Q: Airport Express "wired client mode"
I own an AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation), so the old wall-plug but with 802.11 Draft N. The only thing I want to use it for, is for Airplay. Currently it is connected to my router in "client mode" over wireless, and my receiver is connected to it through the jack-interface. The Airport Express is only 1 meter away from the router.
Unfortunately the sound is very often stuttering, and sometimes it is hard to connect to Airplay at all. I will have to reboot my Macbook / router / Airport Express and then it will often work again for a while. In the meanwhile I have replaced my Macbook twice and also have a another router, so I don't think the problem is in one of those components.
Since I don't have problems with my wireless connection on my Macbook, I suspect that somehow the wireless connection between the router and the Airport Express is not stable.
I've done some research and I believe it is not possible, but I still have to ask: is it possible to have the Airport Express join my existing network using a wire (since it is very close to my router) and then still use it for Airplay? Or does the newest model maybe support this?
MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.1)
Posted on Dec 20, 2014 4:12 AM
is it possible to have the Airport Express join my existing network using a wire (since it is very close to my router) and then still use it for Airplay?
Apple uses the term "join" to indicate a connection where the Express would connect to another router using a wireless connection.
This might not be intuitive, but if you want to connect the Express to another router using a wired Ethernet connection, the Express willl be configured to create a network. Name the network anything that you want for now, and assign device and network password. Update to save the settings.
Then, use AirPort Utility on your Mac to go back into the settings and simply turn off the wireless function on the Express and Update to save the new setting, if you do not want another wireless network, although having an additional network comes in handy if you have guests on a regular basis.
Posted on Dec 20, 2014 6:00 AM

