Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
AirPlay experiencing intermittent disruptions
- Thread starter BreakGuy
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
With all the variables involved with WiFi signals, it's impossible to accurately predict how much difference any device will make in a particular network or location, but I would expect a significant improvement.
Alright, so I've placed an order for an AirPort Extreme via the online Apple Store. Should arrive in the next couple of days.
This set up should work, shouldn't it?
I may not even need the AirPort Express to extend the network. Will see how it goes when the Extreme arrives.
This set up should work, shouldn't it?
I may not even need the AirPort Express to extend the network. Will see how it goes when the Extreme arrives.
Last edited:
I've been having this problem...
I am also using a crappy old router (a free sky one from when we signed up years ago)... its a Netgear DG834 something or other.
The thing is, without a compatible router, you're Express can't extend the current network, only connect to it for audio streaming... therefore your macbook is connecting to the main base router back at the other side of the house and that is where your packet loss is happening... I'm fairly confident that if you chuck your macbook next to the DLINK it will play music in your bedroom just fine and dandy.
This is obviously not a solution, but confirms your problem... I am in the same situation, so am going to get Sky to send me a new "N" router and see if that can be extended. As much as I'd like to get a nice Extreme and Vigor120 for home use like I've got at work, its just too much money.
Try what I've said and report back
I am also using a crappy old router (a free sky one from when we signed up years ago)... its a Netgear DG834 something or other.
The thing is, without a compatible router, you're Express can't extend the current network, only connect to it for audio streaming... therefore your macbook is connecting to the main base router back at the other side of the house and that is where your packet loss is happening... I'm fairly confident that if you chuck your macbook next to the DLINK it will play music in your bedroom just fine and dandy.
This is obviously not a solution, but confirms your problem... I am in the same situation, so am going to get Sky to send me a new "N" router and see if that can be extended. As much as I'd like to get a nice Extreme and Vigor120 for home use like I've got at work, its just too much money.
Try what I've said and report back
So you're saying my MacBook doesn't 'talk' to the Express at all? It communicates soley with the main router which then relays that information onto the Express, correct?I've been having this problem...
I am also using a crappy old router (a free sky one from when we signed up years ago)... its a Netgear DG834 something or other.
The thing is, without a compatible router, you're Express can't extend the current network, only connect to it for audio streaming... therefore your macbook is connecting to the main base router back at the other side of the house and that is where your packet loss is happening... I'm fairly confident that if you chuck your macbook next to the DLINK it will play music in your bedroom just fine and dandy.
This is obviously not a solution, but confirms your problem... I am in the same situation, so am going to get Sky to send me a new "N" router and see if that can be extended. As much as I'd like to get a nice Extreme and Vigor120 for home use like I've got at work, its just too much money.
Try what I've said and report back
But anyway, I've placed an order for an AirPort Extreme and using the 5GHz band, I should be able to get better coverage and less packet loss.
That is indeed what I believe is happening.
With the Extreme (and I couldn't agree more about how superb that bit of kit is) you'll get better coverage, but also the ability to extend the network properly so you'll have a bona fide access point in your room...
You did have a slightly cheaper alternative... you could have bought a second Express and plugged that via ethernet into the crappy DLINK router to replace the wireless functionality... that would have given you proper "N" signal that could have been extended... As it stands you've bought an Extreme but unless you're going to use a) the multiple ethernet ports or b) the usb->hdd connection that it offers, then you might as well have bought another Express
(Saying that, plug a nice big HDD into the Extreme and you've got a Time Capsule which is pretty cool, its what I've done in the office
)
I didn't think you could use an AirPort Express in that way. I was always under the assumption that I needed the Extreme or Time Capsule to do that... And I do have a spare Express plugged in someone not doing much good. Ah well, it'll come in handy for something one day I'm sure. Like you said, at least I'll have a nice setup in future for an backup drive (when i can afford one).That is indeed what I believe is happening.
With the Extreme (and I couldn't agree more about how superb that bit of kit is) you'll get better coverage, but also the ability to extend the network properly so you'll have a bona fide access point in your room...
