Multiple airport express clients dropping iTunes

Hello, I'm new to the board and appreciate the resource and any feedback you guys can provide.
My music is stored on the iMac and I'm trying to stream iTunes to two AX's and the music drops out often. They are both set up as clients. I have searched this forum extensively and think I have isolated the problem as one of the following:
Something to do with UDP protocal
Linksys WRT51AB router settings
512Mb RAM on iMac--too little?
Here's my troubleshooting thus far:
Both airport expresses work by themselves in their current locations.
Locations are close to computer, 1st within 10 feet (1 wall), 2nd another 10-15 feet (2 walls)
Checked firewall settings and "Block UDP" box is unchecked
I tried to forward Port 6000 on my Linksys router based on some advice in another thread here to no avail
AX Firmware 6.3
iTunes 6.0.4
OSX 10.4.6
Thanks for the help
G4 PB & Intel iMac Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Thanks for the suggestion. I had not tried that option as I had read somewhere that there is only one Linksys router that supports this setup and it's not the one I have.
I will try the solution and report back. I assume an AX configured as a range extender can also function to stream iTunes?
Also, for clarification, I am using two airport expresses both of which to stream music. They access my network through my Linksys router hardwired to the iMac.
Thanks.

Similar Messages

Multiple Airport Express Units and Itunes

I have two Airport Express units, each is hooked up to a seperate stereo in the house. I tunes will connect with one or the other, but not both Airport Express units at the same time.
When selecting multiple speakers from the drop down box...the following error message is encountered..."The remote speaker "xxxx" does not support playback as a part of a group. Do you want to switch playback to it?"
Any help would be appreciated...when this is complete, the system will be doing exactly what I want.

The three most common problems encountered with mutiple AX's:
Itunes software (need 6.02 or better)
AX firmware (need 6.3)
Firewall (you must ALLOW UDP traffic)
If all these items are met then usually what remains is configuration and/or a range problem. Since it sounds as though it works singularly, range is not the issue. Check the three most common and if they are right you are left with re-configuring the network or possibly (but unlikely based on the post) a bad unit.

HT4437 Streaming to multiple Airport express speakers via iTunes Match. How?

How can I do this?

I have 2 Express units set up in my home, both signals are visible under the AirPort dropdown menu...
You have them configured to create separate wireless networks. That is why you can send the music to both of them simultaneously.
You need to configure one of them to join the network created by other one so that only one network name appears in the AirPort menu.

Multiple Airport Express issues revisted

I've been trying to set up multiple airport expresses. I want to wirelessly connect to two stereos and stream to both at the same time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
So far I tried the directions below. But after following them, when I was in itunes, it would not acknowledge either AX. When I was making the suggested settings in the Airport tab, as listed below, it asked me for the name of the network. I wasn't sure what to put there though.
I can set up each on its own network, but then itunes can only find one stereo at a time.
Thanks for you help.
For each AirPort Express Base Station (AX):
Perform a "factory default" reset
- (ref: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=108044)
To set up AirTunes on the AirPort Express Base Station (AX), using the AirPort Admin Utility, connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to the Ethernet port of the AX, and then, try these settings:
AirPort tab
- Base Station Name: <whatever you wish or use the default>
- Wireless Mode: Join an Existing Wireless Network (Wireless Client)
Music tab
- Enable AirTunes on this base station (checked)
- Enable AirTunes over the Ethernet port (optional)
- iTunes Speaker Name: <whatever you wish>
- iTunes Speaker Password (optional)
In iTunes:
iTunes > Preferences... > Advanced > General
- Look for remote speakers connected with AirTunes (checked)
- Select "Multiple Speakers" from the speaker selection at the bottom of the iTunes window.

You need to have one of the AirPort Express (AX) join the wireless network created by the other one. See KB 302153, AirPort Express: How to join an existing wireless network in client mode.

Airport Exreme - Airport Express droupout with multiple Airport Express sta

I have multiple airport express's, an iMAc, a Airport extreme router, all software/firmware to current release. If I play on the iMac and one set of remote speakers, no problems, once I add two airport express stations with iTunes, I get the dropouts. Any ideas. I have already got rid of wds, changd channels, tc. to no avail.

