AirPort Express with AirTunes

[whooleytoo]

The Express doesn't have a port for an antenna, though.

I meant using the uni-directional antenna with your Mac (it makes more sense this way - it's easier to point your antenna at the nearest base station, than having to go to the base station and point the antenna at your Mac, or move so that you're in line with the base station's antenna!).

I'd need to look into external antennae again, it should be easy to add one to the G5, but for other Macs it may be something of a hack..

 

[Powerbook G5]

I meant using the uni-directional antenna with your Mac (it makes more sense this way - it's easier to point your antenna at the nearest base station, than having to go to the base station and point the antenna at your Mac, or move so that you're in line with the base station's antenna!).

I'd need to look into external antennae again, it should be easy to add one to the G5, but for other Macs it may be something of a hack..

Yeah, I have a PowerBook and I can't say I've seen one made for one.

 

[tveric]

Apple Sales Dept. vs Apple Tech Support

Okay, since everyone on the Internet appears to be just speculating on the brdging ability of the Airport Express, I made a few calls to Apple about this setup (which I have a feeling a lot of people will be interested in):

Third-party wireless router (Linksys) providing Internet in this house. One room in the house (kind of the party room) where my PB doesn't pick up a signal, too far away. The question was, can I put the Airport Express somewhere between the 3rd-party router and the party room, and thereby get internet in that room on my PB via the AP Express?

2 different sales people at Apple on 2 different calls said: "Yes, absolutely."

2 tech support guys said, "I don't think so, probably not, actually I don't know for sure either way."

What the hell's going on here?

 

[Dave00]

Who will want to stream to more than one sound system at the same time?

I will, for one. It's nice to have your music flowing to different rooms of a house, or an office, for that matter.

 

[henners]

 

[Stevp1]

The question was, can I put the Airport Express somewhere between the 3rd-party router and the party room, and thereby get internet in that room on my PB via the AP Express?

2 different sales people at Apple on 2 different calls said: "Yes, absolutely."

2 tech support guys said, "I don't think so, probably not, actually I don't know for sure either way."

What the hell's going on here?

I don't think anyone's said it won't work at all with 3rd party routers. I think it just isn't supposed to work as a range extender with 3rd part stuff. (of course, I'm hoping someone will come out with a workaround for that!)

edit: sorry, didn't read close enough. That's what the question was. I still hope somebody figures out a way to make it work, if it doesn't out of the box.

 

[tveric]

So in other words, no one here knows if the AP Express will work as a wireless range extender with 3rd party routers either?

I really want to believe the Apple sales people... but there's something that makes me not trust their claim 100%.

 

[Stevp1]

I think it'll be a matter of someone getting their hands on one and trying. Hopefully we'll read it here first.

 

[ethernet76]

Now I'm not the guy who made the device, but this is how - to me - the way bridging would work.

The airport express would pick up an IP address from the base unit. This is after it is configured using the airport configuration tool in the utilities folder.

The airport express would act as a switch and would use the connection to the other base station as the uplink port.

This is of course entirely theoretical, because we all know apple's greed to deny products from working with non-apple products.

So in theory, easily done. Likelyhood it works, no idea.

 

[davecuse]

Now I'm not the guy who made the device, but this is how - to me - the way bridging would work.

The airport express would pick up an IP address from the base unit. This is after it is configured using the airport configuration tool in the utilities folder.

The airport express would act as a switch and would use the connection to the other base station as the uplink port.

This is of course entirely theoretical, because we all know apple's greed to deny products from working with non-apple products.

So in theory, easily done. Likelyhood it works, no idea.

You would most likely have to clone the MAC address of your initial wireless router, so they are both routing the same signal. This ensures the transition between zones is seamless. I would assume that Apple tech support thinks that it will work, but probably hasn't tested across every single piece of hardware on the market at this point. Theoretically there is nothing altogether special about the Airport Extreme, all wireless routers should have some type of configuration utility. Apple just makes it really easy to use theirs... I know Linksys allows you to clone a MAC address, the support guys probably just don't want users calling Apple for help setting up their Linksys stuff, blame the other guy, our stuff works great sort of deal.

 

[ingenious]

Tell me if I'm wrong, but if I share a net connection through the AEx, I'll have a wireless network, so I'd be able to share files as well?!?! And to hook in to a wired network, all I'd have to do is plug the net into a wired router's WAN port, then connect AEx and wired computers to the LAN ports, correct??!?! This is an awesome device! Go Apple!

 

[ingenious]

Okay, since everyone on the Internet appears to be just speculating on the brdging ability of the Airport Express, I made a few calls to Apple about this setup (which I have a feeling a lot of people will be interested in):

Third-party wireless router (Linksys) providing Internet in this house. One room in the house (kind of the party room) where my PB doesn't pick up a signal, too far away. The question was, can I put the Airport Express somewhere between the 3rd-party router and the party room, and thereby get internet in that room on my PB via the AP Express?

