Airport Express Anyone?

[iceman]

Well I tried this in the music forum and didn't get much love, so...

Anyone using Apple's Airport Express?

Apple's instructions are not very helpful. Basically they say "plug it in and use it".

Well I tried that, it doesn't work. I've also read everything on apple.com/support that seems remotely relevant with no luck.

I'm trying to run airport from my XP pc via a linksys 80211g wireless router and all I'm getting is a flashing yellow light on the Airport. The PC doesn't see it at all and there is no icon in itunes to run it (which I think is because the pc doesn't see the device). I tried moving it closer to the pc, makes no difference. I rebooted and/or reset everthing. I downloaded a new copy of the software and installed it. No love.

Anybody know what else I should try?

Thanks.

[backpack]

"If it can't get an IP address, the light may flash amber.

Note: If AirPort Express is set up as a wireless client and the network it's joining is protected by an access control list, AirPort Express must be in the ACL to get an IP connection."

I would also suspect that if you have a "secure" wireless network that you need to make sure the airport settings allow it to connect, no?

Also, you may have to connect it directly to your PC via ethernet or USB or something to change settings until the wireless connection starts working.

[Telepath]

Yeah, I've got one at home and one at my parents place. Works fine for me with my windows laptop, gf's windows laptop, dads PB and other compoopers. I use the AE both as a wireless access point plugged directly into the cable modem and connected to stereos. No problems whatsoever.

I think (notice, I think, prolly wrong) that you're running your current router with some sort of encryption, no? If you do that you won't be able to hook up to a new AE at the same time. Try to turn of your current router, plug in the AE (for power, not necessarily the net) and connect to it sans encryption. Then once that is done (with your Linksys on that connection will have higher priority and you can't talk to the AE) enter your encryption info etc. When that is done you should be able to turn your Linksys back on and have them all talk to each other.

Do you want the AE only for music or are you going to use it for your web connection too? A friend had trouble using his AE for music when using another router for i-net connection. Once he ran everything of the AE it worked flawlessly.

[iceman]

There's no encryption or access control (hell there's no security at all, my neighbors are far away) on my router.

I'm only trying to use it to play music on my home stereo from the computer.

Would it make sense to just connect the Airport to a port on the router via USB or Ethernet or do you think I need to connect the Airport directly to the PC?

Sorry for all the questions but this is frustrating the hell out of me.

[Telepath]

I've never had to connect the AE by cable to my laptop; but I have always shut down all other wireless devices when installing a new AE of fiddling with an existing one.

Btw. I just started wondering (ain't at home so I can't try it) if the green light is only supposed to show that you're connected to the internet or LAN, in which case it wouldn't have to be green just to play music? I seem to remember my isp crapping out one day and the AE flashing orange, but still being able to play music to it. That should be figureoutable from the booklet that came with the AE I guess. It doesn't really explain that you're not getting any action from the AE on you compooper either.

What wireless card in the pc? Running the cards software or using xp to handle the wireless connection?