Connecting to Airport Express speakers over wired network

I have my speakers plugged into my Airport Express and obviously computers connected to it via WiFi are able to stream music to the speakers through iTunes.
I am at university and there are many users on the network, and my Airport is setup to simply act as an access point. Is there any way users on the network (NOT the wireless itself) can connect to my speakers through iTunes?
So far I have tried turning on sharing the speakers and telling other computers to look for them but have had no luck. My computer is able to connect to them but only when connected to the wireless.

Many thanks for your replies.
I do in fact have my Airport set to Bridge Mode, but this unfortunately does not seem to make any difference. Other users' iTunes still cannot see the AirTunes speakers.
I was reading this guide - http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies-archive.cfm/228336.html - and it seems the poster, Daniel, had managed to get other devices on the network (wired, not wireless) to stream music to the Airtunes speakers, so perhaps it is possible but there is something I am doing wrong. Any ideas?

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I have tryed to connect an AirPort Express to my wireless network. But I alwais get the errocode -4. Can anybody help. I have reset the AirPort Express and updated the software.

I have tryed to connect an AirPort Express to my wireless network. But I alwais get the errocode -4. Can anybody help. I have reset the AirPort Express and updated the software.

The ZyXEL P-2601HN-F1, as you know, is a combination DSL modem & 802.11n wireless router (or gateway device).
For your goal you will want to take a look at this Apple Support article for details on how to configure an AX for iTunes.
If you are still having difficulties with the AX joining the ZyXEL's wireless network, you can try the following:
Temporarily disable wireless encryption.
If you are hidding the SSID, disable that feature.
Change the Mode Select setting to: 802.11g Only
Change the Channel Selection from "Auto" to a set channel, like 1, 6, or 11

ITunes 10.6.3.25 on ethernet connection loses airport express speakers but iPhone 4 airplay works

Hi,
I have started experiencing a problem this past week (Aug 2012) that I see sometimes reported here. When I run iTunes 10.6.3.25 on a Win7 machine that is connected by ethernet to my router, the airport express speakers would regularly disappear. I can always connect to these airport express via airplay from my iPhone 4. In fact when the airplay speakers disappear from iTunes on the ethernet-connected machine, I can reliably make them reappear by turning on the Music app on the iPhone. But after a while the airplay speakers would disappear again. On a Win7 laptop connected via wifi to the network the same version of iTunes seems so far not to exhibit the same problem.
Has anyone discovered what the underlying problem is or found a solution?

I ran into the specific problem in another thread. There are more than 100 connections from the apple TV's to iTunes. You can do a netstat -a (windows or Mac), and verify the problem. iTunes is smart enough to stop allowing more than 100 connections but stupid to allow the ATV to create so many connections.
Now for what you really want! Set all of your ATVs to wifi only. Even setting the iTunes host to wifi might help also. I think that wifi is more unreliable, and forces connections to drop, keeping the count under 100.
I also turned off ip v6. That could help you also. I originally had problems on a Mac mini, and built a windows 7 box to try to fix the problem. The wifi trick worked on both platforms. Several of us have bug reports into apple. I have a wired house also, and am very angry to NEED to use slow wifi to overcome this problem. The ATV gen 3 has been able to keep up with 1080p over wifi, so it doesn't hurt too much. What really hurts is spending over 40 hours troubleshooting this bug.

