Airport 4.1 Update [Archive] - MacRumors Forums

MacRumors

Nov 15, 2004, 08:49 PM

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airport41formacosx.html

AirPort 4.1 for Mac OS X

The AirPort 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.3 software supports all models of Apple AirPort base stations including the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express models.

What's new in AirPort 4.1:
• Supports Keyspan Express Remote for use with AirTunes (AirPort Express only)
• Support for WPA security on WDS networks
• Ability to rename a USB printer connected to a base station

This software update provides improved AirPort wireless networking software, and is recommended for all users with an AirPort Extreme and AirPort enabled computer or an AirPort Extreme or an AirPort Express base station.

holy MAC!

Nov 15, 2004, 10:24 PM

oooooo....

so a remote has surfaced....

come on Entire System Sound Wireless!!!!!!

(and how about the option of streaming music through airtunes off another computer's speakers?)

dotnina

Nov 15, 2004, 11:08 PM

So ... this is the compatible remote? http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/urm17a/

I'm not too impressed ... I think you really need a remote with an LCD for Airport Express. Well, maybe you don't "really need" the LCD, but it would be a more elegant solution.

I hope this isn't the last we'll hear of an AE-compatible remote. :/

PS -- Why isn't this showing up on the front page? Is this a non-front-page news discussion ... ? :confused:

nate13

Nov 15, 2004, 11:10 PM

form the looks of the new setup window it seems like this is a big improvement. testing rite now and hoping for better reliability! :D

x86isslow

Nov 15, 2004, 11:13 PM

<snip>
PS -- Why isn't this showing up on the front page? Is this a non-front-page news discussion ... ? :confused:

haha, just wait til all the other sites have picked it up as front page news. then it'll hit page 1.

aus_dave

Nov 15, 2004, 11:55 PM

I seem to remember previously that the Airport Setup Assistant would not work on a computer without an Airport card (you had to use the Airport Admin Utility).

I just installed the update and could use the Setup Assistant on my G5 which does not have Airport, only a network connection. A minor improvement but nice to see Apple getting it right.

aswitcher

Nov 16, 2004, 12:32 AM

Ok, I am installing...hopefully all will go well...

dashiel

Nov 16, 2004, 01:14 AM

i'm pretty excited to see WPA security for WDS set ups. would have been nice to see the ability to stream multiple/simultaneous streams to multiple AEX.

rikers_mailbox

Nov 16, 2004, 01:45 AM

I've updated both my AirPort Extreme base station and AirPort Express. Nothing out of the ordinary. I think I will change from WEP to WPA amidst terrorism fears.

I have had some issues in the past with AirTunes dropping out, and my Express has had some tempormenal days. However, performance has been great considering both my neighbors have 802.11b networks (which i can not only use, but administer! One of these days i'll tell them they should change the default passwords :rolleyes: ) It will take some use to see if connectivity is actually improved. . .

MacFan26

Nov 16, 2004, 02:19 AM

Works fine so far. I was hoping this might fix some connection problems I've been having, with the signal being dropped frequently, but I think it's just my poor ISP :rolleyes: I have my password as a WPA password for now, is there any reason why I should have WEP or different?

fistful

Nov 16, 2004, 02:23 AM

I was wondering when someone was going to bring this up. read it on yahoo news a few hours ago, though I usually like to hear what others here have to say about updates before I install them myself.

donniedarko

Nov 16, 2004, 03:09 AM

Seems cool... did anyone notice that they (me) got a new Utility- Airport Setup Assistant for Graphite or Snow - ??? Another thing my reception to my Express was beat. My module was all of 4 feet away and it fluctuating between 3 and 4 bars. Now it is full all the time. Cool stuff.
If anyone knows what the new Utility is about let a brotha know...
Thanks
xDx

donniedarko

Nov 16, 2004, 03:18 AM

Did any of you notice the update for the Base Station (in my case the express)...? It downloaded when I went into my Airport Admin Utility to see any changes and it then prompted the 6.1 update?? Downloaded with no problem...fyi

Wardofsky

Nov 16, 2004, 03:20 AM

I think what would be nice is a sort of browser control panel for the airport, it would allow more access. A good thing for cross-platform networks, but I suppose it's a security risk as well...

