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Airport Express (Wireless N)-God Give Me Strength.

Azzin

Azzin

macrumors 603
Original poster
Jun 23, 2010
5,434
3,742
London, England.
Grrr... :mad:

I've set up my AE fine, but for the life of me I can't get the "Remote Speakers" icon to show in iTunes. :(

I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit if that helps.

I can "log in" to it using the Airport Utility and all seems well there, but iTunes refuses to give me the option of sending the audio to it.

If I fire up my Ipad I get the option to send the audio that's on my Ipad to the AE and the same with my iPhone, but for the life of me I can't get iTunes to do it.

If I connect using the "Remote" app on my iPad, I can select any track or playlist on my PC and it will play out of the PC speakers, but no option to send it to AE speakers. *Bangs Head*

I've tried ticking/unticking/reticking "Look for remote speakers with AirPlay", I've done everything I can think of.

Also, I originally set up and configured the AE using my W7 (no iTunes) laptop, but now from my PC when I run the airport utility, it doesn't find/see/pickup the Express and I have to find it by selecting "File>Configure Other". :confused:

The other issue I had yesterday was that I couldn't get it set to "extend wireless network", it kept saying it was unable to do it so I turned wireless off in the end and just left it connected via ethernet.

[Edit] - Scrub that last bit, I just went back in on my laptop and tried changing it to "Extend my wireless network" and it worked (still no AirPlay icon in iTunes on my main PC though).

Please help me before I lose my mind, all I want to be able to do is stream music from my PC to my AE!

Many thanks.
 
Ok, here's a weird thing....

In my router I have 2 x entries for the device, one under ethernet connected and the other under wireless.

Ethernet has an I.P of 192.168.1.94

Wireless has an I.P of 192.168.1.96

.94 is not ping-able.
.96 is ping-able.

The device is connected by ethernet in my living room and connected to my amp and I can still select it to play music from my iPad or iPhone (just not iTunes). :confused:
 
Are you running the latest version of iTunes. And, is your pc connected wirelessly to the AEs network? If your pc is wired, might be that its not actually on the same domain thingy as the AE and your iPad.
 
Gee said:
Are you running the latest version of iTunes. And, is your pc connected wirelessly to the AEs network? If your pc is wired, might be that its not actually on the same domain thingy as the AE and your iPad.
Click to expand...

Thanks, its the latest version of iTunes, yes.

My PC is connected by ethernet to an Ethernet switch (as is everything in the house), which is connected directly to my router.

It's just iTunes that is messing about, as I don't get the option to stream to any remote speakers.

I can stream to the AE from my iPhone and my iPad, but I only have a selection of playlists on each one and I want to be able to choose from the whole library on my PC and stream it to the AE in my living room.
 
I think the issue relates to this different domains. Your iPad iPhone are on the wireless network with the AE, your computer is on a wired network that's not the same as the wireless one. Hence the AE has two IPs - it is kinda part of both networks, but only doing the AirTunes thing on the wireless one.

One solution if your router also has wireless, is to turn off the wiresless on the AE, and just let it sit on the wired network. Your router will then be doing all of the network creating, and all your devices should be on the same subnet thing.
 
Gee said:
I think the issue relates to this different domains. Your iPad iPhone are on the wireless network with the AE, your computer is on a wired network that's not the same as the wireless one. Hence the AE has two IPs - it is kinda part of both networks, but only doing the AirTunes thing on the wireless one.
Click to expand...

That makes sense. :)

Gee said:
One solution if your router also has wireless, is to turn off the wiresless on the AE, and just let it sit on the wired network. Your router will then be doing all of the network creating, and all your devices should be on the same subnet thing.
Click to expand...

My router is wireless, so I'll give that a try (turn off wireless function completely in AE).

I was hoping to also be able to extend my wireless using the AE, but my main criteria was to be able to stream from my PC into the living room and if sacrificing wireless gives me that ability then so be it!

Thank you.
 