Airport Extreme and Airport Express on Ethernet Wired Network

I recently did work on my house and now have the house hard-wired for ethernet. I have an AirPort Extreme in my home office. That signal does not reach past the old part of the house (brick apparently blocks some of the signal). So I want to use my Airport Express in the new part of the house to have wireless in the new part as well.
Currently, I have the Airport Extreme plugged into the network, with the Airport Express plugged into the network in the new room. I get wireless connection in the office, but not in the new room.
I am not sure how to configure the base stations.
-- Do I need to use WDS? I am not currently, because each wireless router has its own independent wired link to the network.
-- Do I need to call the wireless networks by different names? Currently I have them both called the same thing.
-- Do I need to set the Airports for a different channel? Currently I have one on 10 and one on 11.
This should be very simple. Unfortunately, my experience has been that the Express base station is very difficult to configure, very quirky and not for the average user.
BTW, the Express is hooked up to the stereo and iTunes plays through that-- but remember it is a hard wired connection. Also both Airports show up in the Admin Utility, so no problem there.
Thanks.
~aviduser
1. Macintosh SE (1988)
2. PowerBook 180 (1993)
3. PowerMacintosh 7600 (1996)
4. PowerMacintosh G4 (2001)
5. PowerBook G4 12" (2003)
(Oh yeah, and there was the Newton MP2k)
G4 867 Quicksilver Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Do you have another router?
If not:
Connecting them together via Ethernet should be done like this:
Internet -> [WAN] AEBS [LAN] --> AirPort Express
The AirPort Express should so that the option to distribute IP addresses is disabled. The AEBS and Express should have the same network name and encryption configuration. The AEBS and Express should be on different channels.
This configuration will put all the computers on the same subnet. All of the computers will get IP addresses from the AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS).
OR connecting them via wireless should be done through WDS. The hardware connection should be done like this:
Internet -> [WAN] AEBS
The AirPort Express should not be connected to Ethernet.
See KB 107454, AirPort Extreme and Express: Using WDS to create a network from multiple base stations.
If you do have a router, then both AEBS and Express should be configured so that the option to distribute IP addresses is disabled. The hardware connections should be set up like this:
Internet -> router -+-> [WAN] AEBS [LAN]
....................|-> AirPort Express
The AEBS and Express should have the same network name and encryption configuration. The AEBS and Express should be on different channels.
This configuration will put all the computers on the same subnet. All of the computers will get IP addresses from the router.

Which cable to use to connect airport express to existed wired network

Hi all, I just purchased the airport express base station to create a wireless network over my existed Verizon DSL wired network. Could anyone tell me which cable I need to set this up? Will 10/100 ethernet cable work?
Thanks a lot!

Hello njminnie. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
I just purchased the airport express base station to create a wireless network over my existed Verizon DSL wired network. Could anyone tell me which cable I need to set this up? Will 10/100 ethernet cable work?
Yes.

Can I use airport express in a wired network to play music through my stereo?

I originally used my 1st gen AE to wirelessly stream music from iTunes on my MacPro to my home theater. This works, but there are some good days and some bad days where there are dropouts in the music. I have recently run Cat6 cable to my HT from my router next to my MacPro. This feeds a Gigabit switch that feeds the ATV, receiver, bluray, HD DVD, etc. I plugged in the AE to the switch but it still defaults to the wifi network rather than taking a feed from the ethernet switch. I know i can (and do) use the ATV (gen 1) to steam music, but sometimes it more convenient to use the AE. Is there a way to force the wifi on the AE off and just have it for streaming from iTunes? Thanks.

Yes, you can configure an AirPort Express Base Station (AX) as a standalone wireless router without Internet access for the purposes of providing a Wi-Fi network for streaming. Note that any computers that will be the host of that stream would need to connect to this AX's wireless network while doing so. They would not be able to be connected to two wireless networks simultaneously for both streaming AND Internet access.

Can't connect to Airport Express speakers in iTunes

Hi,
I have a Time Capsule and an AX (802.11n).
The AX is connected to a stereo and speakers, and is configured to Join my existing wi
iTunes sees the remote speakers, but when I select them I get an error message and cannot connect.
Also, Airport Utility (6.0) is not allowing me to change the speaker settings (name, password). These options are greyed out, despite the Enable AirPlay option being checked.
Thanks!