You did have a slightly cheaper alternative... you could have bought a second Express and plugged that via ethernet into the crappy DLINK router to replace the wireless functionality... that would have given you proper "N" signal that could have been extended... As it stands you've bought an Extreme but unless you're going to use a) the multiple ethernet ports or b) the usb->hdd connection that it offers, then you might as well have bought another Express
(Saying that, plug a nice big HDD into the Extreme and you've got a Time Capsule which is pretty cool, its what I've done in the office
But one problem I think may exist having an AirPort do the job of the Extreme is that I'd need to turn off the wireless mode on the DLINK, otherwise by default I think my MacBook connects to the DLINK. And turning off the DLINK wireless means any devices that still use the 2.4GHz band that connect would reduce the range and speed of the AirPort.
At least with the AirPort Extreme, I'd be able to keep both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands operating together.
Last edited:
Just an update for those concerned.
Finally, my AirPort Extreme Base Station arrived today. I attempted to set it up and act as the router, going through the DLINK modem/router doing my best to set it to modem mode only. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, I just opted to set the AirPort Extreme to bridge only mode.
Once I established an internet connection and set up the network to what I thought was correct, I began to stream iTunes through the AirPort Express in my room. Immediately it was obvious the issue wasn't resolved - intermittent cuts even more frequently than before.
After revisiting all the settings in the Extreme and Express I couldn't think of anything else to adjust, so I decided to just reset everything back to factory default and set up a new network entirely from scratch. All was going well until I tried putting an Express in my room and it couldn't connect (blinking amber light). I thought, okay.. move it back into a room closer to the Extreme... presto, green light! Configured a second Express to extend the network and placed it in the same location. Moved the first Express back to my room. Green lights on both. Good sign I thought.
Opened up iTunes again, started streaming. Perfection! Not a single cut in any track so far. Flawless! Amazing! And as an added bonus my internet connection is much stronger in my room now too.
Set up the third Express and placed it in the lounge, simply joining the network to provide AirPlay capabilities to the home theatre system in there.
Thanks everyone for your help. I'm still smiling and excited to be enjoying my tunes in my room disruption-free.
---
One small issue now, the existing network I was on still seems to be occasionally showing up very weakly in the list of available networks to connect to. Anyone have any ideas? I've disabled the AP mode in the DLINK modem/router...
Finally, my AirPort Extreme Base Station arrived today. I attempted to set it up and act as the router, going through the DLINK modem/router doing my best to set it to modem mode only. After numerous unsuccessful attempts, I just opted to set the AirPort Extreme to bridge only mode.
Once I established an internet connection and set up the network to what I thought was correct, I began to stream iTunes through the AirPort Express in my room. Immediately it was obvious the issue wasn't resolved - intermittent cuts even more frequently than before.
After revisiting all the settings in the Extreme and Express I couldn't think of anything else to adjust, so I decided to just reset everything back to factory default and set up a new network entirely from scratch. All was going well until I tried putting an Express in my room and it couldn't connect (blinking amber light). I thought, okay.. move it back into a room closer to the Extreme... presto, green light! Configured a second Express to extend the network and placed it in the same location. Moved the first Express back to my room. Green lights on both. Good sign I thought.
Opened up iTunes again, started streaming. Perfection! Not a single cut in any track so far. Flawless! Amazing! And as an added bonus my internet connection is much stronger in my room now too.
Set up the third Express and placed it in the lounge, simply joining the network to provide AirPlay capabilities to the home theatre system in there.
Thanks everyone for your help. I'm still smiling and excited to be enjoying my tunes in my room disruption-free.
---
One small issue now, the existing network I was on still seems to be occasionally showing up very weakly in the list of available networks to connect to. Anyone have any ideas? I've disabled the AP mode in the DLINK modem/router...
Last edited:
I'm having exactly the same problem. Main router is a new Apple Time Capsule. It is distributing by ethernet to a Denon, and wirelessly to a new Airport Express and a new Apple TV. The Denon connected by the ethernet plays smoothly. Both the Airport Express and the Apple TV experience interruptions as described. So, the problem is in the wireless network somehow. The Airport Express is 40 feet from the Apple Time Capsule, but the Apple TV is quite close (15 - 20 feet). As the OP suggests, it is very annoying.
Based on the advice here, I removed the 5GHz band from possible use in the AirPlay network by giving it a distinct name from the 2.4GHz network (in Wireless Network Options in the AirPort Utility). I have a 5GHz cordless telephone system I thought might be interfering. I now have separate AirPort IDs for each frequency. This seems to have cured the drop-outs. At least, so far! I am using the AirPort Express to extend the network, and that (again. so far) does not seem to be contributing to the drop-outs. So, perhaps it is fixed!
Thanks to all for the good advice.
Thanks to all for the good advice.