How can I get this Airport Express to do what I want?

January 18, 2018 9:46 AM

I’ve been given an unused Apple AirPort Express. Great! Maybe I can finally network my printer and print wirelessly from it. Given the specifics of my current WiFi configuration, can you help me figure out the best and/or easiest way to do this?

I have:

• an unused AirPort Express from about 2014 (I’m guessing)
• an existing WiFi network from my Verizon provided router/modem
• a Brother HL-L2300D Monochrome Laser Printer

The printer is, unfortunately, a good ten feet across the room (and a well trafficked walkway) from the router/modem. I can’t move the router/modem, and I’d prefer not to move the printer, either (it fits really nicely in the side table where it’s been living, and there’s no good space for it near the router/modem.

Since I don’t have a base station to connect it to, I assume the easiest solution is to just get a looooooooong Ethernet cable to connect the AirPort Express to the router/modem across the room. Does that seem like the best solution?

posted by ocherdraco to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

It's possible I'm misunderstanding your setup, but, if I'm not, there's no need to plug the AirPort Express into the router/modem. It connects via WiFi to your router/modem. So it can function as a bridge.
posted by praemunire at 9:53 AM on January 18, 2018

Response by poster: I’ve just tried that and nothing happened. The Airport Express didn’t show up in the app on my Mac, and its light is flashing amber. Hmmm.
posted by ocherdraco at 10:00 AM on January 18, 2018

Airport Utility's not even being able to see the Express makes me wonder if something isn't wrong with the unit itself. Your router ought to be able to see the Express even if it's having trouble sending traffic through it, and regardless of whether it's configured as a base station or a bridge client. (I am not some super Apple expert, but I used an Express for several years.)
posted by praemunire at 10:10 AM on January 18, 2018

On the off chance that it's significantly older than that, you might need an older version of Airport Utility. I dealt with this for a while but with a much older AE-- maybe 2005?

What's the version code on the thing?
posted by supercres at 10:12 AM on January 18, 2018 [1 favorite]

It may be too old to control with the current Airport Utility. There is a work around I have used in the past: https://www.engadget.com/2013/01/22/use-automator-to-get-the-airport-utility-5-6-1-working-on-os-x-1/

I have not used this since upgrading beyond Mountain Lion, but it may help you.

If you can connect to the AP Express this way, then I would use the Utility to join an existing network. Then plug the printer into the Ethernet port on the Express and you should be able to print to it as long as the computer from which you are printing is on the same SSID.

Good luck!
posted by terrapin at 10:21 AM on January 18, 2018

May be worth a reset. Press and hold the little button on the Airport. Then see if it shows up in the Airport Utility on the Mac.

Another option is to make a direct connection between a Mac and the Airport with an ethernet cable. It should show up then, and you can tell the Airport the name/password for your wifi, then save the settings. The Airport will then reboot. Disconnect the ethernet cable and it should show up on the wifi network.
posted by caek at 10:27 AM on January 18, 2018 [3 favorites]

I've done this with an Airport Express - I've found that you have to connect a computer to the Express with an Ethernet cable and do the setup with that configuration, then save that, disconnect the Express, move it to a plug close to your printer, and use the Ethernet cable to connect the Express and printer.

On review, caek has it. It doesn't have to be a Mac, but the Airport utility is essential.
posted by DandyRandy at 3:37 PM on January 18, 2018