Airport Express Now Shipping

[absurdio]

I'm pretty interested to see if it'll work with the old AirPort card, too. I have the last generation of TiBook, so I've got an original AirPort card, and that's all I can ever hope to have in it. I'd REALLY like AExp to work with it, but now I'm nervous. A quote from the AExp Tech Specs on Apple's site reads " It also works with the 802.11b wireless protocol, so if you have a Mac equipped with the older AirPort Card or a 802.11b Wi-Fi-compliant Windows PC, AirPort Express works with these, as well." I'd like to believe that that's not total garbage....
Not to push it, but I also started a forum (as i mentioned) dedicated specifically to the AirPort + AExp issue here .

 

[sethypoo]

I just ordered an Airport Express.....however, my estimated ship date is "On or before 8-18-04." Is Apple backlogged with orders? What gives?

Has anyone one else ordered recently (within the last week) and gotten a quicker ship date?

I think I might call and complain/ask why. After all, Apple's site says "Airport Express Now Shipping."

 

[aswitcher]

UPDATE FOR AUSTRALIA

Apple Australia just advised me that we have to wait another week for our Airport Expresses. Sounds like they got diverted to the US...

July 29 - at least thats this weeks story...

 

[Alfie]

I just ordered an Airport Express.....however, my estimated ship date is "On or before 8-18-04." Is Apple backlogged with orders? What gives?

Has anyone one else ordered recently (within the last week) and gotten a quicker ship date?

I think I might call and complain/ask why. After all, Apple's site says "Airport Express Now Shipping." [/QUOTe


I think that ship date is actually about right. I ordered my Airport Express on July 11 and I currently have a ship date of 8/9. You have to remember that Apple had 80,000 of these things pre-ordered before they started shipping, so it's going to take them a little time to catch up.

According to others in this thread, they are receiving their Airport Extremes, so they are shipping. You just have to be patient. Or, if have an Apple dealer near by, you could go see if they have one in stock, buy that one and cancel your web order. Good Luck.

 

[izzle22]

I'm pretty interested to see if it'll work with the old AirPort card, too. I have the last generation of TiBook, so I've got an original AirPort card, and that's all I can ever hope to have in it. I'd REALLY like AExp to work with it, but now I'm nervous. A quote from the AExp Tech Specs on Apple's site reads " It also works with the 802.11b wireless protocol, so if you have a Mac equipped with the older AirPort Card or a 802.11b Wi-Fi-compliant Windows PC, AirPort Express works with these, as well." I'd like to believe that that's not total garbage....
Not to push it, but I also started a forum (as i mentioned) dedicated specifically to the AirPort + AExp issue here .

I have been using an old airport card for a week and have had terrible stops in music with every song. Yesterday I received my new 2.0 G5 with an Airport Extreme Card and the Express works FLAWLESSLY so that is proof that the Airport Express does not work well(streaming music anyway) with the old Airport cards. That is my experience and many others so far.

 

[absurdio]

That's so miserably depressing. I was looking forward to this so much...

 

[cazlar]

One thing to keep in mind with the LinkSys (I have the WRT54G) is that the airport express does NOT support 40-bit WEP (my LinkSys does 40 and 128, Airport Express wants 64 or 128)...

Just a note to say that 40-bit WEP is the same as 64-bit, so this is not a problem. A recent KB article goes through this and gives some good password tips for cross-vendor WEP networks.

 

[ntg]

I just ordered an Airport Express.....however, my estimated ship date is "On or before 8-18-04." Is Apple backlogged with orders? What gives?

Has anyone one else ordered recently (within the last week) and gotten a quicker ship date?

I think I might call and complain/ask why. After all, Apple's site says "Airport Express Now Shipping." [/QUOTe


I think that ship date is actually about right. I ordered my Airport Express on July 11 and I currently have a ship date of 8/9. You have to remember that Apple had 80,000 of these things pre-ordered before they started shipping, so it's going to take them a little time to catch up.

According to others in this thread, they are receiving their Airport Extremes, so they are shipping. You just have to be patient. Or, if have an Apple dealer near by, you could go see if they have one in stock, buy that one and cancel your web order. Good Luck.

...unless, of course, you live in the UK, where even if you ordered it on day one, it's still uncertain when it will ship (and I need mine before Xmas too!!)

