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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express Network
This tip explains some not-altogether-straightforward trickery involved to share one's iTunes library, connection to AirPort Express speakers, and internet connection together. My Mac is connected to the internet via an ADSL router. I have an AirPort Express plugged into the stereo upstairs, and a Windows laptop with a WiFi card.

Setting up the AirPort via the AirPort Setup Assistant, the laptop can connect to the AirPort network and access shared music and AirPort speakers, but not connect to the internet. However, sharing my Ethernet connection to machines using AirPort, the Mac loses knowledge of the Airport Express, and therefore shared music is no longer available to my laptop.

In order to share both at the same time, turn off Internet Sharing and open up the AirPort Admin Utility. In the configuration pane for the Airport Express, choose to 'Join an Existing Wireless Network (Wireless Client).' The not-so-obvious bit is as follows: for the Wireless Network name, ignore the drop-down list and type in the name of the network you wish to create. Then update the Airport Express. If all is going well, it should disappear from the Admin Utility List. Now go into System Preferences -> Sharing, select the Internet tab, select to share your Ethernet connection to computers using AirPort, and click the 'Airport Options...' button. In here, type in the name of the network that you chose earlier in the Airport Admin Utility. Then start the internet sharing.

At this point, the Airport Express will appear again in the Admin Utility, and you should be able to connect to this network from remote computers, share your internet/ethernet connection, iTunes shared libraries and AirPort speakers.
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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: wildmac on Jan 04, '05 09:24:57AM

Call me stupid, but is it not more easy to simple connect a Ethernet HUB to your Router, and the Clients (AE, Mac) to the hub. Therefore creating a normal network?

In this solution (I'm running one), you will be extending your network with a WiFi port namely the AE.

Or did you mean that you connect the mac to a ADSL modem? Because there is differance.

I'm using the ADSL modem/Router from Linksys, working like a charm. And is with builtin 10/100 Switch.



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Confusion Discussed
Authored by: lullabud on Jan 04, '05 01:19:26PM

This tip isn't written exactly crystal clear, but (I think) it's a solution to a problem that I found the other day, which is the fact that AX doesn't support both DHCP client and server. You can only set up Static WAN with a DHCP Server for LAN, or DHCP Client WAN and a single static LAN address. (or else I'm blind.) I think that if you can decipher this tip it will allow you to share your internet to two computers without needing a hub.

With that said, ethernet hubs go for like $10 and would make this situation much less confusing.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: Craigriver on Jan 04, '05 01:43:56PM

This topic is raises a question I've had for a while. Is it possible to set up the Airport Express as an airport transceiver for a Mac that lacks airport capabilities? In other words can it serve as a airport card for such a computer?

Finally, does anyone have a source of information that explains the theory behind some of this stuff? I'm interested in understanding how my this stuff works. How my airport express uses the same channel as my airport base station to extend the signal. Doesn't using the same channel (frequency) interfere with the original signal and vice versa?



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: tunesmith on Jan 05, '05 01:46:36AM

Hrm. Well, don't ask me how I did it, but I have an airport extreme upstairs.

Then downstairs I have an airport express. I am pretty sure I have it extending my wireless network. And it's hooked up to my stereo, and I can access the stereo through Airtunes. Finally, I have my Tivo hooked up to the ethernet port. The Tivo is able to reach the internet that way.

The only thing I'm not sure of is if the airport express actually extends the range of my network. It might not. I don't know how the hell I got it all to work though, it took a whole ton of experimentation.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: nullpainter on Jan 04, '05 03:32:17PM

I'm the tip author :)

The problem with my setup is that my mac is connected to my router ADSL downstairs, with the AE upstairs connected to the stereo.

It may be more straightforward to physically connect the AE, but it's not always practically possible.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: wildmac on Jan 04, '05 03:41:13PM

Ah that explains a lot, But what do you think of the solotion of using 2 AE's?

That way you can create a bigger Airport Only network and stil be able to use both the Internet connection as wel the Streaming of Music.

