Do I really have to buy a router to use Airport Express?

I want to use my AX for USB printing and Airtunes, not networking. But it won't work unless it gets an IP address assigned to it, which can only be done while it is connected to a wired network via Ethernet cable. (This is not mentioned in the manual nor in online help, but it's true.) It cannot be setup wirelessly unless it's a network access point. I don't ned a wireless access point, I just want to be able to print.
I don't use a router; my Mac is directly connected to a DSL modem via Ethernet, and there are no other Ethernet ports on the modem. How can I connect my Mac and AX to the Ethernet so I can configure it? Is a hub sufficient? Or does the AX really require a router to be configured?
Or do I have to set it up as a wireless access point? In that case, will remote printing and AirTunes still work?

I had almost the same setup at one time. I just used the AE setup utility and it worked fine. If I remember correctly, the setup utility allows you to talk to the AE via the macs built in airport card. I don't think I connected to the AE with a cable, but honestly don't recall. If you have to do that for a setup, just disconnect from the dsl temporarily. Plug the mac and AE together via ethernet and setup from there.
I didn't have a usb printer connected, but otherwise that's how I set it up and it all worked.....until I added a second computer and a wireless router, now airTunes wouldn't work if I had Steve Jobs himself wired in directly.
AirTunes and AE seems to be a big mess that Apple just can't, or hasn't tried to, get right. For the most simple setup, one straight wireless connection from mac to AE, it works okay, otherwise it's a can of worms.

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    all good, thanks though!

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    For whatever reason when I have my express extend my wifi at home the download speed from just the express is absolutely terrible, drops to about 1.5 mb compared to when it's on the extremes part of the network the speed goes up to 50-75mb.
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    I'm not good at IT. In fact, i know very little or nothing. So please, do not get annoyed at my stupid question?
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    Message was edited by: haiu2323
    Message was edited by: haiu2323

  • Can I? router - powerbook(ethernet)- airport express(sharing)- ibook(ethe

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    peebook,
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