AmigoMac

Nov 16, 2004, 03:44 AM

I think what would be nice is a sort of browser control panel for the airport, it would allow more access. A good thing for cross-platform networks, but I suppose it's a security risk as well...

You mean, control over safari/IE/firefox ?... :eek:
in cross-platform networks that would be.. let it as it is, the app is fine and pretty intuitive to use. now, I cannot install the update, can't restart...

Sped

Nov 16, 2004, 03:49 AM

I hope this isn't the last we'll hear of an AE-compatible remote.

Hear, hear. I am looking for an Apple branded remote that communicates via RF (bluetooth, 802.11b, etc) and IR. It needs to have both so you can communicate with your Mac / Airport and use it as a reprogrammable universal remote for your TV, stereo, etc.

Santaduck

Nov 16, 2004, 06:03 AM

is the base station still limited to the unbelievably limited 20 entries for port forwarding?

dobbin

Nov 16, 2004, 08:34 AM

I thought some sort of remote was on its way, as if you enable the OS X firewall it pops up a message in iTunes to say the remote won't work. "What remote?" I thought!

Not much good for me I don't think, I'll still use my iBook to choose songs and playlists and my stereo's remote control to do the volume if I put the iBook down. Not a big deal, but I guess its good that they are constantly innovating and improving the products.

Winston Smith

Nov 16, 2004, 08:57 AM

All working fine on a 15.2" Rev A powerbook, Airport exteme and express.
iTunes still drops the connection when streaming though.

MattG

Nov 16, 2004, 09:50 AM

So ... this is the compatible remote? http://www.keyspan.com/products/usb/urm17a/

I'm not too impressed ... I think you really need a remote with an LCD for Airport Express. Well, maybe you don't "really need" the LCD, but it would be a more elegant solution.

That's what I'm waiting for. To me, the LCD is essential. This remote is useless because you can't easily change artists/albums. A remote with an LCD and some sort of scroll-wheel would be the best -- that way you could scroll through artists/albums and easily choose what you want to hear.

wdlove

Nov 16, 2004, 10:16 AM

Nice to see that Apple is hard at work. I hope that this will add some functionality for use of the AirPort Card also. The PowerBooks need all the help that they can get.

billyb

Nov 16, 2004, 01:32 PM

seems that I used to have two utilities:
1. airport setup assistant
2. airport express setup assistant
plus the airport administration assis.

now i seem to have the admin. assiss and two NEW assistants:
1. airport setup assisstant
2. airport setup assiss for graphite or snow base station.

i'm confused...if i have an airpot express, which do i use to administer it? the ADMINISTRATION utility, or the setup assistant? how do i install airport 4.1? Is this firmware for the base station (express) or for my computer (extreme-enabled)? And there's a new 6.1 for the express...firmware?

if someone can help sort this out i'd greatly appreciate it.

bb

Westside guy

Nov 16, 2004, 02:10 PM

I think the airtunes remote is likely going to be an upcoming Bluetooth-enabled iPod. Note that it wouldn't be streaming the music from the iPod - it'd be controlling the iTunes session that is synced w/ the iPod.

It'll be nice to have WPA available for WDS! It kinda bugged me that I had to downgrade the security of my network in order to use this feature of my Airport Express.

johnnyjibbs

Nov 16, 2004, 02:20 PM

Great, now I can rename my printer to its correct name! Ahem, well I have an AirPort Express so this is a welcome update.

mkrishnan

Nov 16, 2004, 02:58 PM

So semi-OT question...how do you access a user list of devices that are obtaining IP addresses via DHCP from your AEBS? Similar to the user list in the netgear web-based tool.... My network is WPA protected and I'd be shocked if there were uncontrolled users on it, but it'd sometimes be convenient to know all the IP addresses assigned from my iBook (the iBook, Win PC's attached, my ReplayTV -- btw, can I get a :D :D :D for the ReplayTV...I just got it hooked up this weekend).....