Life? Don't talk to me about life.....

Nig.

 

[wdlove]

I was at the Chestnut Hill Apple Store yesterday, they had a good supply of the Airport Express. My wife wanted to purchase one, the first employee said that it would work with our system. Looking at the box and thinking while having dinner, we went back to the store. The second more experience employee, stated that it wouldn't work. So she returned the product.

 

[rdrr]

I was at the Chestnut Hill Apple Store yesterday, they had a good supply of the Airport Express. My wife wanted to purchase one, the first employee said that it would work with our system. Looking at the box and thinking while having dinner, we went back to the store. The second more experience employee, stated that it wouldn't work. So she returned the product.

Why wouldn't it work? What are you using for a BaseStation and what is your client PC/Mac.

 

[bonk]

ok. so I switched my AEBS to 'b only' and I'm getting no more drops at all (the express is set to extend an existing network - didnt change any other settings). it's working fine on my G4/original airport card now (cpu limitation - feh). I think I'm MORE pissed at apple now than I was when I was getting drops. how could they not know this? or more likely, how could they release it like this when they DID now it?

they've GOT to release a software or firmware update to fix this.

 

[bonk]

(yay! just lost my newbie status - I'm a full fledged member now! wheeeeeeeeeee)

 

[wdlove]

Why wouldn't it work? What are you using for a BaseStation and what is your client PC/Mac.

I have a Power Mac Dual 450, Earthlink DSL, & 2 Wire Wireless Router. When I started my wireless DSL service, they preferred that I use the 2 Wire. They said that they wouldn't help with problems on another product.

They told my wife at the Apple Store that the Airport Express wouldn't work with the 2 Wire. It is meant to work the Air Port Base Station.

 

[rdrr]

It is meant to work the Air Port Base Station.

Yes but it DOES work with other access points. There are reports of dlink, linksys (with a special firmware), and I am writting this on a Powerbook --> AExpress --> Buffalo Tech 54g router setup. I have no idea if anyone has tried a 2Wire.

 

[bb0ys]

Everyone seems to have mixed reports

I'll try to set the record straight. If your router is 802.11b or g compatible, the airport express will work with your current setup. Period. Don't talk about who makes the router or what firmware its running.

I have a linksys WRT54G in the house with 8 wireless computers and 3 wired computers. I bought the AE, plugged it into the stereo, ran through the setup after putting the CD in the computer and it worked flawlessly. EVERY computer in the house with iTunes 4.6 that is connected to the network via wire or wireless (some are 802.11b, some are 802.11g, some are 10Mbit wired and others are 100Mbit wired) can stream music to the stereo without a problem. I've never seen such confusion about product compatibility. The thing works great in all kinds of environments. QUIT THE SPECULATION!

 

[amyhre]

I hope Apple get used to this large demand. Now that it makes dual platform hardware, the demand should have been a no-brainer. Not to mention Apple makes the excellent (insert cool gadget/software here).

It still puzzles me why Apple didn't promote its wireless capabilities better from the start. We've had wireless in our Macs since the early G4's, not built in, but it was an option. PC people are still kind of gaga about wireless. I hope that this cool new wireless gizmo helps the PC users see that hey, Apple really is modern, powerful, easy-to-use, etc. If Apple delivers on all its multi-platform gizmos, this may be the best advertisement Apple can get.

 

[germ war]

I'll try to set the record straight. If your router is 802.11b or g compatible, the airport express will work with your current setup. Period. Don't talk about who makes the router or what firmware its running.

I have a linksys WRT54G in the house with 8 wireless computers and 3 wired computers. I bought the AE, plugged it into the stereo, ran through the setup after putting the CD in the computer and it worked flawlessly. EVERY computer in the house with iTunes 4.6 that is connected to the network via wire or wireless (some are 802.11b, some are 802.11g, some are 10Mbit wired and others are 100Mbit wired) can stream music to the stereo without a problem. I've never seen such confusion about product compatibility. The thing works great in all kinds of environments. QUIT THE SPECULATION!

Oh, so you connected to the Airport Express and was able to browse the web with it, instead of connecting to your Linksys router to browse the web? Because that's where the incompatibility lies - being able to set up a Wireless Distribution Service to extend your network.

