how to use my airport express just to stream music, no interent

Since you have the AX connected to the other router by Ethernet, I would recommend that you configure both of them for a roaming network.

Remember you have two separate wireless networks now. One for connecting to the Internet and the other for streaming. You will have to switch wireless networks to do either. This what I understood your goal to be.

If it is not, then you will want to configure the AX to join the wireless network provided by the other router. This way you only need to connect to a single wireless network to do both.

Thanks Tesserax- I've finally sorted the issue. It was a problem with the WEP password. I changed it to a 40bit instead of 128, and it's all good. I'd never have worked that out!

Thanks for your time!

I tried the whole roaming network setup and still can't get it to work. Where it says to set primary wifi base station to "share ip address" and extending wifi base station to "off bridge mode" Do i just set the AX to off bridge mode and forget about "share ip address"? or do I need to do change a setting on my router for that?

Hi Tesserax, It seems you could help me. I have slightly different situation than Tyus4 - no chance to connect AX via Ethernet cabel to Internet (router) permanently. So, I configured the AX as a standalone wireless network (through its connection to MBA). But the problem is, that I cannot access my original wifi (and browse a net on MBA or iPad) simultaneously when I'm streaming music 😟.
Can I set up the AX as 1) extending my previous wireless network or 2) join it ... but just by temporarily connected ethernet cabel (to router or MBA)? How, and will it work? My goal is just to use AX for streaming music AND have my devices concurrently connected to my original wifi.
Thanks a lot.

So, I configured the AX as a standalone wireless network (through its connection to MBA). But the problem is, that I cannot access my original wifi (and browse a net on MBA or iPad) simultaneously when I'm streaming music 😟.

... and that is how it is supposed to work in this configuration. Sorry.

Can I set up the AX as 1) extending my previous wireless network or 2) join it ... but just by temporarily connected ethernet cabel (to router or MBA)?

Option 1 would work if your existing wireless network is provided by another AirPort router. Option 2 is a common configuration for streaming and does not require that the other router be an AirPort. However, there would be no need for an Ethernet connection, even a temporary one, for streaming to work. Also, this configuration would allow you to both access the Internet and stream simultaneously. For more details on how to set up the 2nd option, please check out the following Apple Support article.

Tesserax - your info was really helpful, and it worked for creating a stand alone network for streaming music from both an ipad and an iphone into a stereo receiver and a speaker system.

I'm still a bit confused as to why I can't get my home network to recognize my AX. It would recognize it for brief periods of time after a reset, but the AX would disappear from the Airport Utility after making the changes you recommended in the original post and updating. I had to try several times. The set up only worked the way you suggested - with a manual set-up and a stand alone network.

At first I thought the AX was too far away from the main router - but my iphone picks up the main network just fine in all locations. I'd still like to connect the AX to the main wireless network. I think I'm dealing with the same thing as jamiebuckingham noted.

Hi Quemanly- is your modem security using WEP encryption? I just switched the DSL modem over to WPA2 encryption and it's been perfect ever since.

Thanks, just to confirm,

If I want to use airplay a Keynote from my iPhone to my Apple TV by using the local network (no internet) what are the steps to build that local network?

Regards,

Jonathan M.

OK. Tesserax, since you seem to be so knowledgable on the Airport Express and since this is such a good thread explaining how this thing works, I pose another question.

First to help make sure I got it right, if you have an Airport Express (AX1- Base) set us as your wireless router via ethernet hard link from an internet modem, AND you have a second Airport Express (AX 2) set up somewhere nearby, you can connect AX2 to AX1-Base which will then allow you to stream your computer's iTunes music library via AX 2's Aux output on external speakers WHILE ALSO allowing you to search the web (i,e. Letting you stream Pandora).

This is possible, correct?

Now the question: Can an Apple TV 2 connect to AX1-Base wirelessly? Goal: To wirelessly send Apple TV Audio (Netflix, Apple TV radio, etc.) via AX1-Base's connection out External Speakers connected to AX1-Base's AUX jack.

And P.S. Thank you for all the previous responses to everyone's questions. We thank you!

First to help make sure I got it right, if you have an Airport Express (AX1- Base) set us as your wireless router via ethernet hard link from an internet modem, AND you have a second Airport Express (AX 2) set up somewhere nearby, you can connect AX2 to AX1-Base which will then allow you to stream your computer's iTunes music library via AX 2's Aux output on external speakers WHILE ALSO allowing you to search the web (i,e. Letting you stream Pandora).

This is possible, correct?

That is correct.

Can an Apple TV 2 connect to AX1-Base wirelessly?

Yes. However, you cannot stream from an Apple TV as it is not a media server. The Apple TV audio can only go either via its HMDI or digital optical ports.

Thank you so much Tesserax.

My intention was to wireless connect as many pieces of my audio equipment possible to the Airport Express to have as few possible cords going into the External speakers, thus eliminating the need for an Audio/Visual Receiver.

Follow-on Question:

Assuming the same setup architecture as mentioned previously, will the older model Airports (the one that plugs directly into the power outlet) work with the new model Airport Express? Example, can I use the new model as AX1-Base and an older plug in model for AX 2 that connect to AX1-Base to stream on my downstairs speaker system?

Assuming the same setup architecture as mentioned previously, will the older model Airports (the one that plugs directly into the power outlet) work with the new model Airport Express? Example, can I use the new model as AX1-Base and an older plug in model for AX 2 that connect to AX1-Base to stream on my downstairs speaker system?

Yes.

Hi

Thanks for this - I have the Airport express base station a1264 for a few years. Been working great - occassionally it was dropping out. I have no internet connected to it and all my mac / iphone and ipads can connect to it.

Well, I tried to update the firmware and now - it works but the exclamation point is telling me there's no internet - I know that but I never saw that alert before - it's on the tool bar over the wifi Icon. Using Airport utility 6.3.1

Any suggestions?

should have left it alone!!!

Thanks

Art

The solution to the OP was for a situation where there would be NO Internet connection. The error you see is normal. You should be able to use the AirPort Utility to ignore this error so that you don't see the exclamation point.