turn things on?

After a few power cycles and hard restarts of my Airport Express, turning the Wi-Fi and my iMac on and off, still not able to connect to the AE. Upon hard restart, it says that changes were made to the settings, but that it is still unable to connect. WTF? I don't wanna try restarting the Time Capsule until I figure this out on the less expensive one that isn't storing data Any suggestions greatly appreciated!!!

 

[drambuie]

I had this happen a few times when my Time Capsule was new, but since updating the FW to 7.6 the MBP's Airport Utility has no problem finding it, but there are some anomalies. If I power up the TC with my MBP off, it only goes as far as the steady amber light. As soon as I hit the MBP's power button the light goes green and the Airport Utility can connect. The MBP is connected via CAT6 ethernet.

I also have Airport Utility installed on my Windows desktop PC which is also connected to the TC via CAT6. If I power up the TC with the PC on, the TC's lamp stays amber, and the PC Airport Utility can't find it. Again, the instant I hit the MBP power button, the TC lamp goes green, and the PC's Airport Utility finds the TC. It seems my TC needs my MBP connected in order to start. If I then shut the MBP off, the TC stays in the green, and the PC can access it. Weird.

 

[Kainz]

I've had an AE for a good number of years. It is as everyone has stated - a very poor piece of equipment for an Apple product.

Since the day of purchase it took me about 2hrs to get it working, and for the following week it was up and down all over the place.

Even as I write this now, I am having typical issues of AE Utility not being able to find it, despite it being a few feet away. This is due to me fiddling with the wireless password name on my router. The pinhole reset method usual does work but at the moment it isn't. Great.

I'm sure I'll sort it eventually, after wasting a ton of time.

 

[jstefani]

It works!

Have been trying to extend my new Airport Extreme 6.0 with my old Airport Extreme 5.0 for the last 18 hours. The AirPort utility on the Windows PC and iPads didn't work. Your recommendation and my Airbook running AirPort Utility did. Thanks!

Thanks dylanbrown! Your suggestion worked wonder and I got back my TC!