I need a second base: Express or Extreme?

Well, this looks like a riddle...
I have an AirPort Express in my living room. Ports are all busy (1 DSL modem
= ethernet; 1 hi-fi = audio in; 1 printer = usb).
Now I need a second base to expand the DSL connection to my bedroom. I also need to connect, to this second airport base, an external HD and another hi-fi.
So
case A) if I buy a Express as a second airport base I will be able to connect the hi-fi but not the external usb HD (Express USB port only support printers...);
case B) if I buy an Extreme as a second airport base I will be able to connect the external HD but not the hi-fi (Extreme bases do not have audio in...);
Does any of you have any solution?

{quote:title=Don Corleone wrote:}to achieve what you want to do, I'm afraid you will need to purchase an airport extreme AND an airport express.{quote}
Very sad to hear that...
Is it possibile that Apple (creator of iTunes and AirTune) didn't think to provide the brand new Extreme base with an audio in (or a device, such us an hub, cable, adaptor...) to solve this problem?

Similar Messages

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    Hi,
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    Welcome to the discussions!
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    Can I add a second Airport Express to my existing network as an extender, which now consists of a Extreme BaseStation and one Airport Express.
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    I have an Airport Extreme and an Airport Express used to extend the wireless network. I bought a second airport express to extend the network in another area of weak signal. I appear to go through the setup procedures correctly but it never gets to the final setup and does not show up in the airport utility. I get this message: The settings for this AirPort wireless device have been successfully updated, but there was a problem re-joining the wireless network or finding the AirPort wireless device. You may need to select your network from the AirPort menu and try again.
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    Try a hard reset on the Express by holding in the reset button until the amber light begins to flash more quickly, keep holding when you see this for another few seconds and then release.
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  • Second AirPort Express not showing up in AirPort Utility

    I got a second AirPort Express (APE) to extend my wireless in a different direction from the first but I have not been able to get the new one to show up in the AirPort Utility.
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    -Disconected the first APE and "forgot" it in the AirPort Utility, still not able to set up 2nd APE
    Did I get a bad unit?

    Answering my own post ...
    I first directly connected the AX to the iMac using the ethernet cable, and was able to configure the AX (not sure that I actually had to do this, as my issue was probably due to poor signal strength - as described later). I then moved the AX back to the living room, and was able to connect again, but soon it was dropped. Determined that the signal was weak. I played with positioning the AX to optimize signal, and now am able to get OK signal (only about 1/3 strength, based on number of bars in "fan" shaped icon in menu bar). Was able to stream iTunes to stereo as well, which is great. Also determined that the 2WIRE system that Airport was trying to set up WAS my neighbor (and not my gateway/router). If you don't see "Apple XXXXX" base station and network listed when you are in Airport Admin Utility or Internet Connect (which I didn't, but since I was using 2WIRE gateway/router, assumed that it was my AX when the 2WIRE appeared in the Airport network connection option), then the AX is not properly set up (weak signal or other problem).
    So, with the AX in the living room (front of the house), and the iMac in the sun room (back of the house), I am able to get OK, but not great signal from AX. So far, seems to be sufficient to connect to internet and stream iTunes. I may see if I can reposition the AX on the other side of the living room wall, but that will then require running a long cable to connect to the stereo.
    Bottom line: 50ft. range of AX may be reduced when used in old (1920's era) houses (thick, plaster walls). Actual distance between AX and iMac is probably 30-40 feet, though they are separated by at least 3-4 walls. If repositioning to other side of wall doesn't do the trick, I may need to step up to Extreme.
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  • Airport express or extreme for home wireless network

    My Mac Pro is hooked up to my internet upstairs. I would like to hook-up my sony bravia to the internet through a wireless bridge. Do I need the express or extreme? My PS3 is already hooked up to my mac pro through internet sharing. What is the best way to set up an internet connection for my tv and PS3?

    joek1 wrote:
    My Mac Pro is hooked up to my internet upstairs. I would like to hook-up my sony bravia to the internet through a wireless bridge. Do I need the express or extreme? My PS3 is already hooked up to my mac pro through internet sharing. What is the best way to set up an internet connection for my tv and PS3?
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  • Airport Admin loses Express and Extreme, no iTunes, no Network Printer