I have the same set up and had the same issue and a guy at apple support gave me a tip to try and it worked!. First remove all the expresses from the power outlets keeping your airport extreme running. I also recommend using a different channel say 11. and use ap grapher
http://www.chimoosoft.com/products/apgrapher/
to see if your network looks like it's running well after you resetup your everything or before you bother doing this. I found my audio gear was really messing with my airports bandwidth and when I moved it to a new spot ap grapher showed I was getting a nice steady 54mbit/sec.
So again unplug the expresses and keep the extreme up and running.
You must first do a reset on the airport express by pushing in the little white button on the bottom with a paper clip for a few seconds, but you should check out how to reset the airport express via apple's web site because there are 2 types of resets one with it plugged in and one with it not. Not sure which is right reset method so check that yourself.
Once you have reset it you want to set the first express to extend your preexisting airport extreme network using the airport setup utility. If you have two expresses you may only need to do this to the last one in the chain but it can't hurt to reset them all form scratch.
Once the first express is up and running you then unplug the airport extreme from it's power outlet. Then you go to set up the 2nd express after you reset it and here lies the trick. You extend the 2nd express off the first express without the extreme involved. Then you plug in the extreme back into the power and bingo you have tricked the express #2 to extend from the first express and they wind up with new ip numbers like 10.0.1 and 10.0.2. Instead of them competing for signal using the same ip address they now have their own individual ip address, it turns it into an extension chain. If that makes sense I don't know what the tech terms are for this but it did cure my issues of dropouts I thought it was odd that they had the same addresses so it makes sense that they should have their own.
Micro wave ovens cause drop outs and so do some wireless phones but you can always check on your signal using AP grapher. I found that when I walk around with my MacBookPro in my house that the expresses really don;t have much of a range so if they are really far apart that could also be an issue. I'm sure the N versions are much better and I am thinking about upgrading.
Hope this helps cause it sure took a long time to type:)

Connecting to multiple Airport Express base stations at the same time?

I want to be able to use wireless internet and stream music to my stereo at the same time, but I only have a single internet connection behind my stereo and it's connected to the Pay TV. My options seem to be getting a new line installed behind the stereo so I can insert this into the same Airport Express base station I use for my music, or buying a second Airport Express base station and connecting it to one of the other internet connections in the room, then connecting to both Airport Express base stations at the same time.
Is this possible? Are there other alternatives?
Many thanks

Nate, Welcome to the discussion area!
Once you have a network, you can connect multiple AirPort Express (AX) to that network (wirelessly or via Ethernet). When your computer joins that network it can access all the AX.
You could take your current internet connection and run it into an inexpensive router with multiple Ethernet ports (not the AX). If this is a wireless router then your AXs could be located elsewhere and connect as wireless clients to that network. Once you computer joined that network it could stream music to the AXs.

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.

Multiple airport express airtunes problem

Hi,
I have my wireless network setup, using my AirPort Extreme with 802.11n to create the wireless network, then i have a new AirPort Express (with 802.11n) and an old AirPort Express (not 802.11n).
The two additional AirPort Expresses i have setup to connect to the wireless network, they all look fine and return the green light - but my problem is, that i am only able to select the new AirPort Express in my iTunes (as external speekers) - i can not get it to show me the old AirPort Express
It is kindof sad, now my old AirPort Express is useless - the point was that i should be able to have them both as external audio targets for my iTunes...
I hope you guys can help me.
Kind regards,
Rasmus Burkal, Denmark

Hi again Bob,
Just one thing i find "funny" - you know, in the AirPort tool, you can go and change the settings of a AirPort device. If I go to the "new" Express, I can change the "name" of the iTunes speakers (the name that apear in my iTunes drop-down) - but when I try to do that at the "old" Express, when I click update - I gives me a warning - saying something like "not supported by this wireless apple device" (even though the setting is avalible from the AirPort tool)
All the best,
Rasmus

Connection problems when I use multiple Airport Expresses

I have one Mac that I use to stream music to multiple Airport Express's. Its seems that when I connect to 3 expresses things work fine. If I connect to 4 the sound cuts out on all speakers.
Is 3 the limit or am I doing something wrong?

Yes you can but....
With the apex in the ceiling you may get a signal loss from your main wireless system. To be able to do what you want in a whole home sound system they all need to be on the main wireless system. You also have to plug them in to a wall outlet which may be an issue with your fire regulations with them inside the walls/ceiling. With airplay you have some limitation also. If she has an ios device and likes say pandora she can only do it to one set of speakers/APex. Only itunes from a computer can do multiple/house party sound. I have 2 APex in my house and love them all. If your main wifi is out of range for some of the new APex's you can run 1 cat5/6 (APex is 10/100) and make a new network and bridge the rest to it. As long as your new wire is connected to your main network you will stay on the same network.
So now you get sound and a roaming wifi through out the house. (that's what I did but not in the ceiling.)
Sonus are good but $$$. by then rewire!

AirTunes and multiple Airport Express modules

I was curious if there are plans to support connecting to multiple Airport Express modules? I have two modules in my home and would love to be able to send music to two different places at the same time.
If there is a plan to introduce this option I'd love to know and if I already can I'd love to know how.
Thanks

I would love to know this as well.
I have just purchased an older home and re-wiring the
house is somewhat out of the question.
I purchased two AirPort Express modules's, but then
found out you can only play to one at a time. I
would love to be able to play one play list in the
basement and another in the living room upstairs
without having to run two iTunes.
Or at least play the same playlist to both at the
same time?
I too would like to know this. I have an older home and would like the option of playing the same music throughout the house or in just one location.
Even being able to hear what is playing from the
iTunes player would be decent as well.
Any thoughts?
Stephane
G4 Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Multiple Airport Express without Airport Extreme

Is it possible to have multiple Airport Expresses on a network without the router being an Airport Extreme? I have a Buffalo router and can't get more than on Airport Express to be recognized. Is this possible?

