Apple periodically offers software updates (called firmware updates) that improve AirPort performance, security, and functionality. Here's how to make sure that your base station is up to date.

Before you begin

• Make sure that your base station and Mac or iOS device (iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch) are connected to the Internet.
• If your base station is performing a Time Machine backup or sharing a hard drive on your network, make sure that none of your devices are currently using that drive. Updating an AirPort base station causes it and its network services to be temporarily unavailable.

AirPort Utility is the simple to use, setup and management utility for the AirPort Express Base Station, the AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule. AirPort Utility ALLOW AIRPORT UTILITY TO ACCESS Siri & Search Search & Siri Suggestions Cellular Data AIRPORT UTILITY SETTINGS Version Acknowledgements 1.3.4 (134.22) Copyright © 2001—2014 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Wi-Fi Scanner Turning off the Wi-Fi scanner may help preserve battery life. AirPort Utility Apple 2.9, 837 Ratings.

• ‎Use AirPort Utility to manage your Wi-Fi network and AirPort base stations, including AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule — right from your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch. See a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network and devices. Change base station and network settings, or man.
• Jun 21, 2019 AirPort Time Capsule 802.11n. AirPort Extreme 802.11n. Version 7.8.1: Mac: Use AirPort Utility 6.3.2 or later, which is in the Utilities folder of your Applications folder. iOS devices: Use Airport Utility 1.3.4 or later for iOS 7.1 or later. PC: Use AirPort Utility 5.6.1 for Windows 7. AirPort Express 802.11n: Version 7.8.

Restart your base station

Open AirPort Utility on your Mac or iOS device, then follow these steps to restart your base station. If you have more than one base station, restart your primary base station last.

AirPort Utility shows a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network and any base stations connected to it. The primary base station (Home, in this example) is connected to the Internet via your modem or router.

1. Select your base station in AirPort Utility, then enter the base station password, if prompted.
2. On Mac, choose Base Station > Restart from the menu bar.
3. On iOS devices, tap the base station in AirPort Utility, then tap Edit > Advanced > Restart Base Station.

If you can't restart using AirPort Utility, just unplug the base station for a few seconds, then plug it back in.

Check for a firmware update

Airport Utility App

1. After restarting your base station, select the base station in AirPort Utility to see details about it. If you have more than one base station, start with the one farthest from your primary base station.
2. On Mac, the details pop-up shows an Update button when an update is available. Click the Update button to install the update.
   
3. On iOS devices, the details screen shows a numbered badge next to Version when an update is available. Tap Version, then tap Download and Install.
   
4. Your base station automatically restarts after the update is installed. Repeat these steps for any other base stations you're using. Update your primary base station last.

Latest updates

* Information only. To download and install firmware, use AirPort Utility.
** On Mac computers with OS X Mountain Lion or Lion, use AirPort Utility 6.3.1. On computers with Snow Leopard or Leopard, use Airport Utility 5.6.1, which supports 802.11n models and the original AirPort Express.

Learn more

• Learn how to check for Wi-Fi issues from your Mac or iOS device.
• Some base station features are available only while administering your Wi-Fi network from the latest operating system for your Mac or iOS device.
• If one of your network devices isn't compatible with the updated firmware, you might be able to reinstall older firmware. On Mac, click the base station in AirPort Utility, then Option-click the firmware version number. On iOS devices, tap the base station in AirPort Utility, then go to Version > Older Versions.

Unfortunately, Apple has not changed or updated AirPort Utility for Windows in over 6 years..... since the times of Windows 7......so if you have an iPhone or iPad, you could try running AirPort Utility for iOS to see if that might work more reliably.

Are the actual device names of your AirPorts......'AirPort Express connected to stereo' and 'RS and KT AirPortExtreme Base Station'?

Airport Utility

If they are, try renaming the devices using short, simple names.....no more than 12-16 characters (less is always better) with no blank spaces in the name. For example, the name of my AirPort Extreme is AEBS and names of my AirPort Expresses are AX1 and AX2.

Link Local Only would the correct settings for the AirPort devices unless your Internet Service Provider has recommended specific IPv6 settings that they want you to use with their service.

It may or may not be a factor that your AirPort Extreme is at least 5+ years old and as much as 7+ depending on when it was originally placed into service, but the average useful life of the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express is about 5 years before it starts to head downhill.

As far as a 'closed network', Apple specifically recommends against using a 'closed' or 'hidden' network in their support documents, so that may or may not be a factor here as well. Here is what Apple Support says:

Hidden network

Hidden networks don't broadcast their SSID over Wi-Fi. This option might be incorrectly referred to as a closed network, and the corresponding nonhidden state might be referred to as broadcast.

Airport Utility Mac

Set to: Disabled

Because hidden networks don't broadcast their SSID, devices might need more time to find them and connect to them. Hiding a network doesn't secure your Wi-Fi network, because the SSID can still be discovered in other ways.

Apple Airport Extreme Utility

Nov 25, 2018 3:53 PM