i have an old graphite base station(GBS). and, part of my problem is i cant get my g00gle-foo to find any help on such an old piece of hardware.
so, here's the scenario: the GBS is connected to ethernet and shares a SSID named HOME. great.
now i have an Airport Express (APX) in the kitchen tied to a stereo (to stream iTunes to my back patio speakers/kitchen speakers). i set the APX to connect to the GBS just fine. and, iTunes streams great.
here's the problem: my GBS signal is a little weak on the back patio using my powerbook. i was hoping i could use the APX as an extender to the HOME ssid AND be able to stream the tunes.
others have told me this is possible. but, i'm thinking this might be a limitation of the GBS (old hardware). when i go into the airport admin and look at the APX, under the internet tab i can choose 'connect using' but airport WDS is greyed out. so, i'm using 'wireless network' for now.
i'm thinking airport WDS is greyed out because the GBS does not even offer WDS in its options. but, then im a litlte cloudy on what WDS is since i've never used it.
anyone ever set up a segment like this? any clues as to what i should try next?
thx.
gsahli
04-24-2005, 07:04 PM
Hope this helps:
http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/airport/DesigningAirPortNetworks.pdf
cudaboy_71
04-24-2005, 08:00 PM
thanks for that. i've read over it but, all refs to airport base station are to the Extreme. if i could find the old doc that described the graphite base station i might be able to find some pertinent or clarifying info.
mclbruce
04-24-2005, 10:50 PM
I don't know the answer but here's a couple of tips.
Make sure the firmware in the GBS is up to date.
When I create a WDS network I use WDS area in the main base station. Open up the Graphite station in Airport Admin Utility. See if the WDS area there is functional. If so then activate WDS and annex the APX to it right there.
I have done this successfully with an Airport Extreme as the main station and several Airport Expresses as satellites. I did little or nothing to the software on the Expresses, and did most of the work in the WDS panel of the Extreme.
cudaboy_71
04-25-2005, 07:52 AM
i think checking the firmware may be my best hope. when i first discovered WDS was greyed out in the APX, i checked its status in the graphite base station and found it did not exist.
off to software update :/
mclbruce
04-25-2005, 10:43 AM
when i first discovered WDS was greyed out in the APX, i checked its status in the graphite base station and found it did not exist. That's definitely not a good sign. I may have read somewhere that (some of?) the older base stations may not support WDS. Good luck with this!
cudaboy_71
04-25-2005, 12:20 PM
i had a few minutes to burn. so, i called up applecare (supports airport hardware used with covered computers :D ) to get the official word.
i almost couldnt finish asking my question when the word 'graphite' came out of my mouth. even though i have been able to get my OBS (obsolete base station) to work in either extender mode OR airtunes mode, they won't/don't support ANY connection of graphite to airport express.
he did spend a good bit of time trying to get me to buy an airport extreme though, which he promised would work fine for what i wanted.
i think my next plan is to punch a discreet hole in my wall and run an ethernet cable to my router and see if that works.
i swear sometimes this stuff makes a little ralphie voice go off in my head "technology makes my brain hurt."
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