Airport Express to Stereo Receiver replacement (mesh?)

[mavots]

I have a love/hate relationship with my Airport wfi network.
Sometimes it works and the next day it doesn't. Maybe 10 good days to one bad one.

My setup:

Comcast Wifi 250Mbps
SB6183 modem>>Ethernet>>Airport Extreme>>5Ghz/2.4Ghz>>Airport Express (extended)
Airport Extreme router >>>Mac Pro(AC)/Macbook Pro (N)/iPhone 8 (AC)/iPad (AC) and a Yamaha Musiccast speaker (2.4Ghz)
Airport Express>> Stereo receiver via 1/8" to 1/4" splitter cable to "Tape" input

I am getting very frustrated with the AirPort network and am looking for a replacement network. I've heard of mesh but not really researched it.
The most important feature for me is the Airport Express connection the my Stereo. I mostly listen to internet radio from around the world through my stereo receiver. Incredible to be able to do that!!

Whatever new system I look at must include a way to connect from iTunes on my Mac Pro to the receiver. (And the ability to change stations from my living room and kitchen using my iPad!) I am not interested in throwing $$ at a new receiver with wifi unless there is no other solution. There must be some sort of wifi dongle (which the Airport Express basically is in this application) that works with mesh.

What mesh networks work with iTunes/Airplay and a direct/wired connection to an input port on my receiver???

Thanks for any help.

 

[techwarrior]

Likely the issue is with using Extended mode. If you can run ethernet or ethernet over power line to the location of the express, you will likely have excellent results.

Extended mode eats up 50% of the WiFi bandwidth for the uplink between the Extreme and Express ad tends to be flaky.

Or you could try configuring the Express in Client Mode if you don't need the WiFi signal extended. Unplug the express, and test signal strength throughout the home, if it is adequate, use client mode so the uplink won't be shared with other WiFi devices in the home. It works really well (client mode) in my home for air playing audio to a aux connected speaker on my patio with no drops.

Also, the express has a digital audio port (the aux jack) so you could improve audio quality by running something like this to the digital audio (Toslink) port on the receiver if it has one.

Finally, older AppleTV would do the job for about the same price as an express. The ATV 3 had a digital audio 3.5mm jack, same as the Express. But, that would also allow you to airplay video from your Apple devices in addition to audio.

 

[mavots]

Hey tech,

Thanks for the suggestion. I have been running an extended network ever since I bought the then brand new airport express. I live in a condo that is only about 800 sf. My cable modem is back in the den/spare bedroom so about as far away as it could be and several walls
Immediately after I changed to client, the volume of my iTunes radio shot up due to the stronger signal!
I am still getting about 90Mb/s in the living room/stereo are while the den gets over 200Mb/s. Perfectly acceptable.

My Yamaha receiver was built around 1985 so no Toslink! My 2000 $1200 Denon av receiver had it but the unit died after 10 years. The Yamaha was built of such better quality and cost less than half as much.

ATV is a good idea if I can find an older model on ebay.

So far no wifi breakups but still early days.

 

[techwarrior]

I am still getting about 90Mb/s in the living room/stereo

Perfectly acceptable for streaming audio which probably uses less than 1Mbps.