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Rudolfensis Author

Level 1

60 points

Cannot connect to AirPlay any more (AirPort Express)

I have been using AirPlay with my old AirPort Express for a few months without any problems.

After the recent iTunes update (I believe), it no longer works.

It shows this message for a long time:

Connecting to "AirPort"...

And then this:

An unknown error (-15006) occurred while connecting to the AirPlay device “AirPort”.

After that, the option to play from the AirPlay speakers disappears in iTunes:

And I can no longer access the AirPort Extress via the AirPort Utility (5.6):

I have tried disconnecting the AirPort from the power, resetting it twice, and restarting my Mac.

What else can I try?

(I am running the latest Lion on my MacBook Pro.)

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.2), 2.4GHz Core i7, SSD, Hi-Res Glossy

Posted on Jul 28, 2012 12:38 PM

45 replies

MadMacs0

Level 5

5,221 points

Jul 30, 2012 6:38 PM in response to Rudolfensis

Rudolfensis wrote:

Was the option to use Ethernet greyed out for you also? (Please see above.)

No, not when I had it hooked up to my cable modem, but I did reboot the cable modem and then the Express in ofder to get everything in the green (internet access), so it could have been greyed out before I did this and I didn't notice.

So do you think that's what the problem is? IPv6?

I can't say for certain since I haven't even tried the AirPlay aspects of this problem, but from what I read on the other threads, it would seem likely.

Rudolfensis Author

Level 1

60 points

Jul 30, 2012 6:58 PM in response to MadMacs0

Thanks for your reply.

I wonder if Apple will fix this, should I bother waiting?

MadMacs0

Level 5

5,221 points

Jul 31, 2012 12:14 AM in response to Rudolfensis

Rudolfensis wrote:

I wonder if Apple will fix this, should I bother waiting?

If it's really a hardware or even firmward problem with the 802.11g, I can't imagine that they will fix it. They consider anything older than five years as vintage and at the seven year point it's obsolete. Mine seems to have been manufactured in 2004, so it's way beyond that.

If it's a fixable problem in iTunes, then there's a chance.

Send them feedback at both:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/airportexpress.html

and

http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunes.html

Rudolfensis Author

Level 1

60 points

Jul 31, 2012 6:09 AM in response to MadMacs0

Thanks for your reply.

How could it be a hardware/firmware problem if it worked before?

It seems to be a problem on Lion's side, or with iTunes. Do you think updating to Mountain Lion would help?

I just submitted the bug to Apple, here's what I said:

Summary:

I have been using AirPlay with my AirPort Express G (802.11g) for many months without any problems in Lion. After the recent iTunes update, it no longer works (errors 15006 and 6753).

I have tried solving in numerous ways (see below).

Steps to Reproduce & Expected Results:

Connect to AirPlay speakers in latest Lion iTunes with AirPort Express G.

Actual Results:

When I try to select the AirPlay speakers in iTunes, it shows this message for a long time: "Connecting to "AirPort"..."

And then this: "An unknown error (-15006) occurred while connecting to the AirPlay device “AirPort”."

After that, the option to play from the AirPlay speakers disappears in iTunes. And I can no longer access the AirPort Extress via the AirPort Utility (5.6).

Regression:

I have to reset it, and start over. However, that doesn't work either.

I have tried:

- disconnecting the AirPort from the power,

- factory resetting it countless times,

- restarting my MacBook Pro (SSD),

- installing AirPort firmware,

- changing IPv6 settings for WiFi,

- using ethernet cable, and without.

Now, I also cannot set up the AirPort properly anymore. In AirPort Utility, I get the error (-6753). After that, it does seem to have been added. But when I try the AirPlay again, it has the problems as above.

MadMacs0

Level 5

5,221 points

Jul 31, 2012 10:26 AM in response to MadMacs0

Rudolfensis wrote:

How could it be a hardware/firmware problem if it worked before?

If iTunes now requires IPv6 (as will the entire internet in the not too distant future) and the Express 802.11g is not capable of supporting it.

Rudolfensis Author

Level 1

60 points

Jul 31, 2012 10:47 AM in response to MadMacs0

Interesting.

Could a firmware update fix that?

Could an Apple fan make the firmware update? It is complicated?

P.S. I have access to an old MacBook running Snow Leopard. Will give it a try if I can set AirPort up via there. Too bad I installed the latest iTunes on that one too...

...dammit Apple!

MadMacs0

Level 5

5,221 points

Jul 31, 2012 8:46 PM in response to Rudolfensis

Rudolfensis wrote:

Could a firmware update fix that?

I have no way of knowing. Obviously IPv6 addresses are longer and require more memory to store and process them. Whether the hardware could support that is anybody's guess.

Could an Apple fan make the firmware update? It is complicated?

I can only guess it would be incredibly complicated to reverse engineer a current firmware update, fix it, test it and repackage it so regular users could install it.

Rudolfensis Author

Level 1

60 points

Sep 1, 2012 2:35 AM in response to Rudolfensis

Still not working.

I wonder if Mountain Lion will solve this...

Rudolfensis Author

Level 1

60 points

Sep 5, 2012 10:06 AM in response to Rudolfensis

Update and slight success:

I tried setting up a network with only the AirPort Express router (and no internet input) and, lo and behold, I am able to stream music to it via AirTunes!

Once I combine it with the network from my wireless router, it has the above problems.

So is the problem with my router? How will I fix it?

Rudolfensis Author

Level 1

60 points

Sep 23, 2012 7:26 AM in response to Rudolfensis

Not sure if it's a problem with my router, or just APE being difficult.

Any suggesitons, anyone?

Sep 27, 2012 2:17 PM in response to Rudolfensis

I was able to get my a1084 (just purchased used) working with Lion by turning the Wireless Mode to off in Airport Utility 5.6, and configuring the Airport Express to connect via Ethernet. It seems like IPv4 isn't causing problems, though it certainly was when I tried to configure the APE to join a wireless network. Thanks for all the pointers in this thread, and good luck!

Oct 8, 2012 5:14 PM in response to themichaek

I have a mac mini with OSX 10.7.4 with iTunes 10.6.3 and have exactly the same problem... I have managed to go back to iTunes 10.5.3 with an older version of my iTunes library with the same result again.

I have also tried it with OSX 10.6.8 and iTunes 10.6.3 on my laptop with the same result. I have no idea what the problem is.

I wish it would work, otherwise the airport express is a useless brick to me, and I am not buying a new one just to play music to my speakers...

Any ideas anyone? Can Apple help at all (or will they...?)

Tseb.

MRYFLYGUY

Level 2

223 points

Dec 9, 2012 7:42 AM in response to Nathan Jones2

I just updated IPv6 to "Host" with Airport 5.6 and did my Airport Extreme too. Thanks for the info!

pkmusic

Level 1

131 points

Dec 21, 2012 7:39 PM in response to Rudolfensis

Doesn't anyone think Apple should tell you before you update iTunes that from then on, you won't be able to use a piece of hardware? What should I do with my 2 Airport Express staions? Is this it?

Dec 22, 2012 8:31 AM in response to pkmusic

It's definately a problem with iTunes and not the Airports. I have this exact same issue that I just found last night when I was trying to stream from iTunes. I can stream from my iPad and iPhone directly to the Airports without issue.

Cannot connect to AirPlay any more (AirPort Express)