Apple Airport Express Question re: music streaming from MCE - Canadian TV, Computing and Home Theatre Forums

hugh · 2005-08-19, 09:38 AM

I have an Airport Express that I'm trying to set up to my wireless network.

The Airport Express Assistant doesn't work so I tried the instructions from here suggested by feed monkey using the Airport Admin utility.

In the admin utility, I

changed the password,
set it up to join an existing wireless network, a
dded the name of my wireless network,
set security to 40-bit WEP and put in the password,
enabled airtunes
Clicked update

The result is it doesn't work and I can't see the Airport express in the admin utility.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
Hugh

hugh · 2005-08-19, 10:50 AM

Case closed!

The answer was this update to Airport 4.2 for Windows which also precipitated a firmware update to V6.2

The result was the Airport Express setup went without a hitch and I'm now grooving to Molly Johnson's Red Cardinal!

About AirPort 4.2 for Windows
This update fixes compatibility with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2) security software on AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme base stations. It also resolves issues with WPA2 on Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Microsoft update KB893357.

For the latest information on AirPort software, check Software Update in System Preferences or the following Apple websites:

crawford · 2006-10-12, 11:43 AM

Excellent article on your results. I have the same set up at my house.

Only two small points:

The AE will only extend the range of certain wireless networks, specifically the ones that support WDS (the Airport Extreme base station is one of them but there are a few others).
Do you need to activate sharing of your playlists? I'm pretty sure that the Express will work without sharing your playlists.

birdman325 · 2006-08-15, 12:19 PM

I currently have a desktop computer at home running XP Media Centre Edition connected directly to my wireless router and a laptop connecting to the home network wirelessly.
I have itunes loaded up on my desktop computer and would like to purchase an airport express to stream music to different locations in my house. Because the desktop computer is always on (whereas my laptop is only on when I am using it) I would like to stream the music off the desktop. (I have an application that allows me to wirelessly control itunes on my desktop from my PSP from anywhere in the house. It is amazing. Like a cheap Sonos!).
Anyways, because my desktop does not have a wireless card and is hard connected to the router, can I still use an airport express (and airtunes) running off my desktop? I would think the answer is no, as my desktop needs to be able to connect wirelesly to the airport express in some other room, and unless my desktop have a wireless card or wireless USB adapter, it would not work. Is this correct, or is there some way of using the wireless router to do this? (I suspect it would work if I ran airtunes off the laptop to connect to the airport express but as noted, my laptop is not left running.)
Sorry if this is a silly question, but I am trying to get my head around this. Perhaps the simple answer is to go out and buy a cheap USB wireless adapter to give the desktop wireless capability. (If I did that, would I disconnect the plug from the computer to the router, or could I have a USB wireless adapter, but still "connect" to the internet through the wired connection.

Thanx again, in advance.

wally434 · 2006-08-15, 12:49 PM

I have itunes running on my desktop PC, which does not have a wireless card, but is wired to my router. I also have airport express. I do not have any problem with this set up. The PC is in the basement, the airport express and speakers are in the backyard. As soon as I plug it in, itunes recognizes that there are external speakers and connects to them. I can play anything off itunes through these speakers - playlists and radio stations.

birdman325 · 2006-08-15, 01:01 PM

So just to make sure I understand your steup, which sounds similar to mine. You have a wireless network in your house, but your computer does not have wireless capability. It is just connected to the router through a hard cable and your computer is still able to stream to the airport express in another room. Correct?
Did you have any problems setting it up?

hugh · 2006-08-15, 01:07 PM

birdman, if you have a wireless router, you're good to go and don't need anything else. I reviewed the Apple Airport Express and found it quite handy.

Some advice and a warning.

Advice: Make sure you get the most recent software from the Apple site and follow the instructions to the the letter and you should have no problems.

Warning: Only one airport express unit can be functional at a time so if you want to stream to multiple locations at once, you won't be able to.

FYI, For an extra $70 you can get Roku. The benefit of ROku is that it plays DRM protected songs, can be controlled from the unit with a remote and you can stream to multiple Roku units.

QuickSilver · 2006-08-15, 01:13 PM

Hugh,
Are you sure the Roku plays DRM Apple Songs? I had a client that wanted one and he said he called the company and they told him it wold not play DRM songs from Apple.

birdman325 · 2006-08-15, 01:14 PM

I was of the impression that under the new software, you can play / control multiple Airport Express'

Roku can't play apple protected files (although you can burn to a CD and then re-rip).

I can purchase an refurb airport express form the Apple Store (Canada) for $115. When combined with my PSP and the PlayerPal software, I have Sonos like functionality.

I have looked at the Roku in the past, but I guess I should re-visit it.

wally434 · 2006-08-16, 08:48 AM

My desktop PC is connected to a wireless router. That is all I need to stream music from itunes to airport express. It does take some setting up with the airport express to get it to work properly, but once done it works flawlessly. My understanding from the apple website is that you can now stream to multiple airport express units.