As it stands, you just seemed to mention that all your computeres can connect to the AExp to stream music. And they should be able to, right out of the box, whether or not you have another router.

 

[JOD8FY]

I was at the Chestnut Hill Apple Store yesterday, they had a good supply of the Airport Express.

Oh! How I envy you! My local Apple Store got a shipment in on Tuesday, sold out, then Wednesday and sold out so I called up Thursday to reserve my AEx but they said that none were going to come in until next week!

They seem to be selling like hotcakes where I am. Hopefully I'll soon be able to get a piece of the pie... (Don't you love old sayings? )

JOD8FY

 

[timsq]

Macs got ta stream too...

The only local source in New Orleans (yeah, I know) is the CompUSA. They have a Mac Island with a smattering Mac goodies. They have a good supply of AEx yet they haven't really moved that many and they don't even list it on their site. Oh well, I got mine and it's doing fine.

 

[absurdio]

timsq - you're using your AExp in 802.11b, right? And you're not getting drops?

 

[timsq]

No prob with 802.11b

I'm running an iMac 800 with old Airport card (11mbps) and can surf and print and even Video iChat while streaming mp3 or AAC (rates from 128 to +1000 Kbps). I do not have it setup as a relay via WDS. That service seems wonky! I have an ABS (802.11g) and a Linksys (802.11b) router/switch which serve up the internet and the AEx is wired to the ABS. I stream directly to the AEx while running these other services through it as well (wirelessly). Maybe the full duplex wireless is what freaks the AEx during streaming? Apple has alot on its plate, but they should get the AEx more stable soon.

 

[yakkoslw]

Audio skips?

I had ordered mine online from Apple. Then after seeing the enormous wait date, even after ordering fairly early, I gave up and just visited my local mac retailer who had tons and cancelled my online order. And to make a short story shorter, the setup of the thing was flawless, it worked just like it was supposed to.

But I do have problems with the audio outputs at time. Does anyone else experience slight skips in their audio output from time to time even though the MP3/AAC/whatever is pristine? I'm running off of a WRT54G router and my audio-outputting machine is in the same room as the router Does anyone know if this is something that could be solved by modifying the router? (I'm running on the Sartori firmware build).

 

[timsq]

Phones! (2.4 Ghz) and WDS

I have had one major problem with the AEx: Interference from 2.4 Ghz phones. When they are close to the network, they will cause the airTunes to drop, skip and otherwise malfunction. Audio streaming must be high priority network traffic that is sensitive to interference and processor use. The other issue I have had is the WDS protocol. Somehow, it eludes me. Anyone have a clue what the correct setup config is for WDS? I have an ABSx w/ant and the AEx with an iMac 802.11b and a PBG4 802.11g. Currently, the AEx is wired to the ABSx.

 

[rdrr]

Oh, so you connected to the Airport Express and was able to browse the web with it, instead of connecting to your Linksys router to browse the web? Because that's where the incompatibility lies - being able to set up a Wireless Distribution Service to extend your network.

As it stands, you just seemed to mention that all your computeres can connect to the AExp to stream music. And they should be able to, right out of the box, whether or not you have another router.

Yes I am able to connect to the web via my extended wireless network, and stream music at the same time... In fact I was playing a Call of Duty network tdm and listening to my music lastnight! w00t!!!

I have had one major problem with the AEx: Interference from 2.4 Ghz phones. When they are close to the network, they will cause the airTunes to drop, skip and otherwise malfunction. Audio streaming must be high priority network traffic that is sensitive to interference and processor use. The other issue I have had is the WDS protocol. Somehow, it eludes me. Anyone have a clue what the correct setup config is for WDS? I have an ABSx w/ant and the AEx with an iMac 802.11b and a PBG4 802.11g. Currently, the AEx is wired to the ABSx.

To set up WDS, you need to have the mac address for the AExtream and AExpress. Make sure that the AExp is setup as a client. Also the easiest way to get this accomplished is to turn off encryption and mac filtering. Here is a walkthough for a Buffalo Tech basestation and AExpress setup. Use it as a guide.

setup

As for the phone I have a 2.4GHz and have not noticed any drop out while streaming music and talking on the phone.

 

[KronicX]

Giving some hope to people who ordered their Airport Express late from the Apple Store; I ordered mine on July 13th, and it was shipped today (the 26th).