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AirPort Express with AirTunes

I just ordered one. Not bad for only $119. I wonder if this would work with my Linksys Wireless-B router. If not, I guess I can sell it to my friend and use this in its place. I wonder if it has security features such as WEP and such. I also wonder how to work it with my setup. My printer and my stereo are on opposite sides of my room. I wonder if I can either get a really long USB cord or if I'll have to move my printer closer to my Pioneer system. Either way, this is great. I was actually thinking of going to Staples or Office Max to look for some sort of wireless printer system so I could hook up my printer and this came out just in time. I just wish it will ship sooner than "mid-July" so I can test it out.
 
yangchi said:
So u cannot use it as a 802.11g router. If you have more than one computer at home, you still need a base station. :cool:
Click to expand...

Not true. The difference between and access point and a router is that a router creates a local area network (LAN) with internal IP address that all share one external IP address.

An accese point on the other hand acts lick a cheap ethernet switch, it does allow you have multiple computer connected at the same time, but they will all get there own external IP addresses. Now, I realize that many broadband providers may not allow this, or charge extra for extra IP addresses, but on my college campus I have been using an Access point for about 6 months with no problems.

An access point can also be used to extend a LAN created by a router.
 
kwajo.com said:
lol that would be fun :p

but you bring up something interesting, how cool would it be if in a year or whenever that all powerbook power adapters had built in 802.11g capabilities. one small device for both and you would always have airport wherever you go. even if you had the option when you buy your system, regular power adapter or Airport-enabled adapter for $X more. Apple I hope you are listening
Click to expand...

Yeah.. but what's the point without a ethernet connection to the adaptor? I mean, you can make a wireless ad-hoc from your laptop :X
 
Powerbook G5 said:
I just ordered one. Not bad for only $119. I wonder if this would work with my Linksys Wireless-B router. If not, I guess I can sell it to my friend and use this in its place. I wonder if it has security features such as WEP and such. I also wonder how to work it with my setup. My printer and my stereo are on opposite sides of my room. I wonder if I can either get a really long USB cord or if I'll have to move my printer closer to my Pioneer system. Either way, this is great. I was actually thinking of going to Staples or Office Max to look for some sort of wireless printer system so I could hook up my printer and this came out just in time. I just wish it will ship sooner than "mid-July" so I can test it out.
Click to expand...

It has WEP and WPA.

<edit> sorry for the double post :X</edit>
 
micvog said:
As far as I can tell:

ADVANTAGES TO AEBS
+ LAN Port
+ Stronger Signal (the new device is awfully small and would be by an outlet instead of on a desk so I am guessing the AEBS will offer a stronger signal)
+ Available modem port, external antenna and Power over Ethernet

ADVANTAGES TO AIRPORT EXPRESS
+ Audio out
+ Smaller, cleaner design (no power cable)
+ Cheaper

Did I miss anything?
Click to expand...

Or, to put it differently, this is new apple innovation, what apple is best at. AEBS is just wifi, and other people have done it better and cheaper, now that it's common. So advantages of AEBS=wifi is huge and apple can sell it to unsuspecting saps at very large profit margin, but almost nobody will buy it instead of some other router. Advantages of Airport Express: People will actually buy it, because it's the only thing out there doing quite what it does. And, itunes is such a big hit.
 
Home stereo setup -- help!

I need your help here. The house we bought as a sound system throughout the house (used via a Niles keypad on the main floor). For some reason, the previous owners set it up so that the receiver must be in the basement (that's where all the input wires are). Seems kinda stupid b/c if I'm in the living room, I can turn the stereo on and control volume thru the keypad on the main floor, but to select music (either via a CD changer or my iPod plugged into the stereo), I'd have to go to the basement. So, the current plan is that they are going to convert the subwoofer wires in the living room into female inputs, so I can plug my iPod into that via an RCA cable (but I lose the subwoofer). These wires run to the receiver in the basement.

Now: does the Airport Express change this? We're planning on setting up a home network anyway. Could I set up the Airport Express in the basement; plug it into the receiver downstairs; then stream music from my laptop to the Airport Express downstairs (assuming it's within signal range)? Thereby leaving the existing living room wires free for a subwoofer and not needing to plug my iPod in everytime I want to play music thru the whole house system? And it allows me to select music from the laptop while I'm sitting my lazy butt on the couch, rather than getting up and changing the track on the iPod. Could it be this cool? Or am I misisng something?
 
I think this thing has no real use for streaming songs. You're much better off with a third party player like roku. Little dissappointed that Apple coould have done better. Maybe they'll make a player later this year with an LCD.
 
I know what is next ...