Thanks! :)

JOD8FY

Nov 16, 2004, 03:45 PM

KindredMAC

Nov 16, 2004, 03:59 PM

I think the airtunes remote is likely going to be an upcoming Bluetooth-enabled iPod. Note that it wouldn't be streaming the music from the iPod - it'd be controlling the iTunes session that is synced w/ the iPod.

I think you are right about the iPod being the controlling factor but I'm not too sure that Bluetooth will be the vehicle. I think they might be working on a way to cram the equivilent of the guts of an AirPort EXT card into the iPod. It already has its own little OS and HD, so why not?

I just think that Bluetooth isn't powerful enough to accomplish the job. I don't want to stand right next to the AirPort Exress which is right next to my Home Theatre system to change a song. At that point, do what I did, buy an iTrip and plug it into the top of your iPod and tune your receiver to the radio station and rock away!

For someone who has an iPod and iTrip, I don't really see the benefits of AirPort Express using AirTunes.

sktbrdr9006

Nov 16, 2004, 04:31 PM

sjk

Nov 16, 2004, 04:50 PM

im not sure about this but when i installed it the setup utility came up to set up an airport express or extreme thing but im using a linksys wireless router and just clicked out of it. Did i do the right thing ??I was surprised when AirPort Setup Assistant launched after the update, especially since I'd installed a Linksys WRT54G a few hours earlier. I quit it, figuring the only thing it would do was change the network prefs of the AirPort Extreme card to use DHCP (per a warning) and I didn't want that to happen since my LAN/WLAN uses static addressing.

filipp

Nov 16, 2004, 05:24 PM

Hear, hear. I am looking for an Apple branded remote that communicates via RF (bluetooth, 802.11b, etc) and IR. It needs to have both so you can communicate with your Mac / Airport and use it as a reprogrammable universal remote for your TV, stereo, etc.

Hi Sped

I'd recommend you using some sort of cellphone with BT option for what you're looking for. I've recently purchased the coolest prog of the year, it's called Salling Clicker and is a applescript-based remote control for your mac, and as I'm using it on my SonyEricsson P900, I can browse my library, search for music, change playlists and everything else right on the phone. And since it's got an IR-port, you could get another piece of software to handle your other needs.

sidenote: P900 itself is not an optimal remote control since IR-transmitter is situated on the side.. but i'm sure you could find a far better model to suite your needs.

/ filipp

JupiterTwo

Nov 16, 2004, 07:29 PM

:cool: Just got my two extremes and one express configured with WPA and WDS. Took a bit of fiddling (my DSL router does the DHCP, so I had to get all three ap's wired to make the WDS get accepted), but seems all funky now :D

Glad Apple got this one sorted out - I know it's not perfect, but WPA is good enough for my needs. :)

rikers_mailbox

Nov 16, 2004, 07:36 PM

So semi-OT question...how do you access a user list of devices that are obtaining IP addresses via DHCP from your AEBS?

Try opening terminal and typing the command:
arp -an

. . . that should list all DHCPs doled out on your sub-net, in addition to their hardware MAC address.

-rik

DavidK

Nov 16, 2004, 09:16 PM

We installed the 4.1 upgrade and the wireless reception from the base station was reduced by up to 25% of the previous reach. We have doubled-checked all the settings but the reception was better last night before the upgrade. Be warned.

The rest of the upgrade worked well and is easy to follow but performance has deteriorated.

The system on the network are: an airport exttreme base station, a G4 Imac (extreme), G4 500 and G4 867 laptop (extreme) :mad:

mkrishnan

Nov 16, 2004, 09:47 PM

Try opening terminal and typing the command:
arp -an

. . . that should list all DHCPs doled out on your sub-net, in addition to their hardware MAC address.

-rik

Thanks for the help! When I tried this the first time, though, I could not see my ReplayTV -- just my iBook. However, the ReplayTV lists itself as being assigned to 10.0.1.4 by the AEBS, and I am able to ping it and see it using DVArchive (a Java program for interfacing with it).

