[Eug]

I've been trying to get answers on Airport Express, but the Apple website is little sparse on info about some of this stuff, and articles out there often are referring to older models.

1) Can AirTunes stream to multiple sites simultaneously? ie. Can I use TWO Airport Express units to stream from my iMac to two independent stereo systems simultaneously? If not simultaneously, how about independently?

2) Is the range any good?

3) Can Airport Express act as a wireless extender AND as an AirTunes streaming unit at the same time?

4) I know I can't use Airport Express to expand the wireless network unless the base station supports WDS. However, can it be used to act as a wireless to Ethernet bridge? If so, can I connect another access point to its Ethernet port to make yet another wireless network? The reason I ask is because I have other unused wireless routers at the moment. I know those routers work fine as a basic access point if you simply plug it into Ethernet turn off DHCP allocation by that router.

5) Do they crash? I have a previous model graphite Airport 802.11b, and that thing is annoying, cuz it isn't particularly stable, and the software to configure it often hangs. For this reason (and the fact it's only 802.11b), I never use it anymore.

[Eug]

Forget it. Airport Utility along with Airport Express is total junk.

As I said I had problems a long time ago with my graphite Airport with their Airport Setup Utility. Well, it's just as bad if not worse with Airport Express and the current Airport Utility. It's pretty sad when it's easier to set up an el cheapo refurb Trendnet or 2wire wireless router with the browser interface than it is with a $100 Apple software with a lickable OS X software app.

[mduell]

1) Yes.

2) Not really.

3) Yes.

4) Yes; IIRC they don't really support WDS, but a proprietary Apple implementation similar to WDS.

5) They're not terribly reliable in networks with extenders.

Airport Utility is a steaming turd; why don't they just make an AJAX web interface?

[Eug]

Thanks for the info.

It's all moot now though. The unit is going back. Too bad too, cuz it would have been awesome using my iPhone as an iTunes remote for the stereo system. Instead, I'm just going to plug an iPod into my stereo and be done with it.

Apple's loss. Had this Airport Utility software worked OK, I would have not only kept this Airport Express, but I would have also purchased another Airport Express, and an Airport Extreme base station as well.

This is the worst Apple experience I've had in quite a long time. If that were a person's first introduction to Apple, s/he'd probably never buy a Mac.

[ghporter]

I think the worst thing Apple has done with their networking hardware has been to stick with an application to manage the hardware instead of a browser interface like every other home/small business network hardware vendor. Very dumb, Steve. It means that it's harder than it needs to be to do a lot of things with AEBSs, Express units' streaming functions, and generally with your network. This is WAY beyond retaining the Apple-specific terminology instead of calling an SSID an SSID and so on.

[Eug]

Hmmm... I got it working... The software still sucks but I had a VERY TEDIOUS way around it.

Like I said before after I set the settings if there was often a problem the software would hang or wouldn't see the unit. So, I'd have to hard reset. So what I've been doing is changing the config one variable at a time. If it didn't work, then I'd hard reset and start all over again. Finally, one setting did work...

What it took was to change my access points to broadcast the SSID. The problem is the AE freaks out if it's a hidden SSID. The old setup works fine with my iMac, iBook, Cubes, Xbox 360, iPhone 3G, and MacBook. But a friggin' wireless base station can't work properly an invisible SSID. WTF?

However, I'm still not sure if I'll keep it. Unfortunately, the AE has already cut out once. Not very useful if the connection only lasts half an hour.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by ghporter 

I think the worst thing Apple has done with their networking hardware has been to stick with an application to manage the hardware instead of a browser interface like every other home/small business network hardware vendor. Very dumb, Steve. It means that it's harder than it needs to be to do a lot of things with AEBSs, Express units' streaming functions, and generally with your network. This is WAY beyond retaining the Apple-specific terminology instead of calling an SSID an SSID and so on.

This is entirely intentional. Airport Utility is supposed to be a true Mac app with Mac app look&feel. Apple has it precisely because it doesn't want people doing everything via a cheesy web interface (that looks like it was designed by a 12 year old) as on every other el-cheapo router.

The terminology is there because Apple wants your mother to be able to understand it. Network name tells her something, SSID doesn't. This in turn makes it more difficult for more proficient users because we don't see the terminology we're used to from other vendors.

These are trade-offs. And in typical Apple-manner, the needs of entry-level users are weighted heigher than those of geeks like us.