If it was all working completely properly, and the AE was doing the 'extend range' thing correctly, then all of your bits and bobs should be on one big network subnet getting their (sequential) ip addresses from the router and everything would be great. So what you've been trying to do should be possible. I would try it wired first, get it working, and then if you want to try extending range ,have another fiddle.

It seems that lots of people have problems getting extending to work, and it may be that you need to change some settings on the router as well as the AE. Your ethernet switch may complicate things more too, if that device is also serving IPs and creating subdomains of it's own.

Anyway point being, it should be possible, so don't give up on it if you really need the extend range function.
 
Another thing I thought I'd mention is that I can't connect to the AE utility from my (wired) PC, I have to do a manual connection and get to it via I.P, but I can get to it using the utility using my laptop (wirelessly).

I don't know if that helps or not!
 
Azzin said:
Another thing I thought I'd mention is that I can't connect to the AE utility from my (wired) PC, I have to do a manual connection and get to it via I.P, but I can get to it using the utility using my laptop (wirelessly).

I don't know if that helps or not!
Click to expand...

I think that might also be to do with hsving two subnets.

From the apple support page:

Question: A computer connects via wire to an existing wireless access point/router. Can this wired client send an AirTunes stream to AirPort Express via the existing router?
Answer: Yes, if they are on the same subnet. These are common examples of when it would work:

The existing router is an AirPort Extreme Base Station set up as WDS main, with the AirPort Express set up as WDS remote.
The AirPort Express has joined the network (AirPort or third-party) in client mode.
You have a wired-only router sharing your Internet connection with a separate wireless access point that bridges the network to wireless clients. As in the two examples above, the AirPort Express would be either a WDS remote or in client mode.
 
Gee said:
I think that might also be to do with hsving two subnets.

From the apple support page:

Question: A computer connects via wire to an existing wireless access point/router. Can this wired client send an AirTunes stream to AirPort Express via the existing router?
Answer: Yes, if they are on the same subnet. These are common examples of when it would work:

The existing router is an AirPort Extreme Base Station set up as WDS main, with the AirPort Express set up as WDS remote.
The AirPort Express has joined the network (AirPort or third-party) in client mode.
You have a wired-only router sharing your Internet connection with a separate wireless access point that bridges the network to wireless clients. As in the two examples above, the AirPort Express would be either a WDS remote or in client mode.
Click to expand...

I don't have a wired only router, here's what I have.

O2 (UK ISP) wireless ADSL modem/router>Ethernet lead to 24 port switch in gararge>Ethernet leads to office (my main PC), living room (XBOX/Popcorn Hour/Airport Express).

Does that help!?

I'll turn wireless off on the Airport Express and see what happens and I'll check the subnet before and after I turn wireless off.

Thanks again, much appreciated. :)
 
Think you have to have an airport extreme to do this.

If you setup the express as a stand alone wireless network you will be able to stream from iPad or iPhone.

I'm sure I've read somewhere that in order to do this from iTunes you need an extreme.
 
gazpilot said:
Think you have to have an airport extreme to do this.

If you setup the express as a stand alone wireless network you will be able to stream from iPad or iPhone.

I'm sure I've read somewhere that in order to do this from iTunes you need an extreme.
Click to expand...


opps, my bad.


Question: I have a third-party 802.11b wireless access point. I want to put AirPort Express next to my home theater and stream iTunes to it. Can AirPort Express join the third-party network?
Answer: Yes. AirPort Express can join a third-party network in client mode.

AirPort Express can function as a full-fledged wireless access point, or it can join an existing network just to offer its wireless print server and audio features. When AirPort Express does that, it is in "client mode."

In client mode AirPort Express does not offer itself as a wireless access point or use its Ethernet port. As a wireless client, AirPort Express is simply a destination for AirTunes and print jobs. It can join both 802.11b and 802.11g networks, including those using security features such as WEP and WPA-PSK.
 
gazpilot said:
opps, my bad.


Question: I have a third-party 802.11b wireless access point. I want to put AirPort Express next to my home theater and stream iTunes to it. Can AirPort Express join the third-party network?
Answer: Yes. AirPort Express can join a third-party network in client mode.