I'll grant you this it is not the most INexpensive solution......;-)



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: nullpainter on Jan 04, '05 03:45:01PM

More expensive solution, however I imagine it'd result in fewer grey hairs ;-)



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: alasgw on Jan 04, '05 10:37:29PM

I'm using a Powerbook with Airport. I have only been able to use the internet or iTunes to remote speakers using an Airport Express. I followed the hints above, but without success.

Is there a way to accomplish this completely wirelessly?



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: nullpainter on Jan 04, '05 10:54:06PM

What issues did you have with the setup?

It seems that my wording evidently wasn't the clearest ;-)



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: alasgw on Jan 04, '05 11:12:05PM

Everything seemed to go fine until the part where after turning Internet Sharing back on the Airport Admin Utility did not recognize the Airport network that I had renamed.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: nullpainter on Jan 05, '05 01:51:20PM

Peculiar - make sure that your Airport has its IP address assigned via DHCP, and try disabling wireless security on both sides initially until you've got it working.

For reference, I started out by resetting my Airport just to make sure there wasn't any other tinkering that could've affected it.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: peragrin on Jan 04, '05 06:36:00PM

is it possible to use just a cheap wireless base station(non apple) to create a bridge with. I know there are third party stuff that is compatible, and if you go to comp USA, at least you can return it if it doesn't work.

Just make sure the features match. I have seen them for less than $50 and you save a lot of headaches if it works.

---
I thought once I was found but it was only a dream



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: lamont on Jan 04, '05 08:57:30PM

My setup is quite similar to yours. I can play music from the desktop computer to the stereo using AE. I can access the internet wirelessly via the lap top using your setup suggestion.
What I can't seem to do is do BOTH these things (internet and music) at the same time.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: nullpainter on Jan 04, '05 10:51:21PM

My suggestion was to show how to do both at once - have you set your airport express up to extend your mac network?



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: lamont on Jan 05, '05 04:24:20PM

Yes, I did. But I had the same problem as another person in this forum.
The network did not show up in AirPort Admin Utility after I turned Internet Sharing back on.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: nullpainter on Jan 05, '05 06:24:44PM

Well I've had one succesful punter, so there's obviously some grain of rightness in my tip. Was getting worried there for a moment ;-)

I started off with a resetted Airport to make sure that I hadn't tweaked any other settings that could adversely affect anything.

Try disabling wireless security on both sides in order to elimilate one source of possible issues. Also make sure that the Airport has its IP address assigned via DHCP.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: descoff on Feb 21, '05 12:25:32PM

Make that 2 succesful readers! Tks a bunch for the post, I was tired of using my slow applescript to change from Internet Sharing to Airport whenever I wanted to listen to music in the living room!

As you hinted the key for this to work is to disable all passwords (internet sharing as well as network security in Airport Admin Utility). But I was left with a totally unsecure internet wireless access point, less than an ideal solution especially if you live in a large city block as I do...

After some trials and errors, I've found a solution: enable WEP 40bit both in Airport Admin and in Internet Sharing

(same password obviously, mine is 13 letters long - not sure if it matters as we are talking Apple hardware only here, but I understand it may matter when you mix different wireless hardware providers).

Thanks to your tip I now have: Secure (somewhat) Internet Sharing + Airtunes at the same time!

PS: No other security settings worked for me (128bit etc...) but please post a message here if you have a different experience.



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Share both iTunes and internet via Airport Express
Authored by: cudaboy_71 on Jan 05, '05 04:04:09PM

just a tip. never ask this crowd to call you stupid ;)

actually, this hint sounds like it will help me out a lot. i have an airport basestation located centrally in my house. but, my aluminum powerbook only gets 1 bar out on the back patio.

but, i have a stereo just inside the back patio door that powers speakers outside. i already have my AE plugged into that to stream tunes outside. with this hack, i *should* now be able to use my powerbook out there as a remote control.

sweet. thanks for the hint.

---
if it aint broke, break it!



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