mohulletpunk

Q: iTunes 12.3.3.17 not playing through Airport Express

Hi,

I am currently having difficulty playing music through my Airport Express; Current set-up: MacBook Pro (2012) with OS X El Capitan 10.11.4 using iTunes 12.3.3.17 and using an Airport Express (7.6.5 - connected to my stereo) and Airport Utility (6.3.6).

 

I initially had problems connecting the MacBook to the Airport Express and after searching on the discussion topics found that I had to change the network settings (System Preferences>Network>Advanced>TCP/IP Changing the IPv6 settings from off to Automatically or Link-local only) solved this. Unfortunately the only solution near to what I was trying to do involved turning the IPv6 setting to off, which then stopped the MBP talking to the AE.

 

iTunes has the choice of connecting to the Airport Express but when I try I get the error message "An error occurred while connecting to the Airplay Device. The network connection timed out."

MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.4)

Posted on May 10, 2016 11:11 AM

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Q: iTunes 12.3.3.17 not playing through Airport Express

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  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax May 10, 2016 3:42 PM in response to mohulletpunk
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
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    May 10, 2016 3:42 PM in response to mohulletpunk

    Is your AirPort Express the only router in your current network configuration or is there another wireless router that it is connected to? If so, what is the make & model of this other router? If there is another router, is the Express configured to join its wireless network or to extend it?

  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 10, 2016 11:12 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (12 points)
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    May 10, 2016 11:12 PM in response to Tesserax

    Hi Tesserax,

    I used my girlfriend's iPad Air (prior to being able to get the MBP to connect) to connect the AE to my current wireless network; it is just configured to join the network, nothing else. Since managing to get the MBP to talk to it, I did reset it, but again set it just to join the network.  After resetting it and controlling it from the MBP, the iPad can still connect and play music, but the MBP can't.

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax May 11, 2016 7:30 AM in response to mohulletpunk
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    May 11, 2016 7:30 AM in response to mohulletpunk

    Ok, thanks for the update.

     

    First, be sure that the MBP is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the one the AirPort Express has joined.

     

    Then, let's take a look at the MBP.

    • On the MBP, go to System Preferences > Sound
    • Click on the Output tab.
    • There should be an entry for AirPlay. Is there?

    SP Sound AirPlay.png

    In the image above, my Apple TV shows up as "Office" in the Output window.

     

    If the AirPort Express shows up here, then go on to the next steps:

    • Again, on the MBP, run iTunes.
    • Find the AirPlay icon at the top-left of the iTunes window.
    • Click on the icon.
    • Does the Express show up here?

    iTunes AirPlay Single.png

    In the image above, my Apple TV shows up in iTunes as "Office."

  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 12, 2016 9:50 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (12 points)
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    May 12, 2016 9:50 AM in response to Tesserax

    Still no luck I'm afraid;

    Screen Shot 2016-05-12 at 17.47.22.png

     

    Sorry for the busy screen shot (attempted to take picture of settings and error message at the same time.

  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 12, 2016 9:57 AM in response to mohulletpunk
    Level 1 (12 points)
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    May 12, 2016 9:57 AM in response to mohulletpunk

    Just tried to play from Spotify and change from built-in speakers to the airplay and got an error message as well

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax May 12, 2016 3:20 PM in response to mohulletpunk
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    May 12, 2016 3:20 PM in response to mohulletpunk

    Sorry, that it's still not working for your MBP. IPv6 is required for the AirPort Utility to access the base station, but not necessarily for streaming.

     

    The screen shot is fine. However, I noticed that the AirPlay icon in iTunes is amber. It should be blue. This would indicate iTunes is unable to properly communicate with the Express even though it can find it.

     

    Several things happen in order for AirPlay to start streaming:

    • AirPlay uses either Bonjour or Bluetooth to locate an AirPlay "speaker."
    • Once it finds it, AirPlay will attempt to establish a temporary secured control link to the base station.
    • If successful, it will then establish a "permanent" link for streaming.


    My guess, at this point, is that it was able to do the first item, but was not successful for the other two ... so we will need to do a bit of fundamental network troubleshooting to see what is up.


    First, verify the IP address of your MBP. To do so, go to System Preferences > Network > IP Address. Now let's do the same for the AirPort Express. This time you will need to run the AirPort Utility. Select the Express, and then, note the IP address listed in the pop-up window.


    They shouldn't be the same, but the addresses for both should be in the same network subnet. By default, the AirPort base stations use addresses in the 10.0.1.n range. Are both of yours in the same range?


    If so, I will like for you to ping the Express from the MBP. To do so, we will use Terminal (which is located in the Utilities folder), as follows:

    • Run Terminal.
    • At the Terminal prompt, enter: ping <IP address that you found in the AirPort Utility for the Express> <Enter>
    • Press <Control><c> to stop ping.
    • If the ping was successful it should return with a number of listing. (I attached a screenshot of my Terminal session with an AirPort Extreme below. I stopped the ping after four successful returns. Note that under ping statistics, it shows the number of packets and the there was zero packet loss. The latter would be the ideal state.) Many lost packets would indicate a poor connection between the devices and would need to be further investigated to understand the possible cause.

    CapturFiles.png


  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 17, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Wireless
    May 17, 2016 10:57 AM in response to Tesserax

    Hi Tesserax,

     

    Thanks for your reply.... I would try it but now both the iPad and the MBP are refusing to find the AE; I have tried resetting it, however it seems to have completely disappeared. If the problem persists I am just going to have to take it back to Apple; if I somehow resolve it in the next day or two I will try what you've suggested!

