AirPort Extreme based network with 4 AirPort Express devices

With v6.x of the AirPort Utility, an AirPort Express being added to a existing wireless network provided by another AirPort base station, will automatically configure itself to extend the wireless range of that network. Since this is not you will want in this case, we just need to start over with each of your Express base stations so that we can configure them to join the existing wireless network as a wireless client (for AirPlay).

The following Apple Support article should be used for reference. We will specifically being referring to the section, titled: "Connecting to an existing Wi-Fi network, exclusively for iTunes music"

The basic steps are:

(Note: I am assuming that you will be using AirPort Utility for Windows on your Windows PC for administrating the base stations. This would be version 5.x of the utility.)

• Power-down each of the AirPort Express base stations so that only your AirPort Extreme is providing the Wi-Fi network.
• Perform a "factory default" reset on each of the Express base station. When done, again remove them all from power except one that we will start with to configure it for AirPlay.
• The Express should now appear in the AirPort Utility as a new device. Select it, and then, click on "Manual Setup."
  • Note: Should the Express not appear in the utility, you may need to temporarily connect to the Express by Ethernet.
  • The Express will appear with a name something like: Base Station xxxxxx
• Select it, and then, click on "Manual Setup."
• AirPort > Base Station tab
  • AirPort Express Name: <Enter a desired name for the base station. I recommend using a name with 16 or less characters with no spaces or with special characters.>
  • AirPort Express Password: <The default is: public. You should change this.>
• AirPort > Wireless tab
  • Wireless Mode: Join a wireless network
  • Wireless Network Name: <Enter the Wi-Fi network name provided by the AirPort Extreme here or select it from the down-arrow list.>
  • Only enable the "Allow Ethernet clients" option if you plan on connecting a wired client or Ethernet switch to the base station's Ethernet port.
• Internet > Internet Connection tab

  Verify the following two settings. You should not be able to change them.

  • Connect Using: Wireless Network
  • Connection Sharing: Off (Bridge Mode)
• Internet > TCP/IP tab

  Configure IPv4: Using DHCP

• Music > Music tab
  • Enable AirPlay

    Verify that this option is checked.

  • (Optional)
    • iTunes Speaker Name: <enter the desired name for your AirPlay base station here>
    • iTunes Speaker Password: <enter a password if you want to secure the AirPlay connection>
• Click on Update and allow the base station to restart.
• If the base station was connected by Ethernet, remove it from power, disconnect the Ethernet cable, take it to the desired location, plug in the audio cable, and then, plug the base station back into power.
• Verify that the Express now shows up as an AirPlay device for streaming.
• If successful, do the same for each of the other Express base stations.

Rather than starting all over with each AirPort Express, you might try the following with one of them using the current version of AirPort Utility that you have.

Click on an AirPort Express to select it

Click Edit in the smaller window that appears

Click the Wireless tab at the top of the screen

Change the setting for Network Mode from "Extend a wireless network" to "Join a wireless network"

Click Update at the lower right of the screen and give the AirPort Express a minute to restart

If this "shortcut" works for you......(it works for me with the same version of Express that you have).......then you can configure the other Express devices the same way, and save yourself quite a bit of time.

I see that all of your base stations are interconnected by wireless. It appears that three are configured to extend the wireless range of the single AirPort Extreme and one Express is configured to join the extended network. Is this correct?

If so, streaming performance is dependent on the overall bandwidth available on your wireless network. Each extending base station cuts the bandwidth basically in half ... so with three base stations extending, there is little bandwidth left for streaming.

Let us know if we understood your network configuration correctly and we can offer some suggestions on how you can improve bandwidth.