Airport Express 2nd Gen query.

[inscrewtable]

I am on a non apple network, I have an express 2nd Gen, I thought I could use it to wirelessly extend a non apple network but apparently I cannot do that wirelessly.

So now I'm just hoping to use the express as an airplay device for my powered monitors.

However right now I'm trying to update the firmware, I see I cannot do that on my mac because when I'm setting up the express I have no internet connection. Soooo, I thought I should be able to do that using my phone.

However although Airport utility on my mac can see the express, when I open the airport utility on my phone it doesn't locate the express.

Am I missing something here, regarding updating the express using the phone?

EDIT:, Ok now I'm really confused. After no success in using the airport utility on iOS I have discovered that I could set it up in the Setting app!, so after discovering that I can't set up the express to join an existing non Apple network, I find that using the Settings, that I can So now I've updated the firmware, and both my iPhone airport utility and my Mac airport utility are both showing that the express is connected to the non Apple network.

So I went back into WiFi explorer but the signal is not better. Before I had the Express set up, I was getting either poor quality <20dB or Excellent quality 70dB and now that the express is connected to the network, nothing has changed.

 

[techwarrior]

Express can be setup in one of four ways.

• It can be a router, connected to your modem (not your scenario),
• It can "extend" the network wirelessly from another Airport (not recommended),
• It can "extend" the network by connecting the WAN port to the LAN\Router and "Create a Wireless Network" (preferred method for extending the range),
• It can be a client to your existing WiFi to enable AirPlay and\or share an Ethernet port with other devices.

Sometimes routers that can enable extenders explicitly may work with wireless extending, but you never really want to do that because wireless capacity will suffer on both the router and Express.

If you need broader WiFi coverage, find a way to get Ethernet to the Express, either run Cat5 or better cable to it, or use MOCA or Powerline adapters to send the Ethernet data over existing home wiring.

If your WiFi coverage is adequate and just need an Airplay device, use AP Utility to set the express in Client mode. It will get an IP from the router just like any other wireless client.

 

[inscrewtable]

OK, so I have manage to set it up in wireless mode but as you say, it has not improved anything. And if it's going to impact on the main router, then I suppose I'd better disconnect it and set it up as a 'client'.

Here's three more shots while it was connected wirelessly, see how it keeps switching back and forth from poor to excellent.





OK I have reset the Express, but I'm not sure which option is 'client' mode.

On both the iOS and mac utility, the options are Create a New Network, Add to and Existing Network, or Replace an Existing Device.

EDIT: Yes I really just want to stream from iTunes on mac to remote speakers plugged into the Express, does this mean that I have to physically connect the Express to the Mac?

 

[inscrewtable]

I just reconnected it to the non apple house wifi as before just to see it work, but now I have to cheese either the Computer OR the Express.

What I'm wanting to do, is have my speakers that are plugged into my Scarlett audio interface, playing and I was the same music playing wirelessly from a second set of speakers connected to the Express. But as you can see from the shot below, it's an either/or situation.

 

[techwarrior]

On the Wireless tab, Join a network is client mode.

I can't see your screenshots, virus software detects malware on that site. But, I have both a 1st gen and 2nd gen Express, and can connect to them in iTunes (Music in Catalina) simultaneously, along with Home Pod, ATV, and the optical audio sound-bar connected to my Mac.

My WiFi network is all Sysnology, not Apple. I have been able to use these simultaneously for many years with iTunes on Apple and non-Apple networks.

The fact that you can select (and play) to the Express suggests the network is not the issue.

Not familiar with Scarlett, I assume that is kind of a mixer? Maybe something about it prevents simultaneous output?

 

[Slix]

I just reconnected it to the non apple house wifi as before just to see it work, but now I have to cheese either the Computer OR the Express.

What I'm wanting to do, is have my speakers that are plugged into my Scarlett audio interface, playing and I was the same music playing wirelessly from a second set of speakers connected to the Express. But as you can see from the shot below, it's an either/or situation.

All you need to do to play out of more than one speaker output is select each checkbox. If you click the name of the speaker (or Computer) it will play only on that device, but if you click the checkboxes, you can select as many as you want.

 

[inscrewtable]

All you need to do to play out of more than one speaker output is select each checkbox. If you click the name of the speaker (or Computer) it will play only on that device, but if you click the checkboxes, you can select as many as you want.

Mind=>Blown. That is incredible, I always though I should be able to send to more than once device, I whenever I clicked the checkbox it always behaved the same as if I had clicked the whole panel, I only did it a couple of times then never tried again, I must have not hit the checkbox properly, maybe missed by a millimetre or something. The final piece of the puzzle has fallen into place. I am eternally grateful.