OK, I just solved this same (or similar) problem for myself...
My iTunes on MacMini has been connecting to multiple Expresses for years. Every once in a while, iTunes will "forget" that it is to play through the Expresses and reverts to Computer only. So I would just pop open the Airplay menu and select Multlple Speaker and turn them all on again. Weird, but solvable.
Tonight, no go. I could not select any of the Airport Expresses in this Airplay "speaker chooser." I am running OSX 10.6.8 and iTunes 10.6.1. Was it the recent 10.6.1 update? Not sure, but it points to that.
(By the way, are you saying Airport Utility software update, or do you really mean the Express firmware update?)
Anyway, I tried various normal things, restarting this and that. No luck. Googled this and that, etc. Finally took the plunge and updated the firmware in the Expresses and Time Capsule, which restarts the units. This DID NOT solve the problem (not right away, at least).
I notice that my MacBook Pro's iTunes could connect to all my Expresses (even befoe the Express' firmware updates). This was my first troubleshooting check. This got me to think that this was an Airport vs Ethernet issue. (My Mini and all Expresses are hardwired with Ethernet).
So I turned off Ethernet on the Mini and connected it to my LAN with Airport. Sure enough, now the Mini's iTunes could select all the Expresses!
Weirder still, I turned off the Mini's Airport and reconnected it to my LAN using Ethernet. Voila! The speaker settings in iTunes stuck and now everything is fine. (For now!)
Computers... errrrr......

Conflicts??? If connect ATV & Airport Express in the same network?

Since I installed AirPort Express 2 today, I couldn't use Iphone4s/ipad to airplay / mirror onto my Apple TV any more (only shows AirPort Base device).
Do they conflict with each other in the same network?
Anyone knows how to fix?
Thanks a lot!!
William

I must be missing something here. WDS is rather old and out-dated technology.
What other router is he using besides the 2n'd gen?

Airport Express access over 'Extended' network (Time Capsule)

Hello everyone,
I've seen several posts similar to this, and I've come pretty far in figuring this out but the final roadblock is scratching my head.
I purchased an Airport Express a few days ago to get my xbox 360 onto the internet without running a wire and without giving Microsoft my 100 dollars. I had it working under WDS but WDS trashed my network speed. I found out about the 802.11n version of 'extending' the network tonight. Got it all setup, so much easier than WDS!
So I slap my xbox 360 ethernet cable into the Airport Express and go to watch some Netflix. Turns out I can't get to the internet...I've got the thing on the network. It's got an IP, subnet looks good, gateway looks good.
I tried to ping it from my iMac and I can't get to it.
My network looks like this...
FIOS -----> Actiontek Router --(Bridge)--> Time Capsule --(extended network)--> Airport Express ---(ethernet) --> Xbox360
Thanks for any help,
Cheers.

Hi
When you try and ping the Xbox where are you doing it from, i.e. do you have a laptop that is a wireless client of the TC? What IP address is your XBox getting? What IP address is on the station that you are pinging from? What is the IP address of the Express itself? Can you ping the Express?
You mention that the Express has a solid green led right? What if you move the laptop to be ethernet client of the Express, can the laptop now access the internet?
cheers

How to Connect Airport Express to Existing Wireless Network (Client Mode)

