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bitjumper · 09:35 PM

With my new Airport Express connected to my receiver with the mini-plug and being used by iTunes, it is picking up in the background AM 1550 khz, a local radio station. If I turn up the volume on the receiver (with iTunes paused), the station comes in loud and clear. In addition, there is yet another station that I can hear very distantly further in the background and harder to identify.

The Airport Express and receiver are plugged into the same outlet. The interference is only there when iTunes is up and has apparently connected to the Airport Express (after pressing play). When I quit iTunes, the radio interference turns off too.

Erik

[Slight correction: The interference I hear is most clearly evident when iTunes is in "play" mode and the volume on iTunes is turned down. When I "pause" iTunes, the intereference drops significantly (with a little click), but is still slightly there. It returns back to significance (with a little click) when I put iTunes back in "play".]

sideus · Jul 16, 2004, 10:57 PM

I have that problem with my phone. I can hear the local AM station though my phone. Living 4 miles from a 50,000 watt transmitter (700 WLW) doesn't help either.

Cadaver · Jul 17, 2004, 12:10 AM

Try plugging the AirPort Express in to a good surge suppressor and see if that helps. Also try a different outlet altogether.
If there is a lot of extra slack on the audio cable going from the AirPort to the stereo, try repositioning the excess cable; try several different positions and configurations (straight/folded, coiled, jumbled, etc).
I've not seen an AirPort Express yet in person, but if the audio cable is a standard 3.5" miniplug to L/R RCA connectors, try using a higher-quality shielded cable.

Parky · Jul 17, 2004, 02:21 AM

You don't get any cables with the Airport Express, they are extra.

rozwado1 · Jul 17, 2004, 11:17 AM

That audio port on the express allows RCA and optical connection, right?

So instead of buying the whole connection kit from Apple, I could get this from Monster?

madmacgames · Jul 17, 2004, 12:28 PM

good thing you are not a guitar player. My amp occasionally has picked up Mexican radio stations and one time I somehow managed to pick up the BBC. no kidding.

Only suggestions I have is same as what Cadaver said. Try some quality shielded cables and see if it helps.

bitjumper · Jul 18, 2004, 03:40 PM

Okay,

I got the AM pickup to decrease significantly.

I have an hp 2410 photosmart printer on the USB port of the Airport Express - it is printing fine. When I disconnected the USB cable (from either end), reception of the AM station by the Airport Express dropped massively (such that it is now it is only barely audible if I crank up my receiver's volume all the way.) Unplugging the printer also worked.

BTW, the AM pickup was so bad that at normal listening volumes, you would clearly hear it during any quieter periods, especially between songs. It was hard to tell if you were listening to the song starting or the AM station in the background.

I was really looking forward to using the USB port on the Airport Express. I'll have to continue experimenting.

Erik

Cadaver · Jul 18, 2004, 08:35 PM

Originally posted by bitjumper:
I have an hp 2410 photosmart printer on the USB port of the Airport Express - it is printing fine. When I disconnected the USB cable (from either end), reception of the AM station by the Airport Express dropped massively (such that it is now it is only barely audible if I crank up my receiver's volume all the way.) Unplugging the printer also worked.

Very odd. Hope this isn't doing to turn out to be a design flaw.