2005-08-19, 09:38 AM	#1
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Help hooking up Airport Express to my Windows Wireless Network I have an Airport Express that I'm trying to set up to my wireless network. The Airport Express Assistant doesn't work so I tried the instructions from here suggested by feed monkey using the Airport Admin utility. In the admin utility, I changed the password, set it up to join an existing wireless network, a dded the name of my wireless network, set security to 40-bit WEP and put in the password, enabled airtunes Clicked update The result is it doesn't work and I can't see the Airport express in the admin utility. Any thoughts? Thanks Hugh __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2005-08-19, 10:50 AM	#2
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	Case closed! The answer was this update to Airport 4.2 for Windows which also precipitated a firmware update to V6.2 The result was the Airport Express setup went without a hitch and I'm now grooving to Molly Johnson's Red Cardinal! About AirPort 4.2 for Windows This update fixes compatibility with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2) security software on AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme base stations. It also resolves issues with WPA2 on Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Microsoft update KB893357. For the latest information on AirPort software, check Software Update in System Preferences or the following Apple websites: __________________ As of January 2012, I am no longer the owner of the Digital Home website. If you have questions about the operation of the site, please contact VSAdmin. For personal inquiries contact me at the Hugh Thompson website.

2006-10-12, 11:43 AM	#3
crawford Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Toronto Posts: 8	Excellent article on your results. I have the same set up at my house. Only two small points: The AE will only extend the range of certain wireless networks, specifically the ones that support WDS (the Airport Extreme base station is one of them but there are a few others). Do you need to activate sharing of your playlists? I'm pretty sure that the Express will work without sharing your playlists.

2006-08-15, 12:19 PM	#4
birdman325 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 81	Apple Airport Express Question re: music streaming from MCE I currently have a desktop computer at home running XP Media Centre Edition connected directly to my wireless router and a laptop connecting to the home network wirelessly. I have itunes loaded up on my desktop computer and would like to purchase an airport express to stream music to different locations in my house. Because the desktop computer is always on (whereas my laptop is only on when I am using it) I would like to stream the music off the desktop. (I have an application that allows me to wirelessly control itunes on my desktop from my PSP from anywhere in the house. It is amazing. Like a cheap Sonos!). Anyways, because my desktop does not have a wireless card and is hard connected to the router, can I still use an airport express (and airtunes) running off my desktop? I would think the answer is no, as my desktop needs to be able to connect wirelesly to the airport express in some other room, and unless my desktop have a wireless card or wireless USB adapter, it would not work. Is this correct, or is there some way of using the wireless router to do this? (I suspect it would work if I ran airtunes off the laptop to connect to the airport express but as noted, my laptop is not left running.) Sorry if this is a silly question, but I am trying to get my head around this. Perhaps the simple answer is to go out and buy a cheap USB wireless adapter to give the desktop wireless capability. (If I did that, would I disconnect the plug from the computer to the router, or could I have a USB wireless adapter, but still "connect" to the internet through the wired connection. Thanx again, in advance.

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2006-08-15, 12:49 PM	#5
wally434 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oakville - Cogeco Posts: 92	I have itunes running on my desktop PC, which does not have a wireless card, but is wired to my router. I also have airport express. I do not have any problem with this set up. The PC is in the basement, the airport express and speakers are in the backyard. As soon as I plug it in, itunes recognizes that there are external speakers and connects to them. I can play anything off itunes through these speakers - playlists and radio stations.

2006-08-15, 01:01 PM	#6
birdman325 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 81	So just to make sure I understand your steup, which sounds similar to mine. You have a wireless network in your house, but your computer does not have wireless capability. It is just connected to the router through a hard cable and your computer is still able to stream to the airport express in another room. Correct? Did you have any problems setting it up?

2006-08-15, 01:07 PM	#7
hugh Member #1 Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 47,492	birdman, if you have a wireless router, you're good to go and don't need anything else. I reviewed the Apple Airport Express and found it quite handy. Some advice and a warning. Advice: Make sure you get the most recent software from the Apple site and follow the instructions to the the letter and you should have no problems. Warning: Only one airport express unit can be functional at a time so if you want to stream to multiple locations at once, you won't be able to. FYI, For an extra $70 you can get Roku. The benefit of ROku is that it plays DRM protected songs, can be controlled from the unit with a remote and you can stream to multiple Roku units.

2006-08-15, 01:13 PM	#8
QuickSilver Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 3,131	Hugh, Are you sure the Roku plays DRM Apple Songs? I had a client that wanted one and he said he called the company and they told him it wold not play DRM songs from Apple.

2006-08-15, 01:14 PM	#9
birdman325 Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 81	I was of the impression that under the new software, you can play / control multiple Airport Express' Roku can't play apple protected files (although you can burn to a CD and then re-rip). I can purchase an refurb airport express form the Apple Store (Canada) for $115. When combined with my PSP and the PlayerPal software, I have Sonos like functionality. I have looked at the Roku in the past, but I guess I should re-visit it.

2006-08-16, 08:48 AM	#10
wally434 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Oakville - Cogeco Posts: 92	My desktop PC is connected to a wireless router. That is all I need to stream music from itunes to airport express. It does take some setting up with the airport express to get it to work properly, but once done it works flawlessly. My understanding from the apple website is that you can now stream to multiple airport express units.