Apple Airport Express

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networkn

Networkn
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#99062 12-Mar-2012 09:43

Hi There!

Anyone here use one of these for sending music from their Ipod Touch 4th Gen and PC's running iTunes to a Stereo system?

I am looking to clarify the ethernet looking port on the back of it. Can I just plug it into my ethernet switch and the stereo connection into my amp and play music to it? If not, can I make the wireless participate on my existing wireless network and either use it as a signal amplifier or a bridge?

Cheers

dwknight

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#593946 12-Mar-2012 10:23

I have 2 of these and they work well. If you have a wireless network you might as well just let the Express connect to the network and then plug in the stereo from there. I don't think you'll see much benefit to using it with Ethernet (I'm not sure if it can work that way). If you have multiple Express's you can even stream the same music to multiple speakers throughout the house, all in sync!

nickb800

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#593956 12-Mar-2012 10:29

You can do it either way:
1) AE connects via ethernet, and acts as a separate wireless AP for other devices, or you can disable wireless altogether
2) AE connects via wireless to your existing network. You can also drive Ethernet devices off this e.g. a Smart TV, xbox, etc

Thats the beauty of the AE, its very versatile, and can be configured in any manner of ways

networkn

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#593961 12-Mar-2012 10:29

If I connect it to the ethernet port on my switch could it be a WiFI repeater as well?

nickb800

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#593966 12-Mar-2012 10:32

networkn: If I connect it to the ethernet port on my switch could it be a WiFI repeater as well?

I think you posted before my post came through, but yes is the answer.

networkn

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#593969 12-Mar-2012 10:34

Thanks for your help.

Out of interest, anyone know of any other airplay compatible media players? What media types are supported by the express? Flac?

nickb800

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#593976 12-Mar-2012 10:45

networkn: Thanks for your help.

Out of interest, anyone know of any other airplay compatible media players? What media types are supported by the express? Flac?

Its a bit tricky, airplay with an AE is different to airplay with an Apple TV. So for example, there are plenty of android apps that can stream to an apple tv, but none (that I know of) that stream to an AE.

I think you are probably pretty limited - to a computer (iTunes or Airfoil on Win or Mac), iphone, or ipod touch. Airfoil is a pretty cool piece of software - it can stream any audio from your computer to the airport.

Basically any format that itunes can play can be streamed by itunes to the AE - flac is one of them.