Airplay: iPhone 4 - Airport Express (AX) works bad. Music drops frequently

When I'm about 10 meters away from my AX with my iPhone and plays music through Airplay, it often drops. The music dissapears for a few seconds, come and go.
But I can be even further away from my AX with my Macbook and the music Never Drops. Why is that? How come my Macbook seem more stable when streaming music, than my iPhone 4?
An additional question: Is there any way to "speed up connection" between Airport Express and Macbook/iPhone 4? Often I feel 2-3 seconds delay from pressing play to when the music actually begins playing. Could the 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz switching make a difference?
Thank you.

If your overall wireless bandwidth is poor it is very possible that you may have some form of Wi-Fi interference in the immediate area that is preventing your AX from providing a good clean signal. This will show up as poor streaming performance or poor data transfer rates.
I suggest you perform a simple site survey, using utilities like iStumbler, or AirRadar to determine potential areas of interference, and then, try to either eliminate or significantly reduce them where possible.

Similar Messages

Airport express: how to stop music dropping out

Have been using an airport express version 7.6.3, 1st generation, for over a year without problems, but for about a week now, it is cutting in and out. Any advice on how to fix this?

Yes, the problem became more fequent and bothersome in the past week, but I suppose it have started, albeit less noticeably, after the last update earlier this spring. Anyway, working fine now, and fingers crossed, will continue to do so.
By the way, helpful advice on how to easily switch between versions is included here: http://9to5mac.com/2013/02/11/apple-airporttime-capsule-7-6-3-update-breaks-ipv6 -tunneling-fix-is-downgrading/

I have a linksys WRT54G router that we use as a base. I want to use Airplay using Airport Express and hook up my stereo to it. How can i set up my Airport express without a PC/laptop? I just downloaded Airport utility on my iphone and ipad,will that work?

I have a linksys WRT54G router that we use as a base. I want to use Airplay using Airport Express and hook up my stereo to it. How can i set up my Airport express without a PC/laptop? I just downloaded Airport utility on my iphone and ipad,will that work? And one more thing about the setup, the linksys router shich acts as a base is in a different room as the airport express which i wanted to use for airplay. So I'm hoping to hook up the Airport express via wireless signal. If i can set it up, can someone pls help me out by posting detailed instructions. Thanks so much!

The first message that AirPort Utility will display during the auto setup will be that the Express will be confgured to "extend" the network. When AirPort Utility analyzes the network further, and sees that the Express cannot "extend" the 3rd party network, the next message will indicate that the Express is being configured to "join" the wireless network.
Once the Express is configured, if you later go into AirPort Utility to check the settings under the Wireless tab, you will see that the Wireless Mode is indeed "Join a wireless network".

AirPlay from iTunes to AirPort Express not working

AirPort is connected with my network and fully working. I also set up AppleTV, which also is fully working and can mirror both my computer and iPhone. In order to play music from iTunes on my Macbook Pro (which is also connected to the network), I clicked the AirPlay button and received the following message: "An unknown error (-15006)occurred while connecting to the AirPlay device 'AirPort Express'". How do I get my iTunes on my MacBook Pro to connect?

I finally resolved this myself. It was somehow "stuck" on a playlist. I could not stream from the main library, but once I tried to stream from that particular playlist - the whole thing started working again. Now I can stream from the main library and other playlists. A very strange quirk. I did rent a movie in iTunes last night for the first time and I had been streaming from that playlist prior to starting the rental movie - and I think somehow it must have gotten "stuck." Hopefully it is a bug no one else experiences because it wasted an hour of my time today.

I'm using iTunes 9 and I recently just bought AirPort Express. I have used it before in the past put the problem I have now is that I cannot select the Express network for my speakers. Does Airport Express only work with iTunes 10 or 11?

I'm using iTunes 9 and I recently just bought AirPort Express. I have used it before in the past put the problem I have now is that I cannot select the Express network for my speakers. Does Airport Express only work with iTunes 10 or 11?

Hello Hornet12,
Indeed, iTunes 10.2 or later will be required to utilize AirPlay.
Using AirPlay
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4437
AirPlay requirements and capabilities
To get full AirPlay features, make sure your AirPlay-enabled devices are running the latest software updates. The table below identifies minimum AirPlay requirements and capabilities:
Stream content from
Requirement
Notes
iPad
iOS 4.3 or later.1
From the Videos, iPod, Photos, Music, and YouTube apps on iOS devices, stream videos, music, and photos to an Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation), or stream music to an AirPort Express or compatible third-party device.
With iOS 4.3 and later, you can also stream video and audio from a website or a third-party app installed on your iOS device if the developer for the app or website has added AirPlay functionality.
iPhone (3GS or later)
iPod touch
(2nd generation or later)
Computer
iTunes 10.2 or later.
Stream videos and music from your iTunes library to an Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation), or music to an AirPort Express or compatible third-party device.
Apple TV
Apple TV software version 5.1 or later.
Stream music from your Apple TV to another Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation), to an AirPort Express or compatible third-party device.
Cheers,
Allen

How do I set Airport Express to work as repeater?