And then after typing all of this, I ctrl-c'd the ping and did the arn again, and it worked fine. Maybe the Replay had let its DHCP lease lapse. ATM I don't have anything else on the network to check.

Arnel

Nov 16, 2004, 10:20 PM

I think the airtunes remote is likely going to be an upcoming Bluetooth-enabled iPod. Note that it wouldn't be streaming the music from the iPod - it'd be controlling the iTunes session that is synced w/ the iPod.
I don't think so. Bluetooth is in no ways guaranteed near the output stereo. That's only available near the computer doing the streaming (within about 10m), assuming also that you have a Bluetooth module installed. One of the major points about the Airport Express and AirTunes is that the stereo can be the other end of the house to the computer.

You can, however, guarantee that a WiFi connection is there next to a stereo hooked up to an Airport Express, as it's streaming over WiFi anyway. Unless you had a really, really long audio cable, I guess :)

Neil.
a.k.a. Arnel

Santaduck

Nov 16, 2004, 10:38 PM

The printer feature is a sad reminder for me.

The AEBS's USB printer port was very unreliable. . . In fact I would lose my printer several times a day, especially (it seemed) when I was browsing the web while printing.

I would go to AEBS Admin Utility, and USB Printer would be empty. Restarting the AEBS would fix this, but this would happen again.

This USB unreliability, plus the 20-entry limit for port-forwarding (and seeming short antenna range) is having me consider selling my AEBS and going 3rd party. I'd lose the chance to use A.Express to its full potential, but it's been very frustrating.

icon4x

Nov 17, 2004, 12:55 AM

This USB unreliability, plus the 20-entry limit for port-forwarding (and seeming short antenna range) is having me consider selling my AEBS and going 3rd party. I'd lose the chance to use A.Express to its full potential, but it's been very frustrating.

I started 3rd party, and just switched over today to A. Express. Word to the wise... avoid Linksys. I got fed up with having to powercycle it (3 or 4 times a day). I guess it's a common problem with Linksys WiFi.

Trekkie

Nov 17, 2004, 01:34 AM

Well I applied all the firmware updates to both AEBS and AX's I have in the house, and the software is on my iMac 800Mhz FP, Powerbook G4 12" and iMac G5.

Then I flew to panama and i'm using windows while i'm here. My wife was able to chat with me so apparently it is still working.

donniedarko

Nov 17, 2004, 01:50 AM

So I guess no one else noticed the Airport Admin update 6.1 that I got.... hmmmmm....

Doctor Q

Nov 17, 2004, 02:40 AM

This update is available three ways: Software Update and download for either Mac OS X 10.3 (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airport41formacosx.html) or Windows (http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/airport41forwindows.html).

caveman_uk

Nov 17, 2004, 05:43 AM

It'll be nice to have WPA available for WDS! It kinda bugged me that I had to downgrade the security of my network in order to use this feature of my Airport Express.
I agree. This is the biggest feature of this update for me.

eliyah

Nov 17, 2004, 07:32 AM

karlerikkkk

Nov 17, 2004, 09:45 AM

Billicus

Nov 17, 2004, 03:21 PM

after installing the update, connecting to internet has become A BIG headache. Safari hangs every 3 minutes, airport extreme card shows often no signal

my system is - 15" PB 1,5Ghz and i use airport express card to connect to campus' wireless network

Does anybody know if there is a possibility to uninstall this update?

:eek:... I've had the oppisite reaction since installing these updates. Everything has worked much better. Before I updated, the automatic mode caused the signal to be totally lost several times per day. After the update, everything has worked great for me. :/ What kind of network is it? 802.11g or b? How far are you from the wireless router?

Billicus

[Edit] Wouldn't you know that I lost the signal not a minute after I posted this?... :rolleyes:

JupiterTwo

Nov 17, 2004, 03:43 PM

Any idea how to stream from one mac to more than one express station?

