Airport express streaming audion drop out is unacceptable

The only reason I bought the airport express is because apple discontinued the old Apple TV mk1 - which had an analogue audio out port.
The comments on this group seem to always suggest the following (1) Don't extend a wireless group (2) Don't join a WDS (3) Upgrade firmware (4) choose a less congested channel (4) swing a dead cat around 12 times at midnight.
So the configuratioon
MAC BOOK PRO Snow leopard 10.6.4 -- 2.6Ghx INTEL Core 2 Duo, 4GB 667 Mhz DDR SDRAM
2 Airport Extremes [7.4.2]
1 Airport Express [7.4.2]
1 Time Capsule [7.5.1] (making a total of 3 Airport Extremes)
iTunes 10.0.1 (22)
MAC BOOK PRO disk checks out perfectly - format structure, file structure and hard disk sectors.
All Airport devices are at the latest firmware revision.
no WDS - each Airport Extreme "Creates A Wireless Network" - but uses the Time Capsule for DNS.
THE AIRPORT EXPRESS IS SET TO "NO WIRELESS"
The connection to the Airport Express is 100BaseTX via an intelligent router.
So - basically - NO WIRELESS CONNECTION to the Airport Express from the MAC BOOK.
MAC BOOK PRO -> (100BaseTX) Intelligent Cisco Router -> (100BaseTX) Airport Express
Every 4 or 5 minutes the sound will drop out for a second or so - right in the middle of a song.
The Airport Express has even been configured for NO WIRELESS.
Streaming Netflix to the TV makes no difference to the time between audio drop out - which suggest that the network is more than capable of handling the traffic.
Netflix also streams perfectly to the iPad (Wireless)
Network utilization is negligible. Network reliability seems excellent : 90M Sent packets, 70M Recv Packets ZERO errors ZERO collisions.
I noticed that when I use the iPad for remote control (V2) of iTunes on the MAC BOOK PRO - the drop out is worse (even when the iPad is not doing anything other than, I suppose answering a few "are you still there" inquiries). Interestingly, even with the iPad connected - but - control of iTunes from the Keyboard - the interval between drop outs is significantly greater.
I have not yet tried streaming the AppleTV Mk1 to the Airport Express - my bet is that it will stream perfectly.
It amazing that Netflix can stream perfect video and sound over a 20Mb internet connection (using the same Extreme as the primary DNS ie attached to the Time-Warner modem) and yet Apple cant even get consistent audio in a hard wired 100Mb intranet.
At the low data rates for streaming Audio - finding way to configure the Airport Express to effectively improve its response time hint at a significantly larger issue ie (a) iTunes not running at a sufficiently high priority (b) Small Internal buffer in the Airport Express (c) my guess both (a) and (b)
iTunes is set to "Large Buffer".
I have not yet tried 'nice'ing up the priority of any iTunes processes - as I've gone back to having the house Audio driven by my old reliable Apple TV Mk1.
If Apple cant even get Audio Streaming working properly - I don't hold out much hope for the AppleTV Mk2 (hopefully it has a seriously large buffer to compensate for the pre-emptive scheduling of MAC OS) - This may be one example of Windows being a better streaming Audio Platform that MAC OS.
Given all this information - other than "kill all the processes running on the MAC" - which completely defeats the purpose - that is to say - I had a perfectly great Streaming Audio "Appliance" (the Mk1 AppleTV) - now I'm being forced to use a GP Computer with all the inherent problems of reliability.
Any suggestions ?

No, in fact I abandoned it. Then I tried it again today, (hoping the various iTunes updates would help) it was better ... But after 15 minutes the audio dropped out again. However, my concerns about the apple tv2 were unfounded.

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Airport Express/Multiple Speakers/Drop Outs

Question -- I have a wireless network at home -- a Linksys wireless router which I use to connect my Dell laptop and my powerbook to the internet. I have two airport express stations ... one for my living room stereo, and one for kitchen speakers. Streaming itunes to one set of speakers works fine, but when I stream to both sets of speakers I get constant hiccups and sound drops during the playback. Any thoughts/suggestions how to fix this problem?

I had this problem. It was because I had interference (ie poor reception to ONE of the airport express units). When the one would cut out they BOTH would cut out. It was really annoying. You can check if this is your problem by placing both of the airport express right near your router (ie in the same room) and see if you get the dropping out (you shouldn't).
My solution was finally only solved by buying a new router and setting up a WDS network. I got a linksys WRT54GL and use the DD-WRT firmware. There are lots of instructions on the net on how to set this up. Then each airport express acts as a repeater. They seem to support each other, and the result for me was that I got wireless coverage EVERYWHERE in my house, and the music stream stopped dropping out.
Also with the DD-WRT firmware you can change the xmit power of the router (and increase it!) to improve coverage.
Hope this helps.
Mike

New version airport express and music drop-outs

Does the new version of Airport Express (802.11n) solve the problem of AirTunes audio stream drop-outs? My existing Express suffered so badly, I stopped using it!