How do I get my Airport Express to work as a repeater for my Apple TV, iPhones and iPad? I use a Mac Pro and a Netgear N300 Wireless N Router. The N300 sees the Airport fine and I can play music to the Airport from iTunes, but none of the other advertised features appear obvious.
All of my other Apple products sync to the N300 Router without issue and apart from some minor setting up to get it working with Apple TV, the N300 presents no compatibilty issues whatsoever.
When I purchased the Airport Express, I truly beleived that the Airport Utility Software, would allow me to choose whether I want to use it for Audio or USB or Repeating / Extending my network, by simply selecting the mode I required, when I required it. After all, isn't that the beauty of Mac computers?
Alas, there is no such drop down menu or button I can press in Airport Utilty to make such a straight forward selection. Instead, from what I can see so far in Airport Utility and various forums, there is a very long and painful process that must be carried out to use the Airport to extend my WIFI network.
I refuse to believe that it can be this hard and assume that that there is some really obvious setting I can change to make this work. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if Apple left this out of the manual, as Apple are legendary for not telling you how connect to 3rd party products, as I found with Apple TV.
As I said, I have read a million threads on this topic and all I have found so far are wanna be geeks, getting lost up there own a**es with lots of technical rubbish that has nothing to do with the problem.
If there is anyone there who actually knows what they are talking about and can explain this without Pythageros Theorem, I would be most grateful.

The AirPort Express can "Join" virtually any wireless network to provide AirTunes and remote printing capability.
But, the "Extend a wireless network" function of the Express appears to be a proprietary feature that will only work with other Apple wireless routers.
As far as we know, this feature is not compatible with routers from any other manufacturers, so there is virtually no chance that it will work with the Netgear N300 router.
I refuse to believe that it can be this hard and assume that that there is some really obvious setting I can change to make this work. It certainly wouldn't surprise me if Apple left this out of the manual,
Well, you can try either the guided setup or the Manual Setup method to configure the Express to "Extend a wireless network", but you are going to get an error message that the "network cannot be extended".
If you have the time and wish to prove this to yourself.....
Open AirPort Utility - Click Manual Setup
Click the Base Station tab below the icons to name the Express, setup a device password and adjust Time Zone settings
Click the Wireless tab and adjust as follows:
Wireless Mode = Extend a wireless network
Wireless Network Name = The name of the Netgear network that you wish to extend
Enter a check mark next to "Allow wireless clients" if not already checked
Wireless Security = Wireless security setting of the Netgear network
Wireless Password = Enter the password of the Netgear network
Confirm Password
Click Update and wait for the error message

I keep getting this message An unknown error (-15006) occurred while connecting to the AirPlay device " AirPort Express".

Please help. I have been having major difficulties with my Airport Express. It used to work fine but for the last year or so it continually disconnects, skips and ultimately drops out and itunes gives me this message "An unknown error (-15006) occurred while connecting to the AirPlay device “AirPort Express”. I keep resetting, unplugging, restarting Itunes, or my computer. It works for a couple of hours and then I get the message again. It's making me nuts and was a bummer at last week's party when we had no music, yet again. I have looked up the support discussions, but there is no answer as to how I can fix it. I am currently using Mt Lion OS. Does this have anything to do with it? Checked for software updates, but nada.
Any suggestions.

It may be possible the where you have the AX located may just be in a spot where it does not get a good signal even it is only 8 feet away.
I suggest that you download and install iStumbler. You will use it to determine the signal quality by making Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) measurements. This will be easiest if your Mac is a laptop ... or you can borrow one. When taking the measurements, you only want your "main" AirPort running as this is what we want to measure at the location of the AX.
SNR (in dB) = Signal (in dBm) - Noise (in dBm)
You can easily find the Signal and Noise value using System Profiler on your Mac laptop.
ref: Click on the Apple icon on the menu bar > About This Mac > More Info... > Contents > Network > AirPort > Interfaces > en1 > Current Network Information > Find your wireless network > Signal / Noise
While your still in the System Profiler, note the value for Transmit Rate.
These values should be negative numbers. For example, mine currently read: -67 dBm / -95 dBm, with a transmit rate of 27 (Mbps). Plugging in these numbers yield: SNR = -67 - (-95) = 28. My Mac Mini is about four rooms away from my AEBS with about five walls between them. As you can see, the signal is still quite useable ... but the bandwidth is minimal, especially for streaming.
SNR Guideline
40dB+ SNR = Excellent signal
25dB to 40dB SNR = Very good signal
15dB to 25dB SNR = Low signal
10dB to 15dB SNR = Very low signal
5dB to 10dB SNR = No signal
Please post back your results.

