Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop out

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Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop out

*Apple AirPort Express - Streaming Music on iTunes - Frequent Music Drop outs*

I have just purchased an Apple AirPort Express for the sole use of streaming music from my laptop to my home cinema system.

My system has bundles of power (Core 2 Duo, 3gb RAM, 320gb hard disk, Intel-N WiFi) and is running Windows Vista Premium. I am using the latest version of iTunes (version 8) and have it setup to play through remote speakers. I have my AirPort Express connected to my home cinema system.

When I play music on iTunes through ONLY my computer speakers I have no problem with drop outs.

However, when I play music through either (1) my AirPort Express or (2) multiple speakers (i.e. the AirPort Express and my computer speakers together) I experience frequent and unbelievably annoying drop outs in the music stream.

I have determined this has nothing to do with interference with the wireless signal and believe this is something to do with iTunes - the reason being the drop outs occur in BOTH the computer speakers AND the AirPort Express speakers (when I select multiple speakers) but does not occur when I select ONLY the computer speakers.

Please could you provide some advice on this as I am unable to use the AirPort!

Many thanks

Elliot

Dell, Windows Vista, Dual 2 Core

Posted on Nov 12, 2008 4:41 AM

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Answer 1

jeffeg

Level 1

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Nov 12, 2008 3:20 PM in response to elliotw100

Eliot-

I have researched the same problem you are experiencing and it is simply poor signal transcoding on the part of itunes/airport. There is an option that works off and on for me - use "signal robustness" for the airport express. It may or may not work for you but give it a shot. I also find that in previous versions of itunes, broadcasting to both computer speakers and the express seemed to correct the error somewhat. Also the microwave in my house made it worse. Other than that, there is little solution. I believe Apple is aware of this, but no solution. I stopped using mine quite some time ago.

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Answer 2

elliotw100 Author

Level 1

15 points

Nov 14, 2008 1:48 PM in response to jeffeg

Thanks for the reply Jeffeg. But why won't Apple fix this? It makes the unit USELESS. Who wants a music streamer that cuts out intermittently!

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Answer 3

Nov 15, 2008 2:27 AM in response to elliotw100

You don't say which Airport Express you are using and what its settings are.

There are two Airport Express models. The original model works on 802.11b/g on 2.4 GHz. The later model can do 802.11n on 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz. My experience is that interference when using the 2.4 GHz band creates drop-outs when sending audio from iTunes to an Airport Express. I now have an 802.11n network on 5.0 GHz and no longer have drop-outs. I also have a 2.4 GHz 802.11g network for my iPhone and other devices that can't do 802.11n. They are connected to each other by ethernet.

Interference on 2.4 GHz occurs because a lot of people nearby have wireless networks too. You may not notice the interference when doing other network activity that is not time dependant but it shows when streaming music. Using a utility like iStumbler or AirRadar I can see I am the only one using the 5.0 GHz band in range of my computer.

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Answer 4

IRL8

Level 1

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Nov 15, 2008 9:18 PM in response to elliotw100

i two have this same problem the odd thing is tha i had it working before. I think that it might have something to do with your firewall settings. I have removed the desktop fire wall from my lap top and the remote speakers seem to work fine. ( lap Top runs xp pro) However my pc tha runs Vista cuts out all the time no matter what the firewall settings are set to. you are right it has nothing to do with signal. There has to be some kind of fix out there Help.

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Answer 5

Nov 15, 2008 10:41 PM in response to IRL8

I have this same problem (with a Mac, but no solution in that forum either). I have only had this problem since itunes8. Ive just changed the aiport settings to enable transmission robustness and increase multicast just in case the drop outs are casued by the airport express getting distracted by something else. stay tuned!!!

EDIT: This hasn't helped at all. Still dropping out as much as ever. 😟

Message was edited by: pauledney

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Answer 6

elliotw100 Author

Level 1

15 points

Nov 18, 2008 5:37 AM in response to Matthew Smith

It is the most recent AirPort Express (n). But, please note this is NOT an interference problem with other devices like cordless phones or microwaves. The reason being I experience the drop out on my computer speakers too (although only when I select multiple speakers, not when I select computer speakers only).