Can report back that the new Express is fantastic. No more dropouts. Gand set it to work on N only and it is great having the same music in the kitchen as in the living room. have now sold my 2 old units. Next purchase Timecapsule.

Airport Express Frequent Music Drop-out

Looks like this is a standard, mostly unfixable feature with this. Great.
Anyway - laptop inside on wireless, hooked via AUX to stereo receiver, sending to AE outside hooked to other receiver.
Music plays, but drops out (volume down) frequently. We have cordless phones, no base stations that near. Microwave wasn't on.
Any ideas for troubleshooting?
DC

Ok, thanks for clarifying your current network configuration for me. What is important is to understand the path the audio stream must take to get to the AirPort Express.
Basically, it will be: Laptop >>> AirPort Extreme >>> AirPort Express > Audio Receiver, where ">>>" represents a wireless connection, and ">" represents a wired one.
For the wireless connections, distance, other (non-audio streaming) network traffic, & Wi-Fi interference (cordless phones, walls, other Wi-Fis broadcasting nearby, etc.) will play a toll on the overall bandwidth available left for streaming.
I would suspect the bandwidth will be the least between the two AirPorts. One simple test would be to calculate the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) at the location of the Express. SNR (in dB) = Signal (in dBm) - Noise (in dBm). You will want SNR to be 25+ dB. You will want to take the measurements with the Express powered-off so that you will be calculating the SNR for the Extreme only at this location.
You can easily obtain the Signal & Noise values (if your laptop is a Mac) from System Profiler.
Click the Apple icon in the menubar
About This Mac
More Info ...
Contents > Network > AirPort > Interfaces > en1 > Current Network Information > Choose your Wi-Fi network > Signal / Noise
While your here, note the following values as well:
PHY Mode
Security
Transmit Rate
Please post back your results.

AirPort Express-es clients drop out after idling for 5mn... Green light on

Hi,
Just bought a couple of AEBS' (and upgraded them both to latest firmware v6.3) to stream audio to different rooms in my house (actually bought 3 of them but one was DOA.)
I got a Verizon/D-Link VDI-624 (latest firmware from Verizon) and configured the AirPort Express' as clients thereof, since the D-Link does not support WDS (anyway WDS would consume some bandwidth I do not need to give away) I am using static addresses for anything but the client laptops (which get pre-allocated addresses from the D-Link router DHCP server.) I use WPA-PSK TKIP for security.
This all seems to work good, at least for a little while...
My issue is that after just about 5mn of idle time (after I stop streaming audio, basically) the 2 AirPorts seem to vanish from the network. Green lights still on. But I cannot ping them anymore neither from the laptops nor from the D-Link router. AirPort Admin utility loses track of them as well (could see them for a while, then after stopping audio and coffee break, poof... no more AirPorts in the list!) The kicker is that they won't come back until I power cycle **one of them**. Then more often than not, both seem to come back. Sometimes only the one that was power-cycled. Sometimes, I have to do it again...
Switched the D-Link for a NetGear WNR-854T and the same problem occurred, so I'd be careful to blame the base router here... I'd rather believe the Apple's devices aren't playing ball with the outer world. Particularly since some other threads around here mention similar issues, albeit with earlier firmware versions...
Any ideas/sympathetic comments/suggestions/... ?
Thanks for listening... (sigh!)
-- Wirelessly over-frustrated OHM.

Ohm62,
I am a mac newby. I have a imac 24 inch and I also have the airport. I experienced the same problem for the first couple of days. What I found out is that my cable modem needed resetting. Once I did this my network is up an running fine. Now here is one small catch, when I am away for a while or using bootcamp (to switch over to Vista), it does take a couple of extra seconds for my system to aquire the signal from the network. Hope this helps.
Tins

Airport Express Connection Randomly Dropping Out

I've got a rather bizarre situation here. I'm using an AirPort Express with a 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 laptop running on OS X 10.4.5. I've had it for slightly more than half a year, and it's always worked perfectly. Yesterday, without any apparent provocation of any kind, it randomly started malfunctioning. AirPort would find it and connect me to it, but then the AirPort menu icon (the four bars showing the strength of the connection) would randomly start flashing on and off at a very quick speed.
I've tried all of the different reset flavors (soft reset, factory default reset, and the one in between), and all of them have been equally ineffective. After one of the two more powerful resets, the signal will stay consistent for a couple of minutes and then begin to rapidly fade in and out again. I've tried to figure out if there are any new sources of interference in my room (going as far as to move the AE from the power strip with the other appliances to its own outlet across the room), but haven't been able to think of any. I haven't installed any new hardware for a couple of months, so I don't believe it's a hardware problem; the same goes for software. AirPort itself seems to be working fine, as does my ethernet cable; I really think that there's something going on with the AE itself. The bizarre thing is that even though the connection is rapidly flickering in and out, the unit's light remains a steady green all the way through.
If anyone has any insights or further questions about this predicament, please let me know.
Many thanks,
Matt
1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

