YoitsTmac

Q: Got an Airport Extreme, want to Airplay with Express?

Hello. I have an old Airport Express (the one that plugs into the wall) and recently replaced with an Airport Extreme. We love it, and our speeds are no longer limited, however now we don't have our AirPlay speakers. I want them back, and was wondering if there was any way I could have the Airport Express set up JUST for AirPlaying those speakers. I don't want any devices to try and get internet from this slower base. Both Airports would be within 3 feet of each other. Is this possible? To make the Airports only function for Airplay while being able to play them through our existing Airport Extreme network? Would they interfere with each other?

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X El Capitan (10.11.3), Completely rebuilt by apple

Posted on Mar 1, 2016 11:55 AM

Close

Q: Got an Airport Extreme, want to Airplay with Express?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax Mar 1, 2016 1:07 PM in response to YoitsTmac
    Level 9 (54,427 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 1, 2016 1:07 PM in response to YoitsTmac

    I have an old Airport Express (the one that plugs into the wall) and recently replaced with an Airport Extreme.

    The older 802.11g (model# A1084) and the 1st generation 802.11n (model# A1264) AirPort Express base stations look identical. Which one do you actually have?

    ...however now we don't have our AirPlay speakers. I want them back, and was wondering if there was any way I could have the Airport Express set up JUST for AirPlaying those speakers.

    Yes, you can have the Express configured to join the Extreme's wireless network as a wireless client. Since the Express will be a wireless client it will perform like any other client on the network. That is, it will not be broadcasting a wireless network, nor performing as a router.

  • by tmacman97,

    tmacman97 tmacman97 Mar 1, 2016 8:04 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 1, 2016 8:04 PM in response to Tesserax

    Thanks for this. I set up my Express (second gen) and was immediately prompted to use it as a range extender, however that was my only option. I just gave it crummy internet preferences to avoid devices from prioritizing it for internet. I'm all set now!

     

     

    Edit: I am the OP however My  ID log-ins are all messed up.

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Mar 1, 2016 8:41 PM in response to tmacman97
    Level 10 (105,067 points)
    Wireless
    Mar 1, 2016 8:41 PM in response to tmacman97

    "I set up my Express (second gen) and was immediately prompted to use it as a range extender, however that was my only option."

     

    As Tesserax has mentioned, the AirPort Express can be easily configured to "Join a wireless network", and function as a wireless client.  It does not "extend" the network at all when it "joins" the network, it simply becomes a client of the network like other wireless devices.


    The USB port is active in this type of setup as well as the Ethernet ports.

     

    Screen Shot 2016-03-01 at 10.33.00 PM.png