2 different sales people at Apple on 2 different calls said: "Yes, absolutely."

2 tech support guys said, "I don't think so, probably not, actually I don't know for sure either way."

What the hell's going on here?

It should be possible. Just tell the AEx to join the Linksys's network.

 

[Finiksa]

So in other words, no one here knows if the AP Express will work as a wireless range extender with 3rd party routers either?

I really want to believe the Apple sales people... but there's something that makes me not trust their claim 100%.

AFAIK, 802.11b/g doesn't have a standard set for this type of wireless bridging etc. Different manufacturers use their own implementation of the technology (or none at all), so no-one can say "yes/no" absolutely you'll just have to wait and see once someone has tried it.

 

[numediaman]

I've read through this entire thread (yikes), thoroughly read the Apple site, and talked to Apple myself. As a result, I see no evidence that this product will work with a third party router -- in fact, Apple clearly states that it only works with its own products.

If true, this product is totally worthless to a vast number of potential clients including myself. I hope we find out otherwise, but Apple seems to confirm the uselessness of its own new product release.

 

[tveric]

I've read through this entire thread (yikes), thoroughly read the Apple site, and talked to Apple myself. As a result, I see no evidence that this product will work with a third party router -- in fact, Apple clearly states that it only works with its own products.

Not exactly. They clearly state that it WORKS with its own products - they don't say ONLY, and they don't say other (3rd-party) routers WON'T work.

Please be careful about making sweeping statements like that.

I also have no evidence that this product will work with a 3rd-party router - except that Apple sales folks have told me over the phone that it absolutely will. Not much to go on, but better than nothing.

 

[whooleytoo]

I also have no evidence that this product will work with a 3rd-party router - except that Apple sales folks have told me over the phone that it absolutely will. Not much to go on, but better than nothing.

Of all the people to trust, sales folks should be the very last!!

You're right though, unless/until a router has been through their QA, Apple won't officially state it works with the Express; even though it might function perfectly with it.

 

[numediaman]

Apple web site:

AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express can extend the range only of an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express wireless network.​

I don't know how Apple could be clearer -- and they placed this on the product's front page, as well.

I, too, wish this would work with third party routers -- but until someone tests it and proves otherwise, I won't be the first sucker to buy it.

 

[appleguy]

OK then how is this

Airport Express with bluetooth as well.
so when you plug it into your car, your kids can be in the back surfing the web in the back.

 

[appleguy]

I, too, wish this would work with third party routers -- but until someone tests it and proves otherwise, I won't be the first sucker to buy it.

I will try it, if it does work, simply it will be one less I will have to buy. so I save
if not who cares

 

[tveric]

Apple web site:

AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express can extend the range only of an AirPort Extreme or AirPort Express wireless network.​

I don't know how Apple could be clearer -- and they placed this on the product's front page, as well.

I'll tell you how they could be clearer - by not having their sales people tell me (on two occasions) that AP Express WILL extend the range of a third-party wireless network.

That AP Express would work with any wireless network makes sense to me, since wireless networks are based on a universal standard. Why would the AP Express care whether the 802.11b network it's joining is Apple-branded or not? In that case, what's the point of having a standard?

 

[titaniumducky]

I'll tell you how they could be clearer - by not having their sales people tell me (on two occasions) that AP Express WILL extend the range of a third-party wireless network.

That AP Express would work with any wireless network makes sense to me, since wireless networks are based on a universal standard. Why would the AP Express care whether the 802.11b network it's joining is Apple-branded or not? In that case, what's the point of having a standard?

802.11 is a standard. Wireless repeaters, however, are not part of the 802.11 standard. Companies use different protocols to do this; however, since most base stations use one of two chips (Broadcom is what Apple uses if I'm not mistaken) it's very likely it will work.

Apple can't guarantee it, just in case.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Yes, in fact, that's the primary way that Apple seems to be presenting this technology. The DSL modem would plug into the WAN port of the Airport Express and from there your Airport equipped computer receives the signal just like it were any other wireless router.

Thanks, then it rounds great !

 

[pjkelnhofer]

802.11 is a standard. Wireless repeaters, however, are not part of the 802.11 standard. Companies use different protocols to do this; however, since most base stations use one of two chips (Broadcom is what Apple uses if I'm not mistaken) it's very likely it will work.

Apple can't guarantee it, just in case.

Exactly, if Apple can't guarantee it will work they are much safer saying that it is only for Apple networks. Maybe what they should saying is that it is only "supported" for extended Apple networks.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

802.11 is a standard. Wireless repeaters, however, are not part of the 802.11 standard. Companies use different protocols to do this; however, since most base stations use one of two chips (Broadcom is what Apple uses if I'm not mistaken) it's very likely it will work.

Apple can't guarantee it, just in case.

Not to mention it saves on the support costs too.

 

[appleguy]

Ok I now think this thread is dead.
any one care to prove me wrong. with some decent talk on this thread you are more than welcome