AirPort and AirTunes: The Perfect Pair
I got two AirPort Expresses a couple of days ago, and a few hours after setting them up, started wondering how I lived without them before. I bought one to use with a shared printer (a Brother HL-1440); previously, I had my printer connected to an old iMac that I had to turn on to be able to print. The other was meant to be fluff to play around with for AirTunes. While the printer sharing doesn’t change much in the way I work (other than not having to turn on the old iMac the printer was connected to when I want to print), I’m astounded by the power that AirTunes gives me when listening to music.First, the bad part. I got my two AEXs on Friday morning, opened the packages, and plugged them in. Went to configure them with the AirPort Express Assistant, and…. They were not recognized; both of them.
I tried all kinds of things, such as resetting them, and finally called Apple Care to sort out the problem. First, I got a barely literate person who took 18 minutes to get to the problem, but still didn’t understand. So I hung up and called back. This time, I spent 45 minutes with a friendly tech support agent who tried desperately to find the cause of the problem. After all, if both units didn’t work, it didn’t sound like it was a problem with the AEXs, but we couldn’t figure it out. Checking Apple’s tech support discussions, I found this was a relatively common problem. And searching a little more led me to a footnote in a tech document about AirPort networks with Access Control. Duh… Mine has Access Control turned on (my network only allows clients whose MAC addresses it knows to connect). So, entered the MAC addresses, and configured them – a piece of cake.
Next, hooked the first one up to my printer, which I moved out of my office (so as not to have to hear the noise when it prints). A cinch. Works like a charm – now my entire family (I work in a home office) can print without anyone having to turn on the Mac that was connected to the printer. This is not a cheap solution for shared printing, but it sure makes life easier.
But here comes the good part. Using the second AEX for music, I set it up and connected it to my living room speakers. Booted up iTunes, and started the Party Shuffle. I worked for the afternoon, not paying much attention, except when there was a song I didn’t like – I would switch to iTunes and skip ahead.
It dawned on me, some time on Saturday, as I listened to music while surfing the web, just how powerful a tool AirTunes is. No more do you need wires, and no more do you need to plug your iPod into your stereo (which I was doing), and have to get up every time you want to change or pause the music. But with AirTunes, I just use my iBook as a “remote control” and manage my music from iTunes.
Sure, this remote control is pretty big, but if you’re in a room where you can use an iBook or PowerBook, it really is the best way to listen to music. No more CDs, no more getting up to change the music.
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Posted: 9/24/2004 by kirk | Filed under: iPod & iTunes | 15 Comments »
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How did you set your network up with multiple APs? Are you using Wireless
Distribution? Are you connecting the two APXs to one AP using WDS? Just
curious, because I want to do the same thing in my home.
I’ve got a snow AirPort base station that is serving the connection to the two
AEXs. It was pretty simple, as far as configuration is concerned – no WDS. It
works like a charm.
I guess what I’m asking is, you can only connect to one AP at a time (correct?). Are you able to give both of the APXs the same SSID with a different channel, and Mac is smart enough to swith between the two? I’m just confused on how your computer can connect to multiple APs at the same time. Please enlighten me.
It connects just fine to both at the same time – one for music, the other for
printing. They’re all on the same channel; I guess internally, the AirPort base
station manages all that transparently. It’s the same as connecting to several
network servers at the same time, essentially.
Hi Kirk,
I’ve installed two Airport Express units. I have one connected to the stereo in the library. Another connected to the stereo in my doll room. I just ordered a third yesterday. I will connect this unit to a LCD TV for the re-modeled breakfast nook. This will give me the ability to listen to music while enjoying a snack.
I wonder, is there a way to use the LCD TV as a monitor? It would be cool to load a bunch of clips I receive through email and share them with others. It would also be nice to use the DVD player on my PC to beam picture and sound on the network. So is it possible to connect a monitor using Airport Express?
No, the AirPort Express is only designed to transmit music or data.
This said, have a look at elgato’s EyeHome. This
device can stream music or video to a TV, as well as display photos. I think
you can hook it up to an AirPort Express.
Thanks Kirk! That is a great product for Macs. Unfortunately I use a PC. Is there anything you would recommend for PCs?
Ah, a PC user… I know the eyeHome is Mac-only. I don’t know of an
equivalent PC product. Doesn’t Microsoft have some sort of home media
thing that has the same functions?
I may have to get it an load it on my partner’s iBook. All of the others wireless left me feeling discouraged.
Thanks again Kirk for all of your help and suggestions. I’m a member of the iPod Yahoo! group.
I bought an Aiport Express base station yesterday and hooked it up to my home theater system. I have configured it to use my existing wireless network. It works great with my desktop PC that has iTunes on it. My question is, I also have a laptop that has iTunes on it, which is also connected to the same wireless network. However, the iTunes on my laptop is not able to detect that I have AirTunes connected. Why is this? I want to be able to use AirTunes both from my PC as well as my laptop (streaming from one only at a given time). Is this possible or do I need to buy a separate base station and configure that specifically for my laptop? I hope not !!
No, you just need to turn on an option in your iTunes preferences. Advanced >
General, Look for AirTunes speakers.
I am running an iBook G4 on a wireless network with a printer on the network
hub. I also have an AEX set-up across the room at my girlfriend’s desk, with a
set of speakers jacked in.
There are two networks: the local wireless one, and the AEX one. I’d like to run
one network so that I can print, browse, and stream itunes. As it is, I have to
switch from one to the other: I cannot run them all simultaneously. I know that
there is a simple solution, but still, it eludes me.
Andy
You need to set up the AEX to join the existing network, not to create a network
of its own. When you run the setup assistant, make sure the existing network
doesn’t need a password; or if it does, that you enter it correctly.
Does my mac adresse change if I upgrade my computer with some other hardware? For example change the graphic card?
The MAC address is hard-coded into your network adapter, so it will only change if you change an Ethernet or wifi card.