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How to set up an old AirPort Express? - Solved
- Thread starter SBlue1
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Already been there, not working for me.
I see the AirPort Express in the WiFi Settings on the iPhone, but when trying to set up its just loading endlessly at the last step. Also an Error occures sometimes.
I did the factory reset the right way.
Any more ideas?
I came across this discussion while trying to figure out why my two AirPort Express A1264 units can't be detected on my home WiFi network. I last used them about three years ago to play Apple Music to a hifi in the basement and powered speakers in another room, and at that time I had no trouble finding them (when they were turned on) and using them from my iPhone. Today I tried resetting both to factory settings (push the reset button until the amber light blinks) but no luck. I have an M1 MacBook Air with just-installed Sequoia, and an iPhone XS with just-installed iOS 18. AirPort utility on both devices doesn't see the AirPorts (but they do see my AirPort Time Capsule that's on the same network). They aren't visible under Settings-WiFi on my iPhone. I tried plugging each directly into the Time Capsule with an Ethernet cable, then into an Ethernet adapter to my MacBook, still not visible on the AirPort utilities on Mac and phone. I should mention that on each Express the amber light blinks very slowly.
I don't have Windows or
I don't have Windows or
I have tried everything with my AirPort Express 2. Gen (A1392) to make it work and connect to our main WIFI.
I tried 2,4GHz and 5GHz, no luck. Always connection issues.
I couldn't set it up properly due to error messages while setting it up. I then did the default "create a new network" setup process and changed the connection type to "join an existing network" from the options in the AirPort Utility App.
But once I do that and join our main WiFi, I loose the connection and can't see the device anymore within AirPort Utility.
I only see the device when I connect it via ethernet, so directly wired, but still can't do anything to connect my iPhone to the device for AirPlay.
Any more ideas?
I tried 2,4GHz and 5GHz, no luck. Always connection issues.
I couldn't set it up properly due to error messages while setting it up. I then did the default "create a new network" setup process and changed the connection type to "join an existing network" from the options in the AirPort Utility App.
But once I do that and join our main WiFi, I loose the connection and can't see the device anymore within AirPort Utility.
I only see the device when I connect it via ethernet, so directly wired, but still can't do anything to connect my iPhone to the device for AirPlay.
Any more ideas?
I've downloaded Win 10 via Boot Camp, which I was unable to do before due to an HD problem and the loss of my Firmware password. The Apple Shop here in Valencia sorted that, so I now have Win 10. I believe that some folk have had success with old AirPort Express models via Windows, so I'll give it a go later and post back the results here.
I don't know if this helps, but the manual mentions deleting profiles near the end of the page so that is a different reset than the standard one:
I would try resetting again to factory defaults and use join an existing network as that will work for AirPlay. It sounds like when you switched the connection types, you may have ended up on a different subnet so the phone can't find it.
OK. I downloaded Airport Utility for Windows 10 via Boot Camp and Win 10 has recognised it. I've configured it as a separate network and it now shows in Airport Utility on my Mac but states that I need an older version of AU. When I've googled and found an older version it states that it will only run via an emulator. This means I can run it via my Win 10 Boot Camp but is there any way I can run it straight from the Mac?
What model of Airport Express are you trying to install? You should be able to do this from your Mac rather than Windows. If you have the first model, the 1084/1088 that is not really useful anymore. It would require an older installer but it's so old that it's not secure as I recall.
I just installed a couple of Airport Express units model #1264 which was the second iteration of the first generation units with no real issues on an M1 Air running Sequoia so it can be done.
A1008 - the very first AE. Having got Windows to recognise it and my Mac AU to recognise it, I'm not about to give up just yet. There's an answer out there somewhere!
If it recognizes it, then Airport Utility should be able to install it for your network. I have one of the first ones and I did have to use a really old version of Airport Utility but this was a long time ago so I don't recall the version number. Did it tell you what version of the utility you need?
