Using Airport Express (wired) for AirPlay only

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Level 1

9 points

Using Airport Express (wired) for AirPlay only

Hi everyone,

I am looking to setup an Airport Express to stream AirPlay out through its minijack to an amplifier. This has already been partially in addressed in some older threads, but I'm not having luck finding a solution for my specific situation where the Airport Express is connected physically (i.e., via an ethernet cable) to my Airport Extreme Base Station. I do not want to have the Airport Express doing anything with WIFI ... in fact I'd like to have it turned off if at all possible.

On some other Apple threads and other internet sites, there are some proposed solutions, but none of them are current for the most recent Airport Admin utility and/or Airport Express firmware.

Thanks in advance for any advice. I've been researching this for hours and can't believe I haven't found a solution yet!

Posted on Aug 20, 2013 9:27 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 20, 2013 9:45 AM in response to rrz

Apple just automatically assumes that users who connect an AirPort Express to another Apple router are doing so to improve the wireless signal range of their network.

The newer AirPort Utility version 6.3.1 is a case in point. Since the AirPort Express will have wireless enabled at the end of the guided setup, the solution is to go back in after the basic setup is complete, and use AirPort Utility to manually dsable the wireless function of the AirPort Express.

Since AirPlay is enabled by default on the Express, you will have an AirPort Express with a wired Ethernet connection delivering an audio signal for AirPlay.

If you want to assign a password for AirPlay, click the AirPlay tab to enter and confirm, then click Update to save the changes.

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Answer 2

Jackitup

Level 1

28 points

Aug 20, 2013 1:47 PM in response to rrz

Well you took the expensive route. But since you can run wire directly from your computer to the speakers (ethernet cable) why not just use plain copper wire directly from your computer's speaker jack directly to your speakers. Go to Radio Shack for more information.

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Answer 3

rrz Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 20, 2013 4:29 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Bob,

Thank you for your message. I tried changing the Network Mode to "Off" in the Wireless section of the Airport utility. When I then go to update the Airport Express settings, it gets stuck in an "updating ..." status with an orange light.

Not sure why ... the Airport Utility ends up with the error "An error occurred while updating the configuration". I'm able to reset the Airport Express, and I've tried again with the same result.

Any suggestions?

Regards,

Raymond

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Answer 4

rrz Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 20, 2013 4:59 PM in response to Bob Timmons

One additional piece of information I just noticed is that the IP address for the Airport Express is 10.0.x.x

while the Airport Extreme Base Station (and everything other device on my network) is 192.168.x.x

The Airport Express is getting a 10.0.x.x IP address after I reset it and go through the basic setup and it is configured to "Extend a Wireless Network" in the wireless tab of the airport utility

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Answer 5

Aug 20, 2013 5:32 PM in response to rrz

What version of AirPort Utility are you using to configure the Express?

Are you trying to configure the Express with a Mac, iPad, or PC?

I assume that the AirPort Extreme is operating normally, correct?

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Answer 6

rrz Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 20, 2013 6:45 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I'm using Airport Utility version 6.3.1 and everything on the Airport Extreme is operating normally as far as I can tell ... internet and wireless all work correctly. AirPlay is working correctly when I use the basic setup and the Airport Express is setup to extend the wireless network.

The firmware version on the Airport Express is 7.6.4

I'm trying to configure the Airport Express using my iMac

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Answer 7

Aug 20, 2013 7:04 PM in response to rrz

OK, thanks for the info.

Disconnect the Ethernet cable that goes to the AirPort Express

With the AirPort Express powered on for a few minutes, hold in the reset button on the Express for 9-10 seconds and release

Allow a full minute for the Express to restart to slow, blinking amber light

Verify that the Ethernet cable connects from one of the LAN <-> ports on the AirPort Extreme to the WAN port on the Express

Click the AirPort icon at the top of the Mac's screen and wait a few seconds for a lising of New AirPort Base Station to occur

Just below that, click directly on AirPort Express

AirPort Setup will open up automatically and take a minute to analyze the network, then announce that the Express will be configured to Extend the AirPort Extreme network

Enter a device name that you want to use for the Express, then click Next

Now notice that the message will indicate that the Express is being configured to extend using Ethernet

When you see the message of Setup Complete, click Done

Now check to make sure that AirPlay working through the Express.