If you connection signal strength bars start "flashing" it appears as if the AE may be going bad.
Do you have any issues connecting to other wireless networks? If not, it appears as if it's your AE.
Sorry I don't have better news for you.

Airport Express and Extreme drop out

Hi,
I have a Airport express that is wired to my router. This is downstairs.
Upstairs i have a Airport Extreme which is wirelessly connected to the airport downstairs.
The Express is set to create a new wireless and the extreme is set to extend.
For some reason or another when im upstairs, which means i'll probably be connected to the extreme, i sometimes find that i cannon connect to the internet. When i go into Airport Utility it can only see the Extreme that's up stairs.
If i go downstairs it then allows me to connect to the internet.
Then go back upstairs and cannot get back on the net.
So i have to disconnect the power to the express and then the connection between the two airports is established.
Both are running the latest firmware, 7.6.
Can anyone help?
Thanks

I have Sunrocket and the same situation. However the last week has had about 90% use... no problems.
I was having people completely unable to understand me. All of a sudden the stuff started working but it still isn't perfect. I can only guess that the AEBS is not liking the setup or otherwise being interfered with. I DO have 2.4GHz phones but the brand was checked out as working fine with AEBS.
My setup Comcast Cable Internet>AEBS>Sunrocket's Gizmo.
I'd love to hear form other Mac/AEBS users and Sunrocket.

Two Airport Expresses•one only drops out.

My setup:
Cable Modem
One Intel iMac G5 one metre from AE.
One Power PC G5 twenty metres from AE.
Both running 10.5.5
Intel is fine whilst Power PC is offline, but as soon as it goes online, Intel connection drops out and will not stay connected.
No dropouts by Power PC.
Why is it so?

Following what I have said above, if I boot in Safe Mode, I have no dropouts .
What is it that doesn't load in Safe Mode, that appears to be causing the problem?

Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop out

*Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop outs*
I have just purchased an Apple AirPort Express for the sole use of streaming music from my laptop to my home cinema system.
My system has bundles of power (Core 2 Duo, 3gb RAM, 320gb hard disk, Intel-N WiFi) and is running Windows Vista Premium. I am using the latest version of iTunes (version 8) and have it setup to play through remote speakers. I have my AirPort Express connected to my home cinema system.
When I play music on iTunes through ONLY my computer speakers I have no problem with drop outs.
However, when I play music through either (1) my AirPort Express or (2) multiple speakers (i.e. the AirPort Express and my computer speakers together) I experience frequent and unbelievably annoying drop outs in the music stream.
I have determined this has nothing to do with interference with the wireless signal and believe this is something to do with iTunes - the reason being the drop outs occur in BOTH the computer speakers AND the AirPort Express speakers (when I select multiple speakers) but does not occur when I select ONLY the computer speakers.
Please could you provide some advice on this as I am unable to use the AirPort!
Many thanks
Elliot

You don't say which Airport Express you are using and what its settings are.
There are two Airport Express models. The original model works on 802.11b/g on 2.4 GHz. The later model can do 802.11n on 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz. My experience is that interference when using the 2.4 GHz band creates drop-outs when sending audio from iTunes to an Airport Express. I now have an 802.11n network on 5.0 GHz and no longer have drop-outs. I also have a 2.4 GHz 802.11g network for my iPhone and other devices that can't do 802.11n. They are connected to each other by ethernet.
Interference on 2.4 GHz occurs because a lot of people nearby have wireless networks too. You may not notice the interference when doing other network activity that is not time dependant but it shows when streaming music. Using a utility like iStumbler or AirRadar I can see I am the only one using the 5.0 GHz band in range of my computer.

Does airport express stream directly to wireless speakers or does it need to be connected through an audio cable to an amplifier before the speakers

Does airport express stream directly to wireless speakers or does it need to be connected through an audio cable to an amplifier before the speakers?

I got an additional question bout this topic:
is it possible to use both at the same time? in my case cable-connected speakers in the living-room and an Airplay-speaker in the bathroom and/or kitchen?
so I select the Airport Express as Airplay-Output on my iPad and from there it's shared via cable AND wireless? this would solve the problem of being able to only select ONE Airplay-Output on my iPad at the same time...