I have several AirportExpress in my flat and would like to hear the same music in different rooms at the same time... but i have no idea how to :confused: any help on this issue will be more than appreciated

Not possible at the moment sadly :(
Not sure why it's not though

daveL

Nov 17, 2004, 04:08 PM

I started 3rd party, and just switched over today to A. Express. Word to the wise... avoid Linksys. I got fed up with having to powercycle it (3 or 4 times a day). I guess it's a common problem with Linksys WiFi.
I run a Linksys WiFi access point and a Linksys switch/router. I've never had a problem with either. If I have to power cycle anything, it's the DSL modem.

daveL

Nov 17, 2004, 04:09 PM

Any idea how to stream from one mac to more than one express station?

I have several AirportExpress in my flat and would like to hear the same music in different rooms at the same time... but i have no idea how to :confused: any help on this issue will be more than appreciated
Have you looked at Quicktime Broadcaster?

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/products/broadcaster/

I'm not sure it will do the trick, but have a look.

sjk

Nov 17, 2004, 06:04 PM

I run a Linksys WiFi access point and a Linksys switch/router. I've never had a problem with either. If I have to power cycle anything, it's the DSL modem.I've never had any significant trouble with Linksys products. About a year ago I was having random 30-90 minute network problems about once a month and thought my five-year-old BEFSR41v1 was being temperamental but replacing the cable modem cleared that up. And the WRT54GS I installed Monday is working well so far, with WPA-TKIP enabled in a mixed-mode (.11b/.11g) environment.

Still researching whether or not an AirPort Express can replace a WET11 wireless bridge attached to a PlayStation 2 so I can eliminate that 802.11b traffic. Supposedly third party firmware for the WRT54G(S) lets WDS work with Apple "base station" products.

Geetar

Nov 17, 2004, 06:41 PM

:eek:... I've had the oppisite reaction since installing these updates. Everything has worked much better. Before I updated, the automatic mode caused the signal to be totally lost several times per day. After the update, everything has worked great for me.
[Edit] Wouldn't you know that I lost the signal not a minute after I posted this?... :rolleyes:

I've been running a 15" 1.5 PB for a few months, and the airport update has helped with reception in my apartment, where the guys on the floor below have their own (seemingly highly interfering) network connection.

So thumbs up for me, so far.
\
N.B. I still haven't gone to 10.3.6 yet...too many music-related FW devices to risk it yet, AFAIC.

Jamesk72

Nov 17, 2004, 07:40 PM

:confused:

I updated but then lost all my internet connection. When my mac tries to connect through the extreme base station, I see a message on internet connect saying incorrect username and or password. I have reset the base station and also checked the modem's setting and they both appear to have the correct info. When using just the modem and an ethernet cable the connection returns, but if I add the base station, it doesn't work. Anybody got any ideas? I hate having to run cables through the house.

Monk Edsel

Nov 17, 2004, 11:56 PM

For some reason I have never been able to reconfigure my Express without hard resetting it. This doesn't seem to change that. My wireless range and whatnot is all the same. My PowerBook no longer saw the Express however and I yet again had to hard reset it, but all is well now.

Sped

Nov 18, 2004, 12:52 AM

I'd recommend you using some sort of cellphone with BT option for what you're looking for.

I have heard of the Salling Clicker, but that is still a jury-rigged set-up. I want an Apple-branded product with Apple's unique engineering capabilities. I have heard of all sorts of work arounds to control AirTunes. The point is, with an Apple product, you shouldn't have to use work-arounds. It should just simply work.

appleguy

Nov 18, 2004, 04:15 AM

I've updated both my AirPort Extreme base station and AirPort Express. Nothing out of the ordinary. I think I will change from WEP to WPA amidst terrorism fears.
What does terrorism have to do with that..

slu

Nov 22, 2004, 05:01 PM

I run a Linksys WiFi access point and a Linksys switch/router. I've never had a problem with either. If I have to power cycle anything, it's the DSL modem.

I have a Linksys Router/Access Point 802.11b and I have had no trouble either. The DSL modem does need to be powere cycled every couple of months though.

I do have this annoying issue when the Mac goes to sleep it disconnects from the Wireless Network and I have to manually reconnect it each time I wake it up. Which is annoying, but hardly troublesome.