Can I use Apple TV instead of an airport express for airtunes?

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sxz

761 posts

Ultimate Geek

#72568 29-Nov-2010 13:03

I have no internet at home, and therefore no router.

I use my iPhone for internet.

I love the idea of sending music from my phone to my stereo, except airport expresses are expensive (and it would seem cool enough for them to stay off trademe!)

So what I want to do is get a second hand appleTV and use it for streaming audio only. Would my experience be the same?

My main concerns are:
1) Would I still need a router or can the iPhone (or computer or other device) make an ad-hoc connection straight to the appleTV (I suspect this is not possible... or at least not the same experience)
2) would I need to have it plugged into a TV after the initial set up (i.e. use TV to set it up then hide it behind stereo for evermore).

Has anyone heard anything about this or given it a go?

is airtunes cool generally?

Cheers!

nickb800

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#410678 29-Nov-2010 13:21

Cant comment on the apple tv query.

But airtunes is awesome! I use it all the time through an airport express, it bypasses my dodgy laptop audio jack.

Btw you can get a refurbished airport express for ~$150 direct from apple nz, these have the same warranty as a new one.

nzbsgfan

146 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

#410680 29-Nov-2010 13:24

Yes - I use my old version appletv for airtunes. You can also use the "remote" app from apple to control either your mac or apple tv to change the song selection on the fly.

chiefie

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#410686 29-Nov-2010 13:30

AirTunes is now known as AirPlay.

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MattD

663 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#410819 29-Nov-2010 19:09

sxz: I have no internet at home, and therefore no router.

I use my iPhone for internet.

I love the idea of sending music from my phone to my stereo, except airport expresses are expensive (and it would seem cool enough for them to stay off trademe!)

So what I want to do is get a second hand appleTV and use it for streaming audio only. Would my experience be the same?

Some differences as you do not have a wireless router, however the Airport Express would act as router, AppleTV would not.
Also the Apple TV only has Optical out, where as the Airport Express also supports 3.5mm analog jack.
Depends what you are connecting it to and what are available connections. (amp, powered speakers - eg soundsticks)

My main concerns are:
1) Would I still need a router or can the iPhone (or computer or other device) make an ad-hoc connection straight to the appleTV (I suspect this is not possible... or at least not the same experience)

Your computer (MacBook/iMac etc) would have to create a wireless network and allow your Apple TV to connect to it. Not sure if your iPhone would also be able to connect at same time

2) would I need to have it plugged into a TV after the initial set up (i.e. use TV to set it up then hide it behind stereo for evermore).
Has anyone heard anything about this or given it a go?

sorry have not tried in the adhoc mode, with AppleTV so cannot confirm.

is airtunes cool generally?

Very cool, but only as reliable as the signal strength and performance of your wifi network
Now as AirPlay it is even better as can stream directly from iPhone/iPad and can stream video
Remote application is great

We have 2 Airport Base stations - (purchased prior to dual band available). One runs 'G' and the other 'N'
Connected to 'G' are 4 iPhones, 3 Airport Express units, 2 iMac G4s, a Macbook and Tivo.
Connected to 'N' are 2 older AppleTVs, new AppleTV, iPad, 2 Macbook Pros and a Macbook. The main library is an older G5PowerMac connected to router via ethernet (since streaming video)

Sometimes when streaming music to multiple Airport Express units at once you get some dropouts, but as can tell it is a busy local network. Main problem is when using something like an iPhone on the G router as source and then streaming to 3 Airport Express units