AirPlay with AirPort Express 802.11n 2nd Gen. (A1293) does not work with older devices

Did the 7.8.1 update actually remove Airplay 1 support or did it maybe do some permanent change causing the issue to persist even if an older firmware is flashed back?

It is easier to keep answers to your issue separate from the other thread.. even if they are related.

Using Airfoil, I am able to stream audio using firmware 7.6.9 but with 7.8.1 I get a "403 access forbidden" error.

The change of firmware cannot permanently change the Airplay support which is definitely not removed.

I already tried resetting the AirPorts to factory settings, creating new plain vanilla configurations, etc. but to no avail.

We likely need to know the full layout of your network.

What model is the main router?

I would also suggest a factory resets.. twice.. one using the reset button.. and one using the airport utility function.

The Restore Default Settings. Just to be sure you have removed everything.

I would then do as I suggested in the other thread.. Export the configuration from the Gen1..

And Import it in the Gen2.. after you also export its standard settings.

It won't work as well as with two Gen2 but as much of the settings as possible will transfer and it is a good way to just check if some setting is wrong.

If you do get a fix.. you can then compare the two exported configurations.. And determine the key that is messing settings up.

P.S. iTunes 12.6.4.3 on OS X 10.11.6 also doesn't work. However, iTunes 12.9.6.3 on Windows 10 does...

This is useful as well.. it strongly suggests network issue above anything else.

A couple of screenshots from your airport utility showing the setup of the working Gen1 vs the not working Gen2 can be very helpful.

You are obviously competent with the network and using the various tools.

There is a few things to try.. if you can be bothered.

IMHO the Gen2 Express is way over priced and if my Gen1 power supplies fail I will cut them open and replace the AC with DC supplies.. lots of info around the web to do it but there are better methods than most sources are suggesting.

You can SSH into the Express..

https://github.com/x56/airpyrt-tools

With explicit details here.

https://github.com/x56/airpyrt-tools/issues/1

This issue is very new.. 7.8 did cause loads of problems but if people loaded 7.6.8 or 7.6.9 it mostly was OK. This new update seems to have done something that causes bigger problems and makes downgrading firmware no longer work.

What we might need to do is get someone with older (not updated) Gen2 Express to give us a copy of the baseconfig file and see if there is any difference with current one.. if not something has been changed in nvram which should be possible to change back using ssh commands I can give you.

Well ssh into your new one..

Run the command

acp static

It will be equivalent to nvram show.

It might only have a few lines.. or it might have quite a lot.

The Gen1 AEX has just a few lines..

Serial number

Country location for wireless

MAC address

which means all the rest of the info is stored in acp and you will need to dig it out.

Save the baseconfig by doing the export of configuration as well.

I would try importing the baseconfig into your later firmware ones.. and just do a change of name and see if that fixes anything.. if not .. you are going to need to do a fair amount of work to discover what details are hidden away from sight.

Anything you discover can be very helpful to other users.

And although Apple stopped production over a year ago the airport express is still the most convenient if not the most reliable product for airplay.. You can always use Apple TV but then you need to use HDMI to analogue or optical adapter of some sort. Most cheap end 3rd party airplay products are terrible and even expensive products don't always get updated and are marooned. I got a JBL player that works fine from old ipad and nothing else.

I did that once with one of the first models when it's internal power supply failed... it worked but didn't look nice

Remember once the AC power supply is removed.. a case is optional.. and you can mount it inside just about anything.. the board is tiny after all.

I hate that apple put it in a sealed case.. clearly intending for people to throw away broken ones..

I did instructions for repairing the AC supply..

https://sites.google.com/site/lapastenague/airport-express-repair

But you can buy DC to DC power modules from eBay for $1 each.. So you can power it from 8-20v..or even POE 48v.. I have no idea why Apple seldom used POE but there was one of the G wireless airports that was POE powered. POE with a splitter or passive POE and just hardwire the ethernet port to dc module is easy peasy.

DC modules are tiny and will put out 2A easily.. You can then encapsulate it or just hide it inside a speaker or whatever.

Do the command

acp prop

That will give you a full list of all the commands available.

Some have obvious meaning.. syxx are system.

Some have no values and are not used.. some connect to plist where the data is stored.

You can also run BSD commands.

Have fun!!

Just to add.. the Gen2 Airport Express is A1392 .. just being pedantic..!!