Make your Airport Express work with your Linksys router

I just bought the AirPort Express the other day along with the Linksys WRT54G (which you will need to get it to work properly). I spent about four hours trying to get them to talk to each other and extend the network etc. The instructions on Ars Technica were truly miserable and they failed every time. I found some actual working instructions on another site (http://www.rollerweblogger.org/page/roller/20040919#airport_express_and_linksys_wrt45g). I'll repost these below with some added information.

1. Download the Sveasoft "Satori" firmware upgrade for the router from http://www.carlsonwebservices.com/firmware/Sveasoft/Satori (Old)/Satori_4.0G_WRT54G_Firmware(WRT54G.COM).zip
please not: the above firmware has been replaced with a newer firmware called "alchemy" which can be found here: http://www.carlsonwebservices.com/firmware/Sveasoft/Alchemy_V1.0.zip. The following instructions should still work with this new firmware, but however they have not been tested.

2. Follow the installation instructions on this page: http://docs.sveasoft.com/SV-UpgradingFirmware.html (Its important to read the whole document before you decide to continue on to step 3).

3. Login to the admin panel on the WRT54G - 192.168.1.1 (Note that if the Router name is not "Sveasoft" then you didn't finish the instruction on step 2!).
a. Click "Wireless" and then click "WDS" on the submenu just below that. Turn Lazy WDS to "Disable" and set WDS subnet as "disabled." For the list of mac addresses, set the first one to "Lan" and then input the mac address of your AirPort Express (This can be found in very small and hard to read writing on the underside of the AirPort Express, it will be twelve digits long.).
b. If you haven't already, I recommend clicking on "Security" in the same submenu as "WDS" was found in and enabling 128-bit WEP security. I have read that WPA has problems when used in conjunction with the AX, but I have yet to test that. Write this down or put it in a text file or something as you will be using this later and this should save some time.
c. If any of you have read the Ars Technica article, then you will have read that they want you to turn off the firewall features under "Security" in the main window. This is false and is a very large security risk. So, click "Security" in the main menu and make sure that "Firewall Protection" is enabled and "Block annonymous internet requests" is checked.
d. The Ars Technica article also tells you disable loopback. This is another unneccessary step. Though its not terribly important.
e. At this point, you can change the name of your wireless network. Click "Wireless" and then change the "Wireless Network Name (SSID)" to anything you like. While you're at this screen, set the "Channel" to "11 - 2.462 Ghz."
f. Click on "Status" and then click "Wireless" on the submenu. Take note of the MAC Address, SSID, and the channel here, you will need them later.

4. Bring your AirPort Express close enough to the router to plug in with an ethernet cable. Plug it into the router and then into a power outlet and push the reset button on the AirPort Express with a paper clip for about 5 seconds. After doing this, wait about 30 seconds to a minute before continuing with step 5.

5. Insert the CD you got with the airport express. (I'm assuming you are using windows here). It will ask you what to do with iTunes, click "repair." This will install the new functionality which will let you stream your music to your stereo.

6. Now it will ask you what you want to do with your AirPort Express. Click cancel, you will use another method.

7. Go to your start menu and find the "AirPort" directory and click on "AirPort Admin Utility." You should see your AirPort Express listed. Click on it and then click "Configure."

8. Click the "AirPort" tab.
a. Change the "Name" to whatever you want the Airport Express to be named - for example, mine is named "Living Room."
b. Set "Use base station to" to "Create a Wireless Network." Set "Network Name" to the name (SSID) of your wireless network. Also, set the "Channel" to the channel of your wireless network (See step 3.f). If you enabled WEP, click "Security" and set the "Wireless Security" to what your router is using - in this case: "128bit WEP (more secure)." Then click "Change WEP Password." When you input the key for the WEP, make sure that the '$' preceeds the key. I don't know why this is, but it works.

9. Click "Internet" tab.
a. Set "Connect Using" to "AirPort (WDS)"
b. Input the MAC address of the wireless router (See step 3.f) in the "MAC address" input field and make sure to include the colons. ex: 00:0F:66:E1:DC:43.
c. Check "Also allow wireless client computers."
d. Set "configure" to "Using DHCP."

10. Click "Network" tab.
a. Uncheck "Distribute IP addresses."

11. Click "WDS" tab.
a. Check "Enable this base station as a WDS" and set it to "remote base station."
b. Make sure "Allow wireless clients on this base station" is checked.
c. The "Main AirPort ID" should match the MAC address you input in step 9.

12. Click "Music" tab.
a. Check "Enable AirTunes on this base station."
b. Here you can name your AirPort Express - I named mine "Living Room." I know...creative.

13. You're nearly done! Click "Update" on the bottom right. It should say something about the airport express is restarting. To be safe, give it about a minute to reboot and when the LED turns green, disconnect the ethernet cable and unplug the AirPort Express.

14. Move your AirPort Express to your stereo or wherever you're using it and plug it in. Wait for it...wait for it...about a minute will pass and the LED should turn green.

15. Launch iTunes and try to stream some music to your stereo. If it worked, then enjoy your music and donate some money to me with paypal to steven.buss@gmail.com! But then, that's being hopeful...

I hope this helps everyone (I spent an hour just typing this up and about four trying to figure it all out myself).

Last updated July 1, 2005