Airport express not working with apple products

We have been trying to get airport express to work with a macbook pro, ipad2, iphone, laptop, htc wildfire - havent even tried the air music or printer yet!
We have a green light on the airport express which is connected to an ntl cable modem(virgin media network).
Currently the only thing that will connecy is the laptop and my htc phone. All the apple products will not connect?
We went to the apple store today and it worked grand when it was plugged in - the apple products all worked.
The network comes up on ipad2 but when you press connect it says 'unable to connect'
can anyone help us please?
thank you

I have the same issue. Mine fixed itself for a bit and now it's broken again. I'm thinking it's going to be intermittently broken. I've tried turning both devices off and on again but that did not help.

Can't Get Airport Express To Work With ATT's Uverse

For years, AE worked just fine with my 2Wire portal streaming music to my stereo. Went to Uverse 2 months ago, and AE quit working. I am not using an Airport base station, just the Uverse modem and I need help getting it to work.
There is nothing in this forum when I search for uverse, so I post this in hope someone can help me.
I reset AE it and it finally appeared in Airport utility with a yellow light. I click configure and when I choose to join my current network, it sets up it's own Apple network, removing it from Airport utility and changing Airport status in Network to yellow.
No matter what I do or how I try, I just can't get AE to work with the stock 2Wire modem.
Has anyone been able to get AE to work with just the 2wire router & not have to buy an airport base station.
Any help is REALLY appreciated, as I wanna hear my Christmas music, and it's turning me into a Grinch!
Thanks!
Message was edited by: Chris Winkler1

+However, it asks for the security and all I see is WEP in the Home Network set up, I don't know if it's 40 or 128+
AT&T set this up, so only they can tell you for sure. My guess would be WEP 128 since this type of security is stronger than WEP 40.
+And it asks for a wireless password. I entered the one from the router & it did not work. Tried the Key and it did not work.+
This is the same wireless password that you would use if you were logging on to your wireless network with your computer. But, unless you first have the exact, correct security setting for your 2wire router, the password will not work.
+Has anyone out there successfully got their Airport Express to work with Uverse????+
I don't provide instructions to anyone on the forum unless I've first done it myself. I'm providing you with the same instructions that I used to help a neighbor with his 2wire Uverse setup last week. It works fine.
But, he called AT&T to ask them what security setting they used on his 2wire router. Otherwise, we would have had to try each possible setting to see if we could make it work.
AT&T also told him that his password should be 13 characters, all lower case letters with no spaces. That is what the neighbor said he used. I cannot confirm this as he did not share his password with me.
AT&T may have set up the password criteria differently on your router. You need to confirm with them on this.
+What password goes in the Base station tab, Key or Password?+
Any password you want. This is a separate password simply to be able to access the settings on the device in the future when you are using AirPort Utility. You could use your wireless network password if you want.
Please post back on your progress.

Airport Express stopped working...

My airport express stopped working some time ago so I bought a new one so I could play my music remotely again. My ld one just "disappeared" , it no longer showed on iTunes. I am having problems setting the new one up. I am using airport utilities and going through all the prompts. It is making me join my existing wireless network. At the end when it goes to restart, I get an error message "Airport utility was unable to find your Apple wireless device after restarting".
I am stuck, any suggestions?

Quick check list
Is your AE firmware updated to 7.3.2?
Is your OS 10.5.4?
Is your Airport Utility software 5.3.2?
What are you using for a wireless base station? is it a combo modem / router, or are you using an Apple Extreme Base Station in bridge mode with a third party router?
All of the above are possible issues.
Provide some more detail in your post and the group will be more likely to be able to help
Cheers

I am currently using the Airport Express to work with a Bose Wave radio. 3.5 MM jack out and phono connectors into Bose. Is there a way to hook to a new Bose Wave which does not have phono input plugs?

I am currently using the Airport Express to work with a Bose Wave radio. 3.5 MM jack out of the Express and phono connectors into Bose. Is there a way to hook to a new Bose Wave which does not have phono input plugs?