AirPort Express can function as a full-fledged wireless access point, or it can join an existing network just to offer its wireless print server and audio features. When AirPort Express does that, it is in "client mode."

In client mode AirPort Express does not offer itself as a wireless access point or use its Ethernet port. As a wireless client, AirPort Express is simply a destination for AirTunes and print jobs. It can join both 802.11b and 802.11g networks, including those using security features such as WEP and WPA-PSK.
Click to expand...

So it can't stream music to my amp when connected via Ethernet?

Party Central.

If you already have a wireless network in place, you can use AirPort Express to add music to its capabilities. Let’s say, for example, you have AirPort Extreme set up in your study. There’s no need to scrap this setup and create a whole new network. Simply connect AirPort Express to your stereo in your favourite music room and plug it into an electrical outlet — it wirelessly links to your existing network, letting you play your music in your room of choice without moving anything or connecting anything else.
Click to expand...

http://www.apple.com/uk/airportexpress/features/airtunes.html

So why not over Ethernet and what's the point of having an Ethernet connection if that's the case? :confused:
 
The way I read it it can't, I think it uses it's Ethernet port for initial configuration.

I have 3 expresses all streaming music from my iTunes to powered speakers, but as I have an extreme I can also use them as access point/repeaters and wireless media servers at the same time.
 
Last edited:
gazpilot said:
The way I read it it can't, I think it uses it's Ethernet port for initial configuration.

I have 3 expresses all streaming music from my iTunes to powered speakers, but as I have an extreme I can also use them as access point/repeaters and wireless media servers at the same time.
Click to expand...

Streaming via Wi-Fi (if ethernet is just used for config) will be fine, as there's plenty of wifi coverage in the living room. :)

Although in honesty, in an ideal world I would stream to the AE via ethernet and also have it extend my existing Wi-Fi network.

Anyway, I'm on my main (hard wired) PC and with the AE in the Living Room connected by ethernet and with wireless extension on, here's what I see when I select a track on my iPhone:

8be606a0.jpg


Here's what I get from my main PC when I run the Airport Utility:

AEScan1.png


The only way I can get to the device is by opening a config file that I saved when I mapped to it previously by I.P address.

When I do that, here's what I see:

AE2.png


And as you can see, it's picking up a wifi address (.96).

My router shows 2 entries for the AE-192.168.1.94 (ethernet/inactive-called "base-station-004f57") and 192.168.1.96 (wifi/active-called "airportexpress").

Here are some more pics of the AE's pages:

AEScan3.png

AEScan4.png

AEScan5.png

AEScan6.png

AEScan7.png


Does any of that help?
 
gazpilot said:
The way I read it it can't, I think it uses it's Ethernet port for initial configuration.

I have 3 expresses all streaming music from my iTunes to powered speakers, but as I have an extreme I can also use them as access point/repeaters and wireless media servers at the same time.
Click to expand...

I've just donwloaded the AE setup guide and on the "Getting Started" page it says:

Connect AirPort Express to your home stereo or powered speakers and use AirTunes to play your iTunes music on your home stereo from a Macintosh with an AirPort or AirPort Extreme Card, or a compatible Windows XP or 2000 wireless computer.
Click to expand...

So it mentions streaming from a wireless PC, but not via an ethernet PC. :confused:

http://www.t35.ph.tum.de/Rechnerdoku/AirPortExpressSetupGuide.pdf
 
Question: A computer connects via wire to an existing wireless access point/router. Can this wired client send an AirTunes stream to AirPort Express via the existing router?

Answer: Yes, if they are on the same subnet. These are common examples of when it would work:

* The existing router is an AirPort Extreme Base Station set up as WDS main, with the AirPort Express set up as WDS remote.
* The AirPort Express has joined the network (AirPort or third-party) in client mode.
* You have a wired-only router sharing your Internet connection with a separate wireless access point that bridges the network to wireless clients. As in the two examples above, the AirPort Express would be either a WDS remote or in client mode.


Question: Since AirPort Express only has one Ethernet port, does it act as a LAN port, WAN port, or both?