The Express must be configured to "join a wireless network" to be able to stream iTunes to your stereo. It sounds like you have one device working OK, is that correct?
If you can't get AirPort Utility to "see" your other Express, temporarily connect an ethernet cable from your computer to the Express and then open AirPort Utility to see if that helps. You will configure it to "join" your wireless network.
When you have it configured, you can disconnect the ethernet cable and move the Express to the location that you want.

Connecting to multiple Airport Express base stations for internet and TV?

I want to be able to use wireless internet and stream music to my stereo at the same time, but I only have a single ethernet connection behind my stereo and it's connected to the Pay TV. My options seem to be an ethernet splitter (maybe - any ideas?), getting a new ethernet connection installed behind the stereo so I can insert this into the same Airport Express base station I use for my music, or buying a second Airport Express base station and connecting it to one of the other internet connections in the room, then connecting to both Airport Express base stations at the same time.
Is this possible? Are there other alternatives?
Many thanks

Nate, Welcome to the discussion area!
Once you have a network, you can connect multiple AirPort Express (AX) to that network (wirelessly or via Ethernet). When your computer joins that network it can access all the AX.
You could take your current internet connection and run it into an inexpensive router with multiple Ethernet ports (not the AX). If this is a wireless router then your AXs could be located elsewhere and connect as wireless clients to that network. Once you computer joined that network it could stream music to the AXs.

Using Multiple Airport Express units to play Music to Multiple Sound System

Goal
- play music on my iMac and in one other sound system(I'am aware of the one
system limit )
- I have multiple Airport Express units(3) for different sound systems and wish
to select the room using iTunes.
Reality
if I reset all the airport express units in the house(3) I can initially see the units. On going through the setup I'am able to configure each unit to be part of my wireless network and get the airport express to power cycle. However after this process only the last AE unit is visable via itunes. If I use the airport utility it can find no units when scanning. If I power cycle one of the non visible units it becomes visable but I cannot play music to the unit and trashes the connectivity to the one working AE unit.
What am I doing wrong ?

Sorry - I led you astray unnecessary in my last posted message. The reference I provided was for setting up a remote base station. That is not applicable to your situation, so please ignore.
In your case, you want to use the Airport Utility to configure each Airport Express so that it "join" (and not "extends") your existing wireless network.
What I suggest you do is:
1. get each Airport Express into a known default state by doing a factory default reset per these instructions. Hold down the reset button for 10-15 seconds, until you see four green flashes in rapid succession
2. put all Airport Express devices, and the wireless Mac you are using to configure the Airport Expresses, into the same room as the wireless router you are using
3. configure one Airport Express at a time, and as I said above use the Airport Utility to configure each Airport Express to "join" the existing wireless network - ie select your Airport Express device as shown in the Airport Utility, click the "Continue" button (not the Manual setup button), and follow the instructions. The name of the wireless network you are joining is the same as the name of the wireless network your existing wireless router is creating. Make sure you also specify the same security protocol (WEP/WPA) and wireless network password as your Mac requires to connect to your existing wireless network.

Multiple airport express's

Can i have multiple airport expresses acting as range extenders on the same network?

Yes, if you remember that they all must connect to the "main" base station.
Apple's extend a wireless network feature works like the hub and spokes of a wheel. Your AirPort Extreme would be the "hub" and each AirPort Express would reside at the end of a separate "spoke".
Each AirPort Express only communicates to the hub....not to another Airport Express at the end of another spoke.....so it is important that the AirPort Express devices be located about the same distance from the hub....and....that they are closer to the hub than they are to another AirPort Express.

Best Practices for Using Airport Express to Stream iTunes via Ethernet

So I've been reading various posts about using Airport Express to stream iTunes and I've been reading various posts about using the Ethernet port on the Express. However, not sure I've yet found an inclusive listing of settings for both. Wondering if anyone out there has such a thing?
I have an (older) Aiport Express (802.11g, no 'n') running the latest Firmware (6.3, I believe). I have it lashed into my switch via a Cat 6 cable and the 3.5 stereo mini running out to RCA jacks into my RussSound (home audio system) amp. I'd like to make the Express ONLY a iTunes streaming device getting its network link over Ethernet (AirTunes). So, what does everyone suggest for best settings for turning on the Ethernet, turning off the WiFi and running AirTunes?
Thanks much in advance!
cheers
cp root

Airport > Wireless > Wireless mode "off"
Internet > Internet connection > Connect using "Ethernet", Configure IPv4 "via DHCP"
Music > Enable Airtunes
Enable Airtunes over Ethernet (if this choice appears).
When I first did this, the remote speakers didn't appear in iTunes. I poked around to see what I missed and couldn't find anything wrong, but the next time I ran iTunes the remote speakers appeared.
If you run into a firewall problem, make sure your OS X firewall is configured to "set access for specific services and applications": http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.5/en/18503.html
Firmware 6.3 is correct for your Express.

Multiple airport express clients dropping iTunes

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for