Can airport express stream itunes music to ipod touch?

can airport express stream itunes music to ipod touch?

Hello cam baher. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
can airport express stream itunes music to ipod touch?
No.

Airport Express – Does it wear out after a few years?

Does an Airport Express wireless modem wear out after a few years?
Recently I've come home a number of times to find no wireless on my iMac, iPhone and iPad even though the airport unit is displaying a green light. Also, sometimes when I've left the iMac in sleep mode recently, I've returned and gotten either no signal or a prompt for my password, which is saved on the iMac.
Generally, rebooting the Airport unit and/or the devices fixes the problem – until it happens the next time.
I bought my Airport Express in late 2005. My mother, who bought her Airport express six-to-12 months earlier, is having the same problems.
Has anybody else encountered this issue?

I think some of the older original models did fail sooner. But that was a short lived period. Solid state electronics don't "wear out" - that's what makes them so reliable and great compared to tubes.
I thought mine was bad but I did what is called a hard restart of the unit. This fixed it. Caution though: don't do these hard restarts all the time. They will damage the unit if used too often.
See owners manual for how to do a hard restart. It's a bit tricky and involved holding in the reset while plugging it in. Read directions first. Also,try the soft restart options first before you use this nuclear option. But the hard restart seems to fix things for good once done.

Multiple Airport Express streams?

Is it possible to have more than one Airport Express Unit receiving different signals from different iOS devices? E.g. My iMac plays one track, my iPhone plays another and my iPad plays another?
I have a 4 input hub in my house powering 4 sets of ceiling speakers in various rooms and want to know if multiple Airport Express units mean I don't have to go down the Sonos route as all my music is on iTunes.
Thanks in advance

I do this regularly. I have 5 AX units connected to various receivers around the house. I can stream to a subset of speakers from one device and have another device stream to others. I don't see why I couldn't stream five stream to these speakers.
But the big caveat is that most of my AX units are connected via a gigabit ethernet network not a wireless connection (yes I know the AX units are not gigabit, but my network is). If you were trying to do this via wireless you might quickly run out of bandwidth. This is particularly true for IOS devices. For example, I have an ipad that can stream internet radio. If you think about it the ipod in this case has to first get the wireless signal and then send it back out to the AX, immediately doubling the amount of spectrum used compared to streaming from a device that has the music stored on it. That's probably why my internet radio app won't let me select multiple speakers the way I can with itunes or airfoil.

Airport Express Bridge Mode Cutting Out?

I recently wasn't able to bring internet to my bedroom, so I bought an Airport Express. I didn't want to have to buy a modem, so I threw it in another room where I could get internet with my Airport Extreme. Then, I put bridge mode on my Express so that it would spread the signal. When I plugged it in, I got internet in my room at the normal speeds I get (I have very slow internet normally, about 300 kb/s. I thought, great. Then, about half an hour later, my speeds dropped out to about 50 kb/s. I'm using a MacBook Air 2010, and it happens on all the other computers in my house. It's really weird. If it's any help, I'm on AT&T U-Verse (ick).

I bought an Airport Express and plugged it in just to the power, no ethernet, and set it up to join a network
The "join" setting on the Express will not provide more wireless coverage.
Check the setting on the Express again using AirPort Utility - Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab just under the row of icons
The setting for Wireless Mode needs to be "Extend a wireless network".
"Join a wireless network" will not do what you want.

Airport network music play drops out/in on Yosemite

I've been playing music throughout my house using 2 Airport Express on the same Airport network for years. Occasionally music would drop out but would recover by itself, and since it didn't occur very often, it was okay. However after upgrading to Yosemite and then upgrading to the latest version, music now drops out 1-3 per min on the same network with the same Airport Express devices - So frequently that it was virtually unlistenable. I was not expecting services to get worse with the OS upgrade. Is there a fix or workaround for this, or do I need to wait until the next "upgrade"? Thanks.

I'm having a similar problem.
Since my upgrade to Yosemite connecting to Airplay audio is much harder, have to try up to four times on occasion (error message: cannot connect to Airplay). It also disconnects in between songs on Itunes and in between videos on Youtube or different files elsewhere. Strangely when I get it working, it does not often drop out in the middle of a file.
I know I have quite some interference at my place of other routers (I bought the AP for this reasons), but I did not have this problem at all with Mavericks. As my WiFi in general also seems less stable, I definitely think this is related to the dreaded Yosemite WiFi issue. Glad to hear any suggestions, otherwise I hope 10.10.2 will fix this.
Gear:
Macbook Pro Mid 2012 // i7 2.9ghz // 8GB

Airport express streaming audion drop out is unacceptable

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