  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 20, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (12 points)
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    May 20, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Tesserax

    Hi Tesserax,

     

    Sorry for taking so long to get back in touch

     

    Still no luck: but here is a copy of the ping results:

     

    --- 192.168.0.15 ping statistics ---

    10 packets transmitted, 10 packets received, 0.0% packet loss

    round-trip min/avg/max/stddev = 3.815/4.150/5.130/0.394 ms

    Pauls-MacBook-Pro:~ Paul$

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax May 20, 2016 8:32 AM in response to mohulletpunk
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    May 20, 2016 8:32 AM in response to mohulletpunk

    The good news is that the ping results showed that there were no drop packets, but the roundtrip latency values are still high.

     

    With the Express configured to join another wireless network, AirPlay will first send the audio stream from your MBP to the wireless router that is providing the Wi-Fi network that the Express joined. In turn, it will then send the stream to the Express. If the IP address in the ping session that you provided is that of the Express, then that would be the roundtrip the packet would have to take ... similar to AirPlay.

     

    To see which is the most likely culprit in the excessive latency, try pinging the other wireless router and note the latency values. I suspect that they would be much lower. If so, then the placement of the Express may need to change.

  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 20, 2016 9:06 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Wireless
    May 20, 2016 9:06 AM in response to Tesserax

    Hi Tesserax,

     

    Yes, I can see that the distance from the router must be the problem; I tried it on the other network generated by my router, but still no luck. 

     

    I changed the settings to make the AE generate its own wireless network, and straight away I could play iTunes through my stereo. Problem is I could then not use the internet (so couldn't use spotify), as I was only connected to the network generated by the AE, which isn't connected to my router. And the main problem is my router is across the room (and through a door) from my stereo which I want to play my music from. (and the whole of the exercise of buying the AE was to reduce wires in the house, not add more!).

  • by Tesserax,Helpful

    Tesserax Tesserax May 20, 2016 10:17 AM in response to mohulletpunk
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    May 20, 2016 10:17 AM in response to mohulletpunk

    I changed the settings to make the AE generate its own wireless network, and straight away I could play iTunes through my stereo. Problem is I could then not use the internet (so couldn't use spotify), as I was only connected to the network generated by the AE, which isn't connected to my router. And the main problem is my router is across the room (and through a door) from my stereo which I want to play my music from.

    Yes, by configuring the Express to broadcast its own Wi-Fi network, you would now have two wireless networks with the one provided by the Express not connected to the Internet.

     

    Ok, so we were successful in narrowing down the issue.

     

    You still have a few options:

    1. Move the Express closer to the other Wi-Fi router. Where you would want to move the Express is within a 25+ dB SNR range of the other router (ref: AirPort User Tip: AirPort - Optimal Base Station Placement,) or
    2. Deploy Power-line adapters. These are used to create a pseudo Ethernet connection using your home's electrical circuit. In this case, you would need a minimum of two of these adapters. One near the Wi-Fi router, and the other at the location of the Express. With this option, you would have the basis for a roaming type network. This will allow you to both extend the wireless range of the other router and have both routers connected to the same network/Internet for streaming.
  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 25, 2016 10:56 AM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Wireless
    May 25, 2016 10:56 AM in response to Tesserax

    Hi Tesserax,

     

    Right, I have got two power-line adapters, and set them up; check they've worked (by turning off the WYFI off on the Macbook) and going on using the cables and the power line adapters. The problem is when I try and set the express up, it appears to block the internet (and still no music).  Whichever setting I use (extend wireless network, Join wireless network etc.) I can't seem to find the setting which works to make the Airport express work properly!

  • by Tesserax,

    Tesserax Tesserax May 25, 2016 11:08 AM in response to mohulletpunk
    Level 9 (54,452 points)
    Wireless
    May 25, 2016 11:08 AM in response to mohulletpunk

    Ok, remember that when using power-line adapters you have created a "wired" connection between them. That would be the same as connecting the Express back to your other wireless router with a long Ethernet cable.

     

    With this the case you would have the basis for a roaming type network. In this type of network, you would have both wireless routers producing a Wi-Fi network (thus, the correct setting would be: "Create a wireless network"). However, both networks would use the same network name ... and use the same wireless security type (WPA or WPA2) and password. This way all network clients would only "see" a single network.

     

    In this configuration, your Express will BOTH extend the range of the other wireless router AND be available for streaming.

  • by mohulletpunk,

    mohulletpunk mohulletpunk May 25, 2016 12:18 PM in response to Tesserax
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Wireless
    May 25, 2016 12:18 PM in response to Tesserax

    Shortly before messaging you I got a bit annoyed and had unplugged all the power-line adapters. I had been changing different configurations on the AE and had left it joined to the 2G wireless network (rather than the 5G).  I don't know why I looked at the Sound settings, but the AE had appeared as a speak option.  It now appears to work fine (without the power line adapters) on the 2G network. I have walked all around my house (its narrow but has four floors and I walked from the 2nd (where the AE is) to the fourth, with no loss of sound (and I was changing tracks to check it was still working).

     

    I've turned both the mac and the AE off and after a few minutes of frustration it seems to have all come back on again and be working perfectly. I pinged it on the 2G network, and the results weren't any better than when I did it before. I have no real idea what setting I changed to make it work, but I am sure your help in some way contributed to my success.

     

    Thank you for your help and patience!

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