[Eug]

For the Airport Express, I am an entry level user. Well maybe not, but I'm certainly not an advanced user, because I don't understand most of the terminology either.

The problem here is that it's still terribly confusing, but what's worse, it's extremely unreliable. It's not going to help an entry level user (or intermediate user like me) if the software hangs or fails to detect the unit.

So, basically it has the worst of both worlds. Poor implementation and ease of use for the common user, and lack of well-implemented features for the advanced user.

This is in stark contrast with my experience with my new iPhone. I just picked it up and started using it, and it Just Works.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Simon 

These are trade-offs. And in typical Apple-manner, the needs of entry-level users are weighted heigher than those of geeks like us.

I can concede that the terminology is not such a big deal, but why couldn't Apple design a browser interface that looks like it's Mac? Then it would look Mac-like on ANY browser, and the "look and feel" part would be there. Instead of navigating through an app that may or may not find your base station, you'd already BE IN your base station.

And as Eug has pointed out, their "written so Mom will understand it" terminology doesn't work so well anyway. Maybe the designers' moms understand it, but a lot of people don't.

[Simon]

The fact that AP Utility has trouble picking up Airport base stations is simply obnoxious. It's been an issue for a while and I have no idea why they can't fix it.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

1) Can AirTunes stream to multiple sites simultaneously? ie. Can I use TWO Airport Express units to stream from my iMac to two independent stereo systems simultaneously? If not simultaneously, how about independently?

Yep I do it all the time and it is great.

As for crashing... perhaps once every 4 months or so. My linksys was every week at best.

[Eug]

Well, the Airport Express's music streaming seems more reliable if you turn off the Airport part of it. I'm now using the AE to stream music off Ethernet, through a powerline network.

[wrambro]

The only problems I've had with streaming music to 2 Expresses is when my computer was quite far away from one of the Expresses (which was also the main base station at the time). It would cut out for a few seconds here and there on both sets of speakers. As long as you're in good range though, it shouldn't be a problem.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by wrambro 

The only problems I've had with streaming music to 2 Expresses is when my computer was quite far away from one of the Expresses (which was also the main base station at the time). It would cut out for a few seconds here and there on both sets of speakers. As long as you're in good range though, it shouldn't be a problem.

Well, it's a problem here. The range should be fine since the iBook that is in the same room as the AE gets the full 4 bars of signal. I will note however, the AE is in a pine cabinet which might reduce the signal a bit.

Every once in a while over wireless, my AE briefly loses its link to iTunes. It sounds like what you had, which was a signal strength issue. If so, that suggests that the AE may be pretty weak for transmit or receive power. (Not surprising, since some reviews already reported that.)

OTOH, if I plug in the AE directly to Ethernet from the power line networking adapter, the AE unit never loses its link to iTunes. It's been about a week now, and it's been 100% rock solid. Nice.

[richwig83]

I just got one of these and i took me the best part of and hour and a half to get it to connect to my existing network. The APE requires resetting every time it tries and fails to connect!!!

However now its working, its brilliant!!!

Is it normal for the APE not to show up in the drop down airport menu (on the menu bar) when its connected to another network??

[Eug]

Originally Posted by richwig83 

I just got one of these and i took me the best part of and hour and a half to get it to connect to my existing network. The APE requires resetting every time it tries and fails to connect!!!

Yep. Exactly my experience. What a PITA.

[richwig83]

WEP was the cause of my disaster tho. Had to change the security over to WPA. Which then involved changing every computer over to WPA and wireless printer (faff-tastic) and iPhone etc etc etc...

Apple........ Simplicity WTF

[ghporter]

WEP is poo. On a stick. Doing something else, like WPA, is the safe and smart thing to do. With that said, it should be very clear to the buyer that WEP doesn't work well with the device, so the buyer can be prepared.

Frankly, changing things over isn't that big a deal, at least for devices I can plug a USB drive into. I have my wireless keys on one of those, so all I have to do is try to connect, and when prompted for the password, open the text file with the keys in it, copy and paste the right one into the prompt box, and I'm done. It's not that easy for something like an XBox or an iPhone, but it's not that terribly difficult. And you're far safer for it. I know that doesn't give you back that amount of time you spent cussing and typing, but it's true.

[Eug]

Wep doesn't work well with the iPhone either.