Questions & Answers for AirPort Express

Currently, I have this setup.

Comcast modem/router combo -> ethernet (could be wireless if you wanted it that way) - > airport express.

This gives you wireless through the airport express.

Also, you could just plug the express into a wall on the opposite side of the house and tell it to extend (or join) an existing network.

Whatever your end goal is.

• Answered by Kyle B from Knoxville
• 09 4, 14
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (If I have a router do I need Airport Express to go wireless?)

Yes and no- it depends heavily on what exactly you mean by 'WiFi'.

The AirPort Express WILL generate a wireless network that can be used by your iPhone and iPad, and could be used by any other device with a wireless card or that could be connected to its wired connection. If you're looking to use it to send music to a stereo, create a network to hook an AppleTV to in order to use AirPlay from your devices, transfer files between apps that allow a WiFi transfer- it will do that just fine on its own.

BUT- if you are looking at a way to get internet access, the Airport Express WILL NOT generate this on its own. You will need some form of boradband connection (cable, DSL, etc.) to connect the AirPort Express to. From there, its WiFi connection would allow your iPhone and iPad (and anything else) to get on to the internet. The Airport Express can best be thought of as a way to SHARE an internet connection, not a way to generate one.

• Answered by Robert B from Lexington
• 07 13, 12
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Does it supply wifi if i have no computer - I have only an iphone and ipad? I live in a rural area and need wifi for my iphone and ipad .)

Only the Extreme has gigabit ethernet ports, the express is limited to 10/100mbps

• Answered by Stephen O from Mount Gilead
• 06 13, 12
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is the LAN port Gigabit ethernet?)

Kenneth has a very simple question that very few people understand unfortunatelly. I wondered about this myself, because I would very much be able to stream hi-res audio via AE. I ended up calling Apple Support to get a straight answer. After waiting on the phoneline and eventually be put trough to a person that should have been able to answer, he really did not understand the question. But eventually he was able to ask a colleage and the answer was clear! NO, the new AE is not technically upgraded, same resolution as before 16-bit wordlenght and samplerate "locked" to 44,1kHz. So Apple confirmed Apple TV still has the edge with 16/48, but it dont do much difference for me.

I bought the new AE later only because the the extra ethernet port, that was practical for me so I could connect my Apple TV to new AE LAN port.

And I can confirm the new AE still is 16/44, I see the sample rate on my DAC. If the audio from my computer is 24/96.... AE will still down sample to 16/44 as always..too bad!!

Rune
Norway

• Answered by Rune D
• 07 2, 12
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Is it possible to stream music at 24/192 via the new airport express using the optical output)

If you have a modern time capsule that broadcasts simultaneous dual-band then you would have no need for an express unless you wish to extend your wireless network.

• Answered by Sean D from Tempe
• 06 13, 12
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (This new airport express, isn't this what my Time Capsule already does and if different, how so? Thanks)

No, it cannot. At this time, the AirPrint capability has to be preconfigured by the manufacturer of the printer.

• Answered by Colin O from Rochester
• 07 27, 12
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (Can this new airport express drive offers AirPrint service to iPhone/iPad etc driving a non-airprint capable printer via USB port?)

I just got an ATV 3rd Gen and experimented with it's TOSLink audio out compared to the optical out of the Express. My Moon Simaudio amp indicates that it's receiving an input from the ATV at 48KHz compared to 44.1KHz from the Express. Given this is a higher sample rate, you might expect some benefit but as far as I'm aware, it'll depend on a number of factors such as the integrity of the digital signal (incl. error correction capability) from the source i.e your Mac, over your wireless network to when it enters the digital input (Toslink, SPDIF etc) of your amp. Then there is the issue of the quality of the DAC in your amp or separate DAC unit. After all, a high quality DAC will over sample sufficiently and deal with other digital artefacts to minimise noise etc etc and not suffer the effects of a steep LP filter.

If anyone else with an audio engineering/digital audio background can explain further then that would be great! I can't help but think that there is a lot of unnecessary myth and confusion created in the digital domain (esp optical) I.e applying techniques to preserve the integrity of analogue signals carried over copper/silver to those in the optical digital domain. Why? How is a digital optical signal adversely affected by electromagnetic interference and in any case, even if it were, aren't errors corrected?
Just a thought and would love to hear from others.

• Answered by Nick R
• 07 28, 12
• Flag as inappropriate Answer (is there audio quality difference between the airport extreme and Apple TV)