If you do not want the Express to provide additional wireless coverage.....

Open AirPort Utility, click on the Express, click Edit, click the Wireless tab and change the Network Mode setting to OFF.

Click Update to save the settings and allow a minute for the Express to restart

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Answer 8

rrz Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 20, 2013 7:19 PM in response to Bob Timmons

I tried as you suggested and when I try tp update the Airport Express with the new settings (i.e., Network Mode set to "Off) it hangs on the update. It's stuck with the status "Updating ..." and the light next to the Airport Express picture in the Admin Utility screen is orange. It times out after a few minutes and the error message that is pops up is "An error occurred while updating the configuration"

I've reset the Airport Express and tried again with the same results

It is the older model Airport Express ... I don't know if that is contributing the problem.

Do you know if there any type of log file on the update process that I can look at?

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Answer 9

Aug 20, 2013 7:25 PM in response to rrz

I would leave the wireless on at the Express if AirPlay is working.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of bugs in AirPort Utility 6.3.x.....and no logs.

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Answer 10

rrz Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 21, 2013 12:39 PM in response to Bob Timmons

Thank you for your help and suggestions. Maybe the bug I am encountering will be fixed at some point.

I'll add a final piece of information on why I'm looking to disable the Wifi on the Airport Express ... I'm going to have six of these next to each other feeding a 12 channel amp which will allow the members of my family to separate AirPlay streams to different rooms. I'm worried that with this setup and Wifi enabled on all of the Airport Express devices that any other wireless device in my home (ipod touches, iphones with WiFi on, laptops, etx) will suffer a performance decrease due to confusion over which WiFi signal to stay connected to.

I've already seen this happen with my iphone switching between my Airport Extreme Base Station and the Airport Express when both are equally strong signals.

Thank you again.

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Answer 11

Aug 21, 2013 12:45 PM in response to rrz

For what it is worth, I cannot duplicate the problem that you are experiencing with turning the wireless function "Off" with a spare Express that I have here. The Express restarts each time with the "Off" settings with no problems when I try it.

Maybe try a full Factory Default Reset on the Express.....not a Hard Reset......and then try to configure it again?

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Answer 12

Jackitup

Level 1

28 points

Aug 21, 2013 5:59 PM in response to rrz

Hey , rrz how about up dating your profile so everyone can see what your using. It would help.

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Answer 13

rrz Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 21, 2013 7:17 PM in response to Jackitup

I updated my profile to the current set of products I own ... if there is something more specific I can add let me know

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Answer 14

Jackitup

Level 1

28 points

Aug 21, 2013 7:52 PM in response to rrz

Ok, your iMac is connected to your AirPort Ex via ethernet. This is the center of your LAN. What is the rest of your setup.

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Answer 15

rrz Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 22, 2013 10:21 PM in response to Jackitup

Here is my network layout:

Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) connected via wired ethernet to Comcast cable modem
iMac connected via wired ethernet cable to AEBS (previously was WIFI ... see my comments below)
24 port Netgear Switch connected to AEBS

Your question on my network setup prompted me to change something from before ... basically, before today, my imac was connected via Wifi to my AEBS. I was experiencing the problems as described above. Now, my iMac is connected directly into the AEBS over an ethernet cable, AND I connected the Airport Express directly into the AEBS. When I did this, I was able to change the Network Mode to "OFF", and I was able to successfully update the configuration to the Airport Express (breen light and I could stream Airplay to it)

I also noticed that the IP address on the Airport Express is now 192.168.x.x.

I think that updating the configutation before failed because it was not able to reattach to the network using the wired ethernet connection, even though I suspect it detected it was there.

All this said, I thought I was now in good shape, so I unplugged the correctly configured Airport Express from power and the AEBS ethernet cable and took it to my basement. I plugged it into power and an ethernet cable from the 24 port switch .... unfortunately, the Airport Utility is not detecting it.

Is there something that the switch is introducing into the equation that I can troubleshoot?

Thanks in advance to both Bob and Jackitup

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