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Trying to use Airport Express to extend my wifi and allow Airplay

I am trying to use my Airport Express to extend my wifi and allow Airplay. This was working until I had to reset my Amplifi extender. When I restart the Express and use Airport Utility, ask to join another network, it finds my network and then I get an "unexpected" error message and it will not connect.


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Posted on Jan 10, 2023 11:39 AM

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7 replies

Jan 10, 2023 1:31 PM in response to frannie78

Two things:

  1. An Apple AirPort Express can only extend a wireless network, via a wireless connection, created by another Apple AirPort base station.
  2. However, an AirPort Express can join a non-Apple wireless network, via a wireless connection, for things like support AirPlay.


Can you provide a bit more detail on your overall networking hardware, and how you have had your Express configured to connect to it for AirPlay?

Jan 12, 2023 8:57 AM in response to frannie78

Thank you for the additional details about your current network configuration.


I'm assuming then, that your AmpliFi mesh system is working and that this issue only relates to using your Express base stations for AirPlay.


In this case, each base station would need to be configured to join the wireless network, created by your mesh system ... not extend it. One of the reference links Apple provided you on your initial post addresses that. My suggestion is to perform either a "hard" or "factory reset" on them, and reconfigure them as network clients.

Jan 10, 2023 8:28 PM in response to Tesserax

I had two AirPort Express to extended our wireless network via a wireless connection using an Amplifi wireless extender. These two Airport Expresses were used solely for Airplay. When I reset the Amplifi to fix a internet connection issue is when the trouble started trying to reset the AirPort Expresses. I used an ethernet cable on one of the Expresses to set it up. I got it to recognize the network and it shows up in the Airport Utility, but will not play music. The other Airport Express is too far for an ethernet connection and when I try to "extend the network" with it a get a connection error. I have very limited knowledge of how this all works!


Jan 11, 2023 8:23 AM in response to frannie78

To be able to assist you with this matter, we really need to understand what your current network consists of.


If I understood your post, your network has, at least, three pieces of networking hardware: 2 AirPort Express base stations, and an Amplify wireless extender.


Would this Amplify device, be one of these products from this site? https://amplifi.com/


Which exact model(s) are your Express base stations? Are you only using them for AirPlay?


What is the make & model of the device that is providing you with Internet access?

Jan 11, 2023 7:34 PM in response to Tesserax

If I understood your post, your network has, at least, three pieces of networking hardware: 2 AirPort Express base stations, and an Amplify wireless extender.

Yes, I have 2 Airport Express base station, an Amplify router and an Amplify wireless extender.


Would this Amplify device, be one of these products from this site? https://amplifi.com/

Yes. I have the Amplifi Instant System which has the router and one mesh point.


Which exact model(s) are your Express base stations? Are you only using them for AirPlay?

The Airport Express base stations are I believe 2nd generation. Yes, we only use them for AirPlay


What is the make & model of the device that is providing you with Internet access?

The modem is Motorola 24x8 Cable Modem, Model MB7621, DOCSIS 3.0.


This configuration was working fine until I reset the Amplifi router. Before that both Airport Expresses were doing AirPlay just fine. I reset because the internet was being wonky! One of the Airport Expresses is connected to the internet, but the Airplay is not working. I was able to connect it to an ethernet cable to set it up. The second one keeps giving me the error message.


Trying to use Airport Express to extend my wifi and allow Airplay

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