Airport Express as a network extender, still use Airplay?

[Ja Di ksw]

Hi everyone,
I want to use my Airport Express to extend my wireless network so I can use a different router that works with VPN as my main (I would like Netflix to go through it) and the Airport Express in a room -that doesn't have an ethernet plug- hooked up to speakers for music. I set up the AE as extending the network fine, but now Airplay doesn't show up as an option, or when it (rarely) does I can't connect to it. My guess is the computer/iPad are connecting directly to the main router, since it easily reaches here. Any ideas on how to get this to work? I would rather not have to change wireless networks every time I want to use the AE. Thanks in advance!

 

[Intell]

For AirPlay to work, the Airport Express and the sending device need to be on the same network and same subnet. The device that the Express is extending. Either the main wireless or the Express' wireless.

 

[Ja Di ksw]

So, that sounds exactly like what I did. I ended up resetting the AE and setting it all up again. Did it the same, but now it works, so that's good .

Quick q, though. I've heard that being on a router that's just extending can slow down the connection. Is there a way to make sure I auto connect to the "real" router then, instead of the AE? Or is that just bs anyways and I shouldn't worry about it?

 

[Intell]

Extending a wireless network can slow down the entire network to speeds that are half of what the current maximum transmit rate between the two wireless devices is. You can't force a device to connect to the main or extension device, it will always connect to the one with the strongest signal.

 

[PapaC]

I saw a screenshot of an app on the mac to interface with the airport express, like how the utility is for the iPhone/ iPad/ iPod.
Is there really an app for the mac? or am i mistaken.

 

[Intell]

To manage the Airport Express or to stream audio to it?

 

[PapaC]

To manage it. i figured out how to stream to it already.

 

[Intell]

That would be Airport Utility. You can find it in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.

 

[PapaC]

Good stuff, thanks.