The latest Bose Wave SoundTouch music system still uses a single 3.5 mm analog Aux port. You would connect the two using an analog audio cable with 3.5 mm stereo jacks on either end.
An example cable would be located here.

I have an airport express that worked well until I moved and have a different routher and internet provider. Now I cant get my Dell to see the airport and running the utility will not locate the airport at all. Help!!

What I really want to use the airport express for is streaming music from ITUNES or my IPHONE... I just need to find it on my network and as of now its not able to be found

If you have not yet "hard reset" the Express by holding in the reset button for 9-10 seconds and then allowing it another minute to restart....you will not ever "find" the Express on your new network. Reason....the Express is remembering the settings for your old network and trying to connect to a network that no longer exists.
Make sure that your computer is connected to the default Apple Network xxxxxx wireless signal before you open AirPort Utility.
Then, configure it again to "join" your new wireless network.

HT4587 I downloaded Airport Express Utility 5.6 to get my Airport Express to work with the latest Mac OSX 10.7.4, but when I install and run it, it still says my Airport Express is out-of-date and needs the 5.6 utility.

I downloaded and installed Airport Express Utility 5.6 to get my old Airport Express to work with the latest Mac OSX 10.7.4, but when I install and run it, it still says my Airport Express is out-of-date and needs the 5.6 utility. What's up?

It is likely that you downloaded AirPort Utility 5.6.1. If you checked the requirements, this only runs on Leopard or Snow Leopard Macs.
You have Lion, so you need AirPort Utility 5.6 for Mac OS X Lion

HT4437 The airplay on my i pad works with music and pictures but I cannot get it to work with safari and mirroring. Does anyone know what I could be doing wrong? Thanks!!

The airplay on my i pad works with music and pictures but I cannot get it to work with safari and mirroring. Can someone help me to get things working? Thanks!

As an IT person, I can put my hands up to the same difficulty. Then on double clicking on Home button, find AirTV symbol amongst Music control
Solved my problem having spent hours looking for a complicated answer. Well done Apple for hiding it so well.
Brian

Help setting up my airport express to work at a relative's house

I recently upgraded my parents' house from dial-up to broadband connection via local telecom provider (Qwest). With ethernet cable plugged into my MacBook, all is well. But when I plug ethernet cable into my Airport Express unit, I am unable to access Internet. MacBook and Airport Express unit are communicating but -- I'm guessing I need to do something so that Airport Express unit works with a different modem than the one at my residence, i.e. the one now installed at my parents' house. I can probably figure it out if pointed in the right direction. I would be grateful.

It's always a good idea to do a complete power recycle of all the network components when switching networks to allow the modem to recognize the router.
Try the following, in order, checking for Internet access after each step, until resolved:
1. If the modem has a reset switch, use it to reset the modem. Wait at least 5-10 minutes for the modem to initialize.
2. Remove power from the modem. If it has a backup battery, remove this as well. Wait 5-10 minutes. Replace the battery, and add power back to the modem.
3. Perform a complete power recycle of your network components as follows:
Modem/Router Power Recycling - Quick
o Power-off the modem, AirPort Express Base Station (AX), & computer(s); Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the modem; Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the AX; Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the computer(s)
If this fails to get the modem to "recognize" the Internet router, then try the "Full" version.
Modem/Router Power ReCycling - Full
o Power-off the modem, AX, & computer(s). (Wait at least 30 minutes. If possible, leave the modem off overnight.)
o Power-on the modem; Wait at least 15 minutes.
o Power-on the AX; Wait at least 5 minutes.
o Power-on the computer(s)
4. Contact your ISP to have them perform a "modem reset."
You may also want to take advantage of the AX's ability to save multiple configurations.
The AX can store up to five different configuration profiles. You will need to use the AirPort Admin Utility, located in Applications/Utilities to create & save these profiles.
To create a new profile:
o Open AirPort Admin Utility, and select your AX from the list, and then, click Configure.
o Click the Profiles icon in the toolbar.
o Click Add to create a new profile; give it a name, and then, click OK.
o Set options, such as network name, passwords, Internet connection method, etc.
o When done setting the options, click Update.
To switch profiles:
o Open the AirPort Admin Utility, and select your AX from the list, and then, click Configure.
o Click the Profiles icon in the toolbar.
o Click on the desired profile, and then, click OK to apply the new profile and restart the AX.
Just remember to switch to the desired configuration profile before removing power from the AX.

Airplay: iPhone 4 - Airport Express (AX) works bad. Music drops frequently

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