I am posting this for everyone tearing their hair out trying to connect the Airport Express to your own existing home wireless network. After spending 2 hours last night installing this on my father-in-law's home network, I hope to be able to save someone else the agony we went through.
So here's the situation:
Say you already have your own home network set up, and all you want is to be able to use AirTunes to play music off iTunes into your speaker system. And, you don't need the printer sharing capability nor creation of another wireless network (2 of the features of Airport Express). Then this solution is for you - read on.
Unfortunately, Apple's user manual is very unclear how to connect Airport Express to your own network. When you look at the picture diagram they provide, they show Airport Express picking up its signal from another Apple-oriented base. This can make you think you need to buy another piece of hardware to make it work. DON'T If you read through the manual, the Support section here, etc., you will hear lots of talk about "Client Mode" - and that this is the only way to get it to work. Nice - but no one really tells you how to set up the Airport in client mode.
Do yourself a favor, toss that user manual aside and run these steps.
(Note: These directions assume your DSL/Cable Modem is hooked up to a wireless router or acts as its own wireless router)
1. Get a cat5 Ethernet cable (anything but an orange cable - that's a crossover cable) like you would use to connect your PC to your router to pick up the Internet.
2. Connect the Ethernet cable to the router on one end, and to the Airport Express unit on the other end.
3. Plug in your Airport Express unit to the wall (this will not necessarily become its permanent location - you will be able to move it later). The light will glow solid Amber for about 30-45 seconds while it starts up, then blink Amber. At this point, the unit is ready to operate.
4. Install the CD to the PC where your iTunes music is stored. This should be painless. Once you open the program, it should detect the Airport unit.
5. At this point, the on-screen wizard will present you with your options, and walk you through the setup. This is much like the user manual describes - and you should be good to go form here forward.
Some pointers:
- When asked if you want to create a new network, join an existing network, or connect via Ethernet, choose the middle option for joining an existing network. You will need to know the name of your network, the password to connect to the network (if present), and the type of encryption used on the network (e.g. WEP, WPA, etc.). Side note, WPA is recommended, as it is a higher level of security than WEP. You will be able to configure the Airport Express unit to automatically login to your network.
- I would recommend, when creating a password for the Airport Express unit, use the same password as your network, to avoid confusion.
6. The very last step will ask you to save the settings to the Airport Express. Here's the kicker - when you save the settings, you are TRICKING the Airport Express into no longer acting as a network broadcaster, but instead being a "slave" to your own network. What do I mean? You will lose the connection from your PC to the Airport Express - an error message will pop up telling you the unit can no longer be found. While you might think you did something wrong, you actually were successful!
7. Unplug your Airport Express, and disconnect the Ethernet cable from your router and the Airport unit. This will no longer be needed.
8. Go to your desired location where you want to plug in your Airport Express unit. Before plugging it in, connect your Audio cable from the Airport Express to your audio receiver. Once that is connected, then plug in the Airport Express unit. The light will glow solid Amber for 30-45 seconds while it loads, and then will blink Amber for a brief period of time before turning solid GREEN. When this happens, you have successfully connected the Airport Express to your home network!
9. Go back to your PC with iTunes. Open the Airport software - you should now have a listing for your Airport Express unit in the upper left. Click on this, and the wizard will guide you through connecting - you will need the password you created for the unit. You only need to go through this wizard once, and when finished, the software will tell you that can now use iTunes with your Airport unit.
10. Open iTunes. On the lower right, you will see a dropdown for Speakers, and it should be defaulted to My Computer. Click on that drop-down, and you will see the name of your Airport unit. Click on that name, and now your music will broadcast to the Airport unit!
11. Play a song in iTunes. Go to your audio receiver, and connect it to the channel for your external connection to the Airport Express unit. You should hear your music from iTunes. CONGRATULATIONS! =)
I hope these instructions were helpful - I am happy to answer any questions, so feel free to contact me, *******************@*****.**.
<Edited by Moderator>

Thanks for the detailed directions. You are absolutely correct in stating that people should toss the user manual; it's pretty worthless. I have had a problem setting up my new Airport Express as I have described in an earlier post - http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1839873&tstart=45
One quick question - does using your setup process set the AE up as part of a distributed network where the AE is acting as a wireless router where it is extending the range of your network? Or, is it simply a wireless connection to your stereo for iTunes? I am interested in having both, since my AE will be at the other end of the house from the main wireless router.
Thanks

I find there is a slight delay between my macbook speakers and external speakers connected via Airport Express. Is there a way to rectify this? Thanks!

Music plays out of sync between my computer speakers and externally connected throught Airport Express speakers.

Unfortunately, I don't have either a Slingbox or iHome speakers so I won't be able to reproduce any of the issues you are having. With the fact that you live in large apartment complex would still lead me to believe that Wi-Fi interference may be the reason that you are having streaming issues.
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.

Does an Airport Express require a wired connection to boost a Wi-Fi signal if I already have a wired Airport Time Capsule on the Network?