According to the Wiki, version 5.6.1 for Windows should be able to access your older AE:
AirPort Express - Wikipedia
Download AirPort Utility 5.6.1 for Windows - Apple Support
AirPort Utility 5.6.1 allows you to configure and manage the new AirPort Express with simultaneous dual band 802.11n.
There is no A1008: it's either a 1084 or 1088.
Eeeesh, why? I guess as a slow wireless bridge in a pinch?
Only one set of speakers, so Airplay1 doesn’t matter?
I’m all for using what ya got, but the time you’ve wasted so far…
If you're playing music from iTunes on a computer, you can have multiple AE units playing at the same time.
Yeah, I'm aware, but that can only work from iTunes... it's just such a limited use case.
Grab up AE 2nd gens while you can!
Wish apple would release a new product that has the same functionality (wired airplay2 client with line/digital out). Ihave a feeling we never will.
Not that limited as I don't stream from my phone which the newer AirPlay 2 firmware allows.
The multiple speakers feature has been around for nearly 20 years:
Configuring iTunes for multi-room playback
When Apple recently updated iTunes it failed to highlight one of the program’s coolest new features—the ability for iTunes to broadcast to up to three AirPort Express modules. Here’s how to set it up.
www.macworld.com
The problem with the 2nd generation Airport Express units is that they're not bit perfect with the later firmware so either you roll back to an older firmware or have a lesser quality audio using AAC streaming protocols. The earlier firmware used Apple Lossless. If you search some various forums, you'll see that many are using the model 1264 to avoid the audio issues that the later model has.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that the Music app on a computer can access the multiple speakers option just like iTunes but I still prefer iTunes so I use that. It still works installed with the Retroactive app even on my M1 Air running Sequoia though the author of the app has stated it is getting no further support:
GitHub - cormiertyshawn895/Retroactive: Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve.
Retroactive has been discontinued. You should transition from Retroactive to supported apps such as Music, iTunes for Windows, iMazing, Photos, Darktable, Lightroom Classic, and DaVinci Resolve. - ...
github.com
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sauce? info on versions?
Measurements: First and Second Generation Apple AirPort Express
Seven years ago Stereophile's John Atkinson published objective measurements of Apple's AirPort Express. Since then Apple changed critical internal parts increasing jitter levels and more recently completed a redesign of the entire AirPort Express. The time has come to put both new and old...
audiophilestyle.com
That's a really old article and was accurate at that time since the newer AirPlay 2 firmware wasn't out yet.sauce? info on versions?
Measurements: First and Second Generation Apple AirPort Express
Seven years ago Stereophile's John Atkinson published objective measurements of Apple's AirPort Express. Since then Apple changed critical internal parts increasing jitter levels and more recently completed a redesign of the entire AirPort Express. The time has come to put both new and old...
View attachment 2434871
There are numerous posts about the audio quality downgrade due to the newer firmware 7.8.1 and here are two:
Any Known Apple AirPlay 2 Sound Quality Issues?
Outside of the fixed 16/44.1 format, are there any known sound quality issues with AirPlay? I know that theoretically, it uses the Apple Lossless Audio Codec which should guarantee a lossless transfer of data (again, assuming a source with 16/44.1 format). But the theoretical world and the...
www.audiosciencereview.com
What MacOS are you using? Apparently, the utility app is too old for that OS. The latest one on my M1 Air is 6.3.9 for example but there were others in between. I know you said you needed an older version for that Airport Express but MacOS will flags apps that are not compatible.
The only thing is to try using Windows as you stated earlier or possibly make a Virtual Machine but if you're never done that, it would take more time than it's worth just for this one issue.
Thanks for that. It will certainly run from Windows but I need to reconfigure it so it appears on my usual network. I do have VM in abeyance so I could fire that up. You're probably thinking if it's ever worth it but I do like a challenge! Thanks for your help.
I think the problem with the original Airport Express is that it's a b/g wireless device and newer routers don't see that or if they do, it's ignored. Also, there is the security issue: WPA vs WPA2. I think those early devices only had WPA or some lesser security which is not recommended today. I think I still have my original unit and will look tomorrow and see if it still works and see what security level it has.