Need help with Apple Airport Express


I bought an Apple Airport Express so I can connect my Marantz SR-7007 to my wireless network. I want to use it as a wireless client. I have an iMac and AT&T uverse is my Internet provider. The Airport Express configures properly ONLY IF it is connected to the router with an Ethernet cable. I can not get it to work with the Wireless network. I've googled directions and tried everything. Can anyone help, or do I have to have an Apple tech come to the house ? Thanks
mabonn

Showing 3 responses by almarg

Kijanki, thanks very much. But I should point out that I have no experience with Apple products. My computer experience is mainly with computers I've built myself, running Windows in most cases, and Linux in one case.

Matt, I take it that the dropouts are occurring during streaming from the Internet. Do they also occur when you are streaming from files stored in your own computers, if you have tried that? And what is it that you are streaming when the dropouts occur -- music, video, both? If video, what kind of resolution? And can you indicate approximately what the physical distance is between the 2Wire gateway/router and the AE, and how many walls or other obstructions are in between?

Pending answers to those questions, and assuming that the problem occurs with Internet streaming, here are some things to try. The items which involve changes to the settings/configuration of the 2Wire gateway/router should be doable by accessing its configuration menus via a web browser program (Safari, Firefox, etc.) on one of your computers. The manual for the 2Wire should indicate exactly how to do that.

1)Change channels, as Kijanki suggested.

2)Temporarily turn off the stateful packet inspection firewall in the 2Wire device, which may improve its throughput.

3)Turn off the content screening/access control feature that the 2Wire device provides, which if presently enabled may also be degrading throughput.

4)Change the power level the 2Wire device is transmitting at. The datasheet Kijanki linked to indicated that the power level can be adjusted between 100 and 400 mw (milliwatts). If it is at the low end of that range, increase it. If it is at the high end of that range, decrease it! Sometimes these kinds of devices reduce bit rates and throughput when power is increased, based on the assumption that higher power levels will only be used under non-optimal conditions such as particularly long range.

5)Go to Speedtest.net and test your internet connection speed. Only click on the button that says "Begin Test," and after it concludes, if you wish to repeat the test, the button that says "Test Again." DO NOT click on any other buttons, such as the ones that say "Start Now." Those are ads for things that will allegedly "improve" your computer's performance, which I would avoid.

6)Not sure if there is a buffer size setting that is involved that can be changed in the AE or the Marantz, but obviously if there is try increasing it.

Regards,
-- Al
Good!

If problems recur, another alternative to consider would be to retain the 2Wire device, but disable its wireless function and add a separate wireless access point, which in turn would be connected to the 2Wire via an ethernet cable. I've always preferred that sort of arrangement, because of the flexibility it provides with respect to both selection and placement of the wireless device.

I currently use an EnGenius N-EAP350 wireless access point, which I've found to be an outstanding performer (although it is single-band). I use it in conjunction with a SonicWall hardware firewall/wired router, and a cable modem supplied by my ISP.

Regards,
-- Al
Hi Matt,

What software are you using to play back or serve the file? Look in its Options or Preferences menu to see if there is a buffer size setting that can be adjusted. If so, increase it. The size may be expressed in terms of an amount of time, probably seconds.

Or perhaps, as I indicated earlier, the AE or the Marantz includes a buffer whose size is adjustable (I'm not familiar with either component).

Regards,
-- Al