Answer: Depending on how you have it set up, the Ethernet port can function as a LAN port (defined as either simple bridging or sharing your Internet connection via network address translation) or a WAN port (connecting to your broadband Internet service provider or upstream router). However, it never acts as both simultaneously in the way that the original AirPort Base Station (Graphite) can. When the AirPort Express is using network address translation, the Ethernet port acts as a WAN port. When it is set up as a WDS remote station, it can act as a LAN port. Assuming that your Internet service provider only gives you one IP address (the most common scenario for homes), this means that AirPort Express can only accommodate wired clients when acting as a WDS remote base station or bridge. Therefore, if you need to support wired clients and only want to get one base station (or router, as it's the routing capacity of AirPort Express that is relevant here), you should get the AirPort Extreme Base Station instead.
Click to expand...

Question: A computer connects via wire to an existing wireless access point/router. Can this wired client send an AirTunes stream to AirPort Express via the existing router?

Answer: Yes, if they are on the same subnet. These are common examples of when it would work:

* The existing router is an AirPort Extreme Base Station set up as WDS main, with the AirPort Express set up as WDS remote.
* The AirPort Express has joined the network (AirPort or third-party) in client mode.
* You have a wired-only router sharing your Internet connection with a separate wireless access point that bridges the network to wireless clients. As in the two examples above, the AirPort Express would be either a WDS remote or in client mode.
Click to expand...

AirPort Express frequently asked questions (FAQ)
 
I ve got the same setup at one place. Works a dream....with the AExpress providing the wireless network. Only item that doesnt join the network is my iPhone because I run a N 5GHz network. iPad loves it though. Mac Mini wired into the router (a Netgear) see's it all.

Let the AEs do the wireless side of it.

You do NOT need an AExtreme.
 
Omne666 said:
I ve got the same setup at one place. Works a dream....with the AExpress providing the wireless network. Only item that doesnt join the network is my iPhone because I run a N 5GHz network. iPad loves it though. Mac Mini wired into the router (a Netgear) see's it all.

Let the AEs do the wireless side of it.

You do NOT need an AExtreme.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I'm going to reset it and start again, using the instructions here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1731
 
Azzin said:
Ok, I've done that but it's still not showing the Airplay icon in iTunes. :(

Is it because my PC is connected via ethernet? :confused:
Click to expand...

Right-I'm getting closer.

I have now installed iTunes on my laptop (connected to my LAN via Wi-Fi) and guess what?

Yep-I have the Airplay icon in iTunes. :eek:

So the issue is that I can't currently stream to the AE from my ethernet connected PC.... :(
 
I think you've still having problems with two different subnets. The way I read those instructions, you can only extend the range of a wireless network if your other device is airport which it's not. So, I think you have three choices to solve this

Turn off wifi on the AE and connect it by Ethernet to the router (as I said before)
Set the AE to join your wifi in client mode, forget it has a Ethernet port
Turn off wifi on the router, let the AE provide the network

Any of these should mean all of your wired and wireless devices are on the same subnet.
 
Gee said:
I think you've still having problems with two different subnets. The way I read those instructions, you can only extend the range of a wireless network if your other device is airport which it's not. So, I think you have three choices to solve this

Turn off wifi on the AE and connect it by Ethernet to the router (as I said before)
Set the AE to join your wifi in client mode, forget it has a Ethernet port
Turn off wifi on the router, let the AE provide the network

Any of these should mean all of your wired and wireless devices are on the same subnet.
Click to expand...

Ok, I've done a factory reset on the AE and am now in the Airport Utility from "fresh" so to speak.

I get 3 options on the 1st config page:

  1. Create a new wireless network.
  2. Replace an existing base station or wireless router with Airport Express.
  3. I want Airport Express to join my current network.

I could turn off wifi on the router as the AE will be in the living room so coverage will be fine from there.

Thanks again.

[Edit] - Ok...

I've set the AE up to offer wifi out (it's off in router) and I can now pick up the new wifi name using my iPad. :)

Now, how to get iTunes from my ethernet PC to stream to it....
 
Last edited:
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