I want to boost the Wi-Fi signal around my house. I have a 3TB Airport Time Capsule connected to my Virgin Media modem via a WLAN connection but wonder if an Airport Express device can be used at a remote location purely wirelessly - apart from a power connection obviously?

Does AirPort Express require a wired connection.......if I already have a wired AirPort Time Capsule on the Network?
No, but you will have much better network performance if you do wire the AirPort Express.
The reason for this is that when you try to extend a network using wireless, you will typically lose about a half of the potential speed capability on the network.
There is no network speed loss when you wire the Express.
Here is what Apple's support document says about this:
In the case of a wirelessly extended network, throughput may be reduced to less than 60 percent of that of a single device. The general rule is to keep the Wi-Fi network as simple as possible. You can accomplish this by using the minimum number of Wi-Fi base stations required to service the physical network area and by using Ethernet wherever possible.
Extending the range of your Wi-Fi network by connecting Wi-Fi base stations together using Ethernet is always the best option, and will provide the best throughput

Wired airport express to extend wireless network and connect network printer?

Is it possible to configure and connect an Airport Express via ethernet cable to an Airport Extreme base station in order to extend wireless network AND connect a network printer to it? Here's the deal...The Airport Extreme is directly connected to my DSL modem and the wireless network is working fine in my house, but, the signal does not reach my detached studio/office. I have a Cat5e cable (and phone line, more on this later) run between the two locations and trimmed out. I would like to have wireless access and connect my network printer (Brother HL-2170W, wireless or wired) in my studio, be able to use printer from house also, and still have wireless access in house.
So, ethernet connection from Extreme to Express, USB from Express to Printer, wireless access for all users. Can anyone talk me through how to (re)configure the Express to do this? Do I need to make changes to Extreme configuration also?
JS

Is it possible to configure and connect an Airport Express via ethernet cable to an Airport Extreme base station in order to extend wireless network AND connect a network printer to it?
Yes. Apple's instructions for this are here:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4260
Instead of a second AirPort Extreme as illustrated, you will be using the AirPort Express.

I have an Airport Express connected via optical toslink to a dac/amp in turn connected to speakers. When using iTunes I get message "no speakers connected to Airport Express" and audio sound has drop outs.

I have an Airport Express connected via optical toslink to a dac/amp in turn connected to speakers. When using iTunes I get message "no speakers connected to Airport Express" and audio sound has drop outs.

Ok, if you are connecting the AirPort Express Base Station (AX) to the existing wireless network, then the DSL in the next room is most likely a combination DSL modem and wireless router. Thanks for clarifying that for me.
Although they may only be separated by a single wall, the building material used in that wall may be enough to prevent the AX from receving a "good" signal from the DSL router.
Since I don't know what computing equipment you have available, please check out this AirPort User Tip: AirPort - Optimal Base Station Placement to see if you can get some SNR measurements at the location of your AX. To do this properly, you will want to power-off the AX and only get these measurements for the DSL router.

Is it possible to stream music to an Airport Express using a wired connection?

I have an Airport Express (V7.6.3) hooked up to the music system and have tried everything I can find but get fairly frequent dropouts. Don't know if it's something the neighbours are running, but have pretty much given up trying to fix it. I have an ethernet that I can get to the Airport, but I can't find any current answers on hooking it up wired rather than wireless. (All previous hints at it use pretty old version of Airport Utility with options that aren't there in the latest version.)
Simply, what I want to do is connect the Airport Express using ethernet rather than wireless.... possible?
Thanks

Simply, what I want to do is connect the Airport Express using ethernet rather than wireless.... possible?
Yes of course, this is far preferable than connecting it to your router wirelessly, and doing so is almost guaranteed to fix your AirPlay dropouts.
Start by "hard resetting" your Express. If you connect it to your Extreme and try to reconfigure it without performing a "hard reset" first, the Express may cling to its wireless connection and bridge it back to your wired network, which will appear to crash everything and result in confusion.

Connecting to Airport Express speakers over wired network

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