    Ever since I have upgraded to Tiger, I’ve experienced a strange, random Airport Extreme/Express problem which I have not been able to solve. I can sometimes replicate the problem but never consistently.
    Laptop Configuration: 15” Powerbook G4 running Mac OS Tiger 10.4.3 with most current patches. System is stable and manifests no problems.
    Airport Network Configuration: Network is closed with 128bit WEP encryption. No other laptops attached to the network besides my Powerbook.
    Base Station: Airport Express attached to DSL modem with “Distribute IP Addresses” checkbox enabled, running firmware v6.2, stereo speakers plugged into audio jack. Network access is restricted by MAC address; RADIUS not in use, default IP address scheme is used.
    Remote Base Station: Airport Extreme running firmware v5.6. The Extreme hosts a HP 1012 LaserJet printer plugged into the USB port and an IP phone plugged into the LAN port.
    The Express and Extreme are within 15 feet of each other and enjoy a clear, strong 802.11b/g wireless signal on Channel 1 with a multicast setting of 11, interface robustness enabled and transmit power set to 100%.
    Symptoms: iTunes loses its remote speakers setting; I cannot print to the network printer attached via USB to Airport Extreme; Airport Extreme and Express do not appear in Airport Admin Utility….yet I can access the network via the Powerbook, I have full internet access and IP phone can make calls. I just can’t print to the network printer or use AirTunes.
    Troubleshooting: I can restore all functionality if I perform a hard reset of the Airport Express Base Station then re-import my saved Airport Express base station configuration settings. I typically look at the Airport Admin Utility to determine if functionality has been restored. If both the Airport Express and Extreme appear in the Admin utility, all is well. If they are not there, sometimes a laptop reboot will restore them, other times they will not appear when the Admin Utility is opened or when I rescan. If a rescan fails, I can access the Express and Extreme by typing in the IP address and password. Then each will show up in the Admin Utility and I can make changes and restart the devices. Even with a device restart, they will not automatically appear in the Admin Utility.
    I first thought the problem was associated with the laptop going to sleep but this is not the case. Sometimes when I reset the Base Station, re-import the configs and reboot the laptop, I am able to automatically see the Express and Extreme in the Airport Admin Utility. Other times I can’t. Sometimes my settings will last a few days and I’ll enjoy full functionality then they will disappear. Other times they will disappear immediately, even with a reboot and a reset of the Express and Extreme.
    If I use a 3rd party utility called Cocktail and reboot, I can restore functionality. Cocktail will delete all user, system and kernel caches, delete all log files, rerun disk permissions, and run the daily, weekly and monthly Apple Kron maintenance scripts. If I reboot after running Cocktail, my Airport Extreme and Express appear in the Admin Utility. Thus, I think the problem may be associated with a Airport Extreme cache file becoming corrupted or deleted upon reboot…….but I am not positive.
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    Talk to me!

    If the Airport Admin Utility cannot automatically "see" your Base Station, you have a big clue as to the cause of your problems. On a private LAN, it should never be necessary to select "Other" and manually type in the Base Station's IP address.
    The most likely cause for the Airport Admin Utility not being able to automatically "see" an Airport Base Station - is a firewall on the Mac that is blocking it. Any of the following are possible:
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    - you have installed so-called "internet protection" software on the Mac
    - you have installed "internet monitoring" software on the Mac (like "Little Snitch")
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    All this stuff needs to go, since it will cause all sorts of trouble with communication between a Base Station or Airport Express, and a Mac.
    I'd also be very worried about what this "Cocktail" utility is really doing to your system.

  • Should I expect a major difference between 2nd gen Airport Extreme and latest version of Express or Extreme?

    Assume that I am within 2-3 feet proximity of the the base station - is there really a difference in performance?  Also, if I am primarly using the wifi connection, is there any significant difference in the performance of the latest version of the Express vs Extreme?
    Thanks!

    A second generation AirPort Extreme is a single band unit, either 2.4 or 5 GHz. Both the new Extreme and Express create both wireless networks simultaneously.
    There were antenna improvements made about the time of the fourth generation Extreme. Given your proximity to the base stations you are unlikely to observe any differences due to that alone, but the ability to use both 2.4 and 5 GHz networks is a major advantage.

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