Streaming audio from Windows 7 desktop to Apple Airport Express help

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bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#93080 13-Nov-2011 22:11

Here's what I'm trying to do.

Stream music from my windows 7 desktop in room A, to the stereo in room B with an Apple Airport Express.

My desktop has an i5 processor but was not wifi capable as we have all computers wired with an ethernet cable. So today I bought a D-Link wireless N 150 usb adaptor to plug into the computer that has itunes stored on it. It seemed to install itself OK. It can even see the next door neighbours wireless LAN

Then I connected the new Apple Airport Express with a minijack plug to the amp, and plugged it in.

Unfortunately the computer does not see the Airport Express at all, neither does Airport Utility. The Airport Express just flashes an amber light which tells me its not connected.

What am I doing wrong? By all accounts this should be a very simple set up.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

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8965 posts

Uber Geek

#544945 14-Nov-2011 08:00

You may need to connect the AE directly with an ethernet cable to configure it first, using Airport Utility.

How is your existing network configured? Is it just your PC and the AE, or do you also have another modem/router for internet access?

There was a recent firmware update to v7.6 for airport hardware that fixes some audio issues too. This will show up when you open airport utility.

trig42

5816 posts

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#544963 14-Nov-2011 08:54

Why did you buy a wireless card? Your PC does not need wireless to talk to the Airport Express, so long as the Airport express is on your network somehow (either WiFi or wired).

I have the same setup as you - Win7 PC, connected via LAN, streams music to the Airport Express, which can either be connected via LAN cable or WiFi (mine at the moment is via cable). The amber flashing light means it is not connected to a WiFi network (mine flashes amber, but still works perfectly well, I can even stream music directly from my iPhone (wifi) straight to the Airport Express).

Plug the Airport express into your network using a cable and you should be sweet using the utility (I have only ever used the utility once, about 2 years ago and have moved house twice since then).

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#545013 14-Nov-2011 10:10

RunningMan: You may need to connect the AE directly with an ethernet cable to configure it first, using Airport Utility.

How is your existing network configured? Is it just your PC and the AE, or do you also have another modem/router for internet access?

There was a recent firmware update to v7.6 for airport hardware that fixes some audio issues too. This will show up when you open airport utility.

I have tried connecting with an ethernet cable this morning and now airport utility reports that it has found the Airport Express "that is reporting problems". It also prompts me to udate the firmware to ver. 7.6 from 7.5.2. The trouble now seems to be that this has been set up by someone else and returned to DSE where I bought it from.
It is called "Daves Airport Express" and I'm not Dave. It prompts me for a password that I didn't originate.

I do have another modem/router for internet access, but the problem is that the amp is nowhere near the wired LAN so I thought it would be easier to try a wireless system for this.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#545014 14-Nov-2011 10:13

trig42: Why did you buy a wireless card? Your PC does not need wireless to talk to the Airport Express, so long as the Airport express is on your network somehow (either WiFi or wired).

I have the same setup as you - Win7 PC, connected via LAN, streams music to the Airport Express, which can either be connected via LAN cable or WiFi (mine at the moment is via cable). The amber flashing light means it is not connected to a WiFi network (mine flashes amber, but still works perfectly well, I can even stream music directly from my iPhone (wifi) straight to the Airport Express).

Plug the Airport express into your network using a cable and you should be sweet using the utility (I have only ever used the utility once, about 2 years ago and have moved house twice since then).

Thanks for your replies guys by the way, this stuff does my head in at times. I bought the wireless card as the amp is not wired with an ethernet cable, and our house is an older one which can be very difficult with access under the house. So I thought wireless would be simpler in this case.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

chiefie

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5877 posts

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Retired Mod

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Lifetime subscriber

#545018 14-Nov-2011 10:17

Reset your Apple AirPort device using this how-to: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3728

Drill down to:

How do I reset my AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule?

> AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (2nd Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (3rd Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (4th Generation), and Time Capsule

> Factory default reset (using AirPort Utility)

OR

Factory default reset (using reset button)

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Dunnersfella

4086 posts

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#545023 14-Nov-2011 10:24

Go and yell at DSE...
They should have told you that the unit had been returned in the first place. At worst, it'll equate to a partial refund, at best, a brand new unit.
After all, if all was well with it, why would Dave have returned it?

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#545025 14-Nov-2011 10:29

chiefie: Reset your Apple AirPort device using this how-to: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3728

Drill down to:

How do I reset my AirPort Base Station or Time Capsule?

> AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (2nd Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (3rd Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (4th Generation), and Time Capsule

> Factory default reset (using AirPort Utility)

OR

Factory default reset (using reset button)

OK done that, the full factory rest, but Airport Utility cannot find Airport Express now through the ethernet cable.
I just got a solid amber light for the first two minutes, now flashing amber.

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bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#545027 14-Nov-2011 10:33

Dunnersfella: Go and yell at DSE...
They should have told you that the unit had been returned in the first place. At worst, it'll equate to a partial refund, at best, a brand new unit.
After all, if all was well with it, why would Dave have returned it?

In fairness to DSE they did tell me it was returned unit due to "did not work on customers setup" as written on the box. I took this to mean it was incompatible with his system.
Either way I know I'm covered by CGA, but its still a nuisance to troubleshoot all this, take it back...

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

RunningMan

8965 posts

Uber Geek

#545032 14-Nov-2011 10:44

We still need to know what your existng network setup is. How is your PC connected to your router? Does your router have WiFi?

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#545064 14-Nov-2011 11:25

I seem to have had some luck in getting the Airport Express recognised by my computer after the reset and am now in the process of getting everything else set up.

To answer your question about our network setup we have TC cable to the house, then ethernet cable split 5 ways through TP link fast ethernet switch to each computer. No wifi in our house, as we figured we were losing heaps of bandwidth each month somehow???? Maybe because we live in very close proximity to loads of people who know how to hijack this stuff.

I'm no geek when it comes to IT but I have to deal with computer technology every day. Its a blessing and a curse as I have no training. Thanks for all your help so far.

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

RunningMan

8965 posts

Uber Geek

#545092 14-Nov-2011 12:02

OK, the cleanest way to connect the AE would be with an ethernet cable directly in to your network. Then configure it to disable wireless altogether.

Alternatively, if you have to connect it wirelessly, you can set it to create a network (enable WPA2 etc.) then your PC can connect to both the wired network (rest of house) and the wireless (AE with AirPlay).

trig42

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#545096 14-Nov-2011 12:16

Do you have a wireless router?

RunningMan

8965 posts

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#545099 14-Nov-2011 12:21

trig42: Do you have a wireless router?

From my reading, (s)he doesn't, given the purchase of the USB WiFi adaptor - means the network setup on the PC will be a little messy, and it will be the only one that talks to the AE.

bluedisk

226 posts

Master Geek

#545112 14-Nov-2011 12:36

RunningMan:
trig42: Do you have a wireless router?

From my reading, (s)he doesn't, given the purchase of the USB WiFi adaptor - means the network setup on the PC will be a little messy, and it will be the only one that talks to the AE.

I am a "he", and don't have a wireless router, so I have had to set up a new network, and have just let it all configure itself automatically. But its still not working unfortunately. The AE will only show up in my computer if it has been connected with the ethernet cable first. If i close down itunes it does not show up again till I reconnect with the cable.
Also the "remote" app on my iphone will see the network that I have created but will not connect to my itunes library. I have checked the correct box in itunes to enable this.

Makes me feel like throwing it all into the harbour and buying a mac...

Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all...

trig42

5816 posts

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#545114 14-Nov-2011 12:41

hehe. I understand your frustration.
You say you also have an iPhone. You should really look at going wireless (either get an AP, a router or replace your existing wired modem with one with Wireless). This will make the Airport easy to setup, and give you 'free' (ie. not 3g) data on your iPhone, and makes setting up Remote so much easier. It will also allow you to stream straight from your phone to the AE.

Can you return the USB wireless dongle and use the refund to upgrade your modem/router?

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