... WiFi iPod where your music follows you from AE equipped room to AE equipped room. Add a few X-10 units with some rather simple programming, and the iPod hanging on your belt will automatically turn the lights on as you enter a room and off as you leave.
 
chipcarterdc said:
I need your help here. The house we bought as a sound system throughout the house (used via a Niles keypad on the main floor). For some reason, the previous owners set it up so that the receiver must be in the basement (that's where all the input wires are). Seems kinda stupid b/c if I'm in the living room, I can turn the stereo on and control volume thru the keypad on the main floor, but to select music (either via a CD changer or my iPod plugged into the stereo), I'd have to go to the basement. So, the current plan is that they are going to convert the subwoofer wires in the living room into female inputs, so I can plug my iPod into that via an RCA cable (but I lose the subwoofer). These wires run to the receiver in the basement.

Now: does the Airport Express change this? We're planning on setting up a home network anyway. Could I set up the Airport Express in the basement; plug it into the receiver downstairs; then stream music from my laptop to the Airport Express downstairs (assuming it's within signal range)? Thereby leaving the existing living room wires free for a subwoofer and not needing to plug my iPod in everytime I want to play music thru the whole house system? And it allows me to select music from the laptop while I'm sitting my lazy butt on the couch, rather than getting up and changing the track on the iPod. Could it be this cool? Or am I misisng something?
Click to expand...

I disagree with bertagert.. This should be great for your purposes.
 
router vs. access point?

yangchi said:
So u cannot use it as a 802.11g router. If you have more than one computer at home, you still need a base station. :cool:
Click to expand...

Can you explain the difference?

edit: (answered above.)

thanks.
 
...how cool would it be if in a year or whenever that all powerbook power adapters had built in 802.11g capabilities. one small device for both and you would always have airport wherever you go. even if you had the option when you buy your system, regular power adapter or Airport-enabled adapter for $X more. Apple I hope you are listening
Click to expand...

Very cool idea. But again I would ask for a firewire port too.

- Doc
 
Where is this Optical out? I don't see it.

I would have preferred a Coaxial digital out, but what are you going to do :p

So this little thing has a D/A converter in it? Can't be too hot. Let's hope the optical is good.
 
i cant seem to find it yet- how much is it with educational pricing?? I know Panther is regularly 129, but falls to 69 with edu. Could we expect the same here???? :D
 
PS2 question

Is this the solution for people who want to finally go online with the PS2, but don't want to run cables all over the freakin' house to do so?
 
Roku

Does this act like a Roku (aside from display)?
Can I connect to a wired network and broadcast to my receiver?
What if I want to have two in my home? (one in den and one in living room?)

Seems like a nice surprise. Thank you Steve! (and Apple).

:)
 
does anyone reckon the ywill come out with an adaptor so to make an ordinary aebs will have the audio out? i kind of wish i didnt dish out for my base station now!

also this makes me think that new ipods are going to have wireless capebilities, think of that at parties, just bring your ipod along and put the music on!
 
k.double said:
this is wrong. the airport express has a WAN-only ethernet port to allow the sharing of a dsl/cable connection.
Click to expand...

I guess then you'd need at least 1 computer/laptop with Airport card? (I'm still not convinced since Airport Express uses Rendezvous.)
 
Another feature. . .

. . .Apple should make it so that all sound from your laptop can be sent to the Airport Express, not just iTunes. Adding this function to the sound control panel shouldn't be that difficult. It could let you always use the same speakers as iTunes, or select a different set. Allowing wireless sound for your games and movies as well.
 
Please excuse the ignorant question (I haven't set up a home network yet): This acts as a base station as well, right? I.e., when I get my DSL or cable connection at home, I plug this Airport Express into the DSL/Cable modem jack and the stereo (assuming they're phsyically close enough) and the Airport Express sends out a wireless signal? In other words, I don't need this AND an Airport Extreme base station, right?

One other question: is there a piece of hardware that goes between the wall jack for DSL or Cable connection and the Airport (Express/Extreme)? What I'm asking is: does the Airport station (of whatever flavor) plug directly into the wall jack, or is there an intervening piece of hardware (like a modem?).

zap23 said:
I disagree with bertagert.. This should be great for your purposes.
Click to expand...
 
It's worth underscoring that this is a cross-platform product, extending the cross-platform iTunes software. This means there will be a huge market for these things, and they could be another effective little tool in helping to further reclaim both mindshare and marketshare.

This may be a bit fanciful, but I have this extremely optimistic notion that one day, after they've added some unknown number of things to their amazing lineup that the dam will burst and the buying masses will see the light, and Apple will truly become a major player again. We shall see. At the very least, things certainly are getting more and more interesting.
 
Apple sucked me in!!!!!
 

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Internal antenna, or....

Here's an interesting thought:

I would imagine that the Airport Express uses an internal antenna to guarantee signal strength/quality.

But...

Imagine the possibilities if it used your house wiring as an antenna instead? :)

(realistic possibilities include signal degradation, multi-path reflection issues, lots of extra noise, etc... but I'm ignoring those for the sake of this post)

Yup, tech specs indicate an internal antenna as expected. Ah well... ;)
 
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