How To Install Airport Express Base Station

You need AirPort Utility 5.6 to configure an older Express. The problem with that version is that Mountain Lion will refuse to let you install it.

Just purchased an Airport Extreme or Airport Express and need help setting it up? This quick tutorial will show you how to setup your wireless network and also offers some helpful tips.

  1. Connect the Apple AirPort Express base station to another network via the AirPort Utility. Click 'Applications Utilities Airport Utility Continue.' Select the AirPort Express from the left pane, and then click 'Internet.' Click the 'Wireless' tab, and then choose 'Join a Wireless Network' from the 'Wireless Mode' drop-down menu.
  2. The short answer to this is 'it will be obvious, when a new firmware version is available.' But, that is probably not satisfactory, so: 1. When a firmware update is available, open the Airport Utility app (exists for IOS, OS X, and Windows PCs).


This dilemma is easily solved. You simply need to extract the app from the installer package using a package extractor like Pacifist or unpkg. Pacifist is shareware, unpkg is free.


Download Pacifist here: http://www.charlessoft.com/


Download unpkg here: http://www.timdoug.com/unpkg/


Download AirPort Utility 5.6 here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482


When the AirPort Utility .dmg file finishes downloading, open it to expand and reveal the AirPortUtility56.pkg package installer file.

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Airport Express Base Station A1084

Airport



Directions for Pacifist (I do not have screenshots for unpkg but the idea is similar):


Airport

Open Pacifist and from its File menu, navigate to the package and open it.


Click the 'reveal triangles' until you see AirPort Utility 5.6.app:





Select it and then click Install from Pacifist's toolbar. It will then be installed in your Utilities folder, and you can quit Pacifist.


The most recent version of AirPort Utility included with Mountain Lion should be used to configure 802.11n - capable AirPort Base Stations, and should not be deleted. It and the older version (which will bear the unique name 'AirPort Utility 5.6') can peacefully coexist.


If you happen to have an archived copy of the AU 5.6 app somewhere, such as a Time Machine backup or equivalent, you can simply restore it or drag the app to your Mountain Lion system's Utilities folder instead of resorting to the above procedure. It will run without complaint. It is only the package installer that is the problem.

Airport Express Base Station Setup


If you have an older computer with a version of AirPort Utility earlier than 6.0, you can administer it that way as well.

Apr 1, 2013 8:54 AM

Some Ethernet-enabled devices, such as game consoles and printers, as well as some compatible USB printers, don't have a built-in Wi-Fi interface. If you would like these devices to connect to your network over Wi-Fi, you can use an AirPort Express to act as the bridge.

Additionally, client mode can be used for AirPlay music streaming from a computer running iTunes to a sound system.

Simply connect the appropriate cable (Ethernet cable between the device and the AirPort Express, USB cable from a compatible USB printer, or audio cable for music streaming), and configure the AirPort Express for client mode using AirPort Utility.

  • In client mode, the AirPort Express is used exclusively by the device to which it is physically connected. It won't extend the range of the Wi-Fi network, meaning that other devices, such as computers, cannot connect to it wirelessly.
  • While in client mode, AirPort Express with 802.11n will be able to use the Ethernet port to pass Wi-Fi traffic to a device connected to the Ethernet port. However, the original AirPort Express 802.11g doesn't support this feature and will disable the Ethernet port. Only compatible USB printers or audio devices are supported.
  • To use any of these features, you will also need the appropriate Ethernet, audio, or USB cable to connect the device to the AirPort Express.

Before you begin, make sure that your AirPort software is up-to-date. You can download the latest version for Mac or Windows from the AirPort Support page.

How To Install Airport Express Base Station Mc414ll A

Using AirPort Utility 6

  1. Connect an appropriate cable between the AirPort Express and the device it will serve.
  2. Plug the AirPort Express into a power outlet.
  3. After the AirPort Express starts up, select it in the AirPort Utility screen.
  4. If you are now repurposing the AirPort Express, first reset it from Base Station in the menu bar and select Restore Default Settings.
  5. After the AirPort Express completes the restore process, choose it from the Wi-Fi menu in the upper-left corner.
  6. Click the Other Options button.
  7. Select 'Add to an existing network'.
  8. Choose the Wi-Fi network name from the Wireless Network Name menu that you wish to join and click next.
  9. Enter the password to this network if required.

Using AirPort Utility 5

  1. Connect an appropriate cable between the AirPort Express and the device it will serve.
  2. Plug the AirPort Express into a power outlet.
  3. After the AirPort Express starts up, select it from the Wi-Fi menu, and then use the Setup Assistant in AirPort Utility to set it up.
  4. If you are now repurposing the AirPort Express, first reset it from Base Station in the menu bar, by selecting Restore Default Settings.
  5. Select the AirPort Express in AirPort Utility, and then click Continue.
  6. Enter a name and password for the AirPort Express, and then click Continue.
  7. Select 'I want AirPort Express to join my current network', and then click Continue.
  8. Select 'Join my wireless network,' and then click Continue.
  9. Select your Wi-Fi network name from Wireless Network Name drop-down menu, match the Wireless Security, and then click Continue.
  10. Click Update.
  11. Allow the AirPort Express to restart.

After the AirPort Express has restarted it should automatically join the existing Wi-Fi network, as indicated by its status light.

Learn more

You can manually download AirPort Utility and AirPort Base Station firmware from AirPort - Support - Downloads.