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Can't get Airport Express to connect behind N300 router, please help!

T

Tydog07

macrumors 6502
Original poster
May 10, 2011
454
2
Ann Arbor, Mi
So I'm having difficulty with my 4 roommates, here is some background:

-Comcast is our ISP, we have the fastest internet available from them, 50Mbps down, 10 up

-Sometimes, we try to all stream video or do other bandwidth intensive things
I want to use an airport express for airplay purposes, as I have an ATV in my room and a stereo system I'd like to connect to

-When I bought an airport express, it seems to be sluggish compared to the Comcast router, or at least my roommates complained that I messed with the status quo, and airplaying music often skipped and cut-out, not ideal

-Bought a Belkin N300 (basic n router), and want to use that for normal day-to-day stuff, and we can airplay when needed on a dedicated network.

-Setup the N300 today, that worked fine. Then tried to setup the Airport Express again (using a different SSID), and it won't connect.

-Internet/Airport Utility told me to enable bridge mode (aka disable N300 as DHCP server) so that I could connect Airport Express behind the N300

-Didn't work, and now I got this error message in Airport Utility, please see attached.

Please help me connect! Is it possible to have a dedicated airport express network for quality airplay experiences without interruption? Is it possible that the airport express is too antiquated for our heavy streaming needs?
 

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Tydog07 said:
So I'm having difficulty with my 4 roommates, here is some background:

-Comcast is our ISP, we have the fastest internet available from them, 50Mbps down, 10 up

-Sometimes, we try to all stream video or do other bandwidth intensive things
I want to use an airport express for airplay purposes, as I have an ATV in my room and a stereo system I'd like to connect to

-When I bought an airport express, it seems to be sluggish compared to the Comcast router, or at least my roommates complained that I messed with the status quo, and airplaying music often skipped and cut-out, not ideal

-Bought a Belkin N300 (basic n router), and want to use that for normal day-to-day stuff, and we can airplay when needed on a dedicated network.

-Setup the N300 today, that worked fine. Then tried to setup the Airport Express again (using a different SSID), and it won't connect.

-Internet/Airport Utility told me to enable bridge mode (aka disable N300 as DHCP server) so that I could connect Airport Express behind the N300

-Didn't work, and now I got this error message in Airport Utility, please see attached.

Please help me connect! Is it possible to have a dedicated airport express network for quality airplay experiences without interruption? Is it possible that the airport express is too antiquated for our heavy streaming needs?
Click to expand...

are you trying to connect the two by wire or wireless?
 
It's unclear how you are trying to set this up. Which device is being used as your router?
 
Tydog07 said:
So I'm having difficulty with my 4 roommates, here is some background:

-Comcast is our ISP, we have the fastest internet available from them, 50Mbps down, 10 up

-Sometimes, we try to all stream video or do other bandwidth intensive things
I want to use an airport express for airplay purposes, as I have an ATV in my room and a stereo system I'd like to connect to

-When I bought an airport express, it seems to be sluggish compared to the Comcast router, or at least my roommates complained that I messed with the status quo, and airplaying music often skipped and cut-out, not ideal

-Bought a Belkin N300 (basic n router), and want to use that for normal day-to-day stuff, and we can airplay when needed on a dedicated network.

-Setup the N300 today, that worked fine. Then tried to setup the Airport Express again (using a different SSID), and it won't connect.

-Internet/Airport Utility told me to enable bridge mode (aka disable N300 as DHCP server) so that I could connect Airport Express behind the N300

-Didn't work, and now I got this error message in Airport Utility, please see attached.

Please help me connect! Is it possible to have a dedicated airport express network for quality airplay experiences without interruption? Is it possible that the airport express is too antiquated for our heavy streaming needs?
Click to expand...

You should have 7.6.4 on there as it brought a few speed improvements for all N speed AirPorts. What router do you want as the main router?
 
Tydog07 said:
I want the n300 to be the main, with the airport express to be used only for airplay needs. Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Setup the N300 and get it going right. Do you want the Express to connect via Ethernet or wirelessly. If wirelessly reset it then choose "Join a Network".
 
Altemose said:
Setup the N300 and get it going right. Do you want the Express to connect via Ethernet or wirelessly. If wirelessly reset it then choose "Join a Network".
Click to expand...

If I make it join a network by connecting wirelessly, won't I experience the same airplay interruptions I have been?
 
Tydog07 said:
So I'm having difficulty with my 4 roommates, here is some background:

-Comcast is our ISP, we have the fastest internet available from them, 50Mbps down, 10 up

-Sometimes, we try to all stream video or do other bandwidth intensive things
I want to use an airport express for airplay purposes, as I have an ATV in my room and a stereo system I'd like to connect to

-When I bought an airport express, it seems to be sluggish compared to the Comcast router, or at least my roommates complained that I messed with the status quo, and airplaying music often skipped and cut-out, not ideal

-Bought a Belkin N300 (basic n router), and want to use that for normal day-to-day stuff, and we can airplay when needed on a dedicated network.

-Setup the N300 today, that worked fine. Then tried to setup the Airport Express again (using a different SSID), and it won't connect.

-Internet/Airport Utility told me to enable bridge mode (aka disable N300 as DHCP server) so that I could connect Airport Express behind the N300

-Didn't work, and now I got this error message in Airport Utility, please see attached.

Please help me connect! Is it possible to have a dedicated airport express network for quality airplay experiences without interruption? Is it possible that the airport express is too antiquated for our heavy streaming needs?
Click to expand...


I sort of have the same set up as you, but I have a Time Capsule as my main WiFi and an Airport Express (latest 2nd/3rd? gen) for my Home Theatre connections.

What I do is basically set up the Airport Express to "Extend a Network" - so it is connecting to the TC wirelessly. This gives the APE an internet connection, so I can go ahead and use the ethernet port on it. I have it connected to an ethernet splitter so that I can have multiple "wired" connections (so to speak).

Now, you can also make the APE independent of your main router by placing it near your modem. You can then connect it via ethernet from one of your router's LAN port to the APE's internet connectivity port. After, you can set it up to be a different WAP with its own SSID for your needs.
 
thatoneguy82 said:
I sort of have the same set up as you, but I have a Time Capsule as my main WiFi and an Airport Express (latest 2nd/3rd? gen) for my Home Theatre connections.

What I do is basically set up the Airport Express to "Extend a Network" - so it is connecting to the TC wirelessly. This gives the APE an internet connection, so I can go ahead and use the ethernet port on it. I have it connected to an ethernet splitter so that I can have multiple "wired" connections (so to speak).

Now, you can also make the APE independent of your main router by placing it near your modem. You can then connect it via ethernet from one of your router's LAN port to the APE's internet connectivity port. After, you can set it up to be a different WAP with its own SSID for your needs.
Click to expand...


Join will also enable the Ethernet ports.
 
Altemose said:
Join will also enable the Ethernet ports.
Click to expand...

True. I just wanted to give another option and detail my current situation.

And as an added benefit, if he chooses Extend, he can expand the coverage of his current router. Joining will only activate the APE and be able to be used but not expand the network.
 
thatoneguy82 said:
True. I just wanted to give another option and detail my current situation.



And as an added benefit, if he chooses Extend, he can expand the coverage of his current router. Joining will only activate the APE and be able to be used but not expand the network.
Click to expand...


You can only extend the network if the first router is an AirPort of some sort.
 
thatoneguy82 said:
Ok, but it's connected wirelessly - it's in a completely different room, with no wires attached. It's just a big plug on the wall with a green light.
Click to expand...

And you're sure it says extend? It should only allow join per Apple's firmware. Either you are mistaken or some weird glitch is what we have here.
 
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