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pk1 · Jan 8, 2008, 09:00 AM

I'm considering the optimal (in terms of usage and cost) solution to set up the wireless network in my brother's new house. What I want is:

1) Share the DSL connection wirelessly (I have a DSL router)
2) Share a LaCie d2 Ethernet Mini Disk wirelessly
3) Store the iTunes music library on the LaCie
4) Play the songs from the iTunes library through the home stereo

So I checked out Airport Express with Airtunes and I think it will do the trick! Here's what I have in mind:

I'll connect the LaCie over Ethernet to the DSL router (it has 4 RJ-45 ports). Then I'll connect the DSL router to Airport Express, thus sharing Internet over WiFi and also the LaCie as a network drive. I'll also connect the home stereo to the Aiport Express in order to be able to play music to the stereo.

So, in essence, I'll be able to use the laptop (my brother has a PC) to mount the network drive (over WiFi), open iTunes and access the music library (songs stored in the network drive) and play songs through the stereo speakers (over Airtunes). This would be the ideal setup since I'll put the Airport Express, DSL router and LaCie drive all close together behind the stereo (they won't even be visible) and have a wireless network that can share Internet, hard disk storage and play music to the stereo!

I haven't ever used an Airport Express base station with Airtunes, but after reading it's specs on Apple's site I think it will do the trick. Do you think that there's any reason this setup will not work?

I have already used the LaCie to host the media files of iTunes over the DSL router and an access point. So if the Airport Express is just an access point with an audio output, then it will do the trick.

What do you people think?

Thanks a lot!

P.S.: I already have the LaCie and the DSL router so the cost to this setup will only be the Airport Express

dimmer · Jan 8, 2008, 11:08 PM

Should work just fine. The only complex part would be getting the network drive to host the iTunes music, but you say you've got that sorted already so I don't see any problem at all.

pk1 · Jan 9, 2008, 01:14 AM

Originally Posted by dimmer

Should work just fine. The only complex part would be getting the network drive to host the iTunes music, but you say you've got that sorted already so I don't see any problem at all.

Thank you for your reply. Yes, I've done that already in a current setup and it works fine. The only drawback is that it takes a lot of time to update the iPod, since iTunes has to check each file for changes over the wireless LAN.