I believe this is an iTunes problem. Still no fix.....COME ON APPLE, PLEASE

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Answer 7

Nov 18, 2008 11:16 PM in response to elliotw100

Why is this not an interference problem if you are selecting multiple speakers? Some of the speakers are still wireless, aren't they? That will still affect output to the computer speakers as iTunes is trying to synchronise the music over all speakers.

I have had to fix this issue for many friends. Wireless interference on 2.4 GHz is usually the problem.

Try the 5.0 GHz band and see what results you get. If it fixes it then you're happy and it's not an Apple/iTunes problem. If it doesn't fix it then you can say you have definitely proved it is not the wireless band that is the problem.

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Answer 8

Nov 19, 2008 9:26 AM in response to Matthew Smith

How comes that this problem occurred just after installing iTunes 8 and it was not happening on iTunes 7? Same network, same wireless environment! No interference whatsoever from different networks or other devices in the neighborough. And if one has the old model why should it left not working? Thank you

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Answer 9

wl11

Level 1

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Nov 19, 2008 12:06 PM in response to elliotw100

After trying every suggestion out there, I've finally found one that worked for me. I just opened the AirPort Utility, then started streaming to multiple speakers and it worked. Now it always works, even without opening the AirPort Utility. And my Windows Firewall is enabled without any specific ports opened. I don't understand why it works, but at least it works now.

Previously, I could only stream to multiple speakers from my Mac. I could never get any Windows machine (XP or Vista) to work. I've tried opening ports and disabling the Windows Firewall, but it didn't help. I didn't try playing with any settings in my Airport Extreme or Airport Express because I didn't think it would help since my Mac worked fine.

What is also weird is that I opened the Airport Utility on my Mac and it fixed the issue on my Windows.

Anyways, hopefully it will work for you too.

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Answer 10

elliotw100 Author

Level 1

15 points

Nov 29, 2008 5:03 AM in response to elliotw100

I have tried connecting my AirPort Express to my network by an ethernet connection.
I have the SAME problem. So it is NOTHING to do with the wireless network.
Apple - please sort this out. I am not going to buy another Apple product again, that's for sure.

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Answer 11

Nov 29, 2008 7:55 AM in response to wl11

"After trying every suggestion out there, I've finally found one that worked for me. I just opened the AirPort Utility, then started streaming to multiple speakers and it worked. Now it always works, even without opening the AirPort Utility."

YES! This also worked for me. I opened AirPort Utility and then opened iTunes v8 and started streaming music. No interruptions for well over an hour now - I use to get interruption every 30 seconds or so. Thanks for sharing your solution.

And now with the free 'Remote' application installed on my iPod Touch I have total control over my iTunes streaming music from anywhere in my house - even outside on the porch. Nice.

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Answer 12

wl11

Level 1

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Dec 1, 2008 10:44 AM in response to elliotw100

I agree with you. I don't think it has anything with being on wireless or not. That is why I didn't play with the interference and robustness settings. Remember, in my case, it always worked when streaming from a Mac and never from Windows regardless what the network configuration was. I still don't understand the root cause or why the fix worked. I just know that it is fixed for me and that it's worth a try. Just give it a try, it couldn't hurt. Good luck.

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Answer 13

elliotw100 Author

Level 1

15 points

Dec 1, 2008 4:09 PM in response to wl11

Opening the Apple AirPort utility didn't work for me. I have, however, found a solution. I took the AirPort back to Apple for a full refund. Job done. No more AirPort. I recommend everyone does the same!

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Answer 14

Jan 3, 2009 11:14 AM in response to elliotw100

Having spent a couple of hours researching drop out issues with the Airport Express and iTunes, this is the most useful advice I've found. Thanks!

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Answer 15

Jan 3, 2009 10:41 PM in response to elliotw100

I have a solution - return it within 30 days. Go back to carrying your CDs around your house. That's what I'll be doing.

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