Airport Express Wireless Problems

[shlonger]

Airport Express Wireless Problems

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Hi guys. I use a Belkin wireless card to transmit to an Apple Airport Express which is connected to my stereo.

Problem is, whenever I am listening to music already, then SUBSEQUENTLY connect to my ADSL service OR even connect to MSN Messenger, that new connection will blow the music connection and the sound stops.

When I try to start the music again, I-Tunes says:

"The remote speakers cannot be found on your network. Please verify your network settings and AirTunes config or blah blah....."

The signal strength of the connection is "LOW" usually, I guess due to cr@p in the house between the PC and stereo but good enough for sound.

Also, the utility says:

Signal: (1/3 of green scale) -80dBm
Noise: 1 out of about 22 green bar segments is visible with -92dBm

Any ideas on HOW TO STOP THE CONNECTION FROM FAILING ALL THE TIME?

Thanks guys.

[Variable]

Your music is eating all the bandwidth. You need to increase signal strength to get more bandwidth. Try looking on the web for directional antenna made out of pringles cans. They work very well and are cheap. You may also want to relocate the machines. Often moving devices a few feet can make a hug difference.

[shlonger]

But why is it I'll be listening to music but after I connect to the net or connect MSN Messenger, the music connection will fail?

If I then re-boot, connect to the net FIRST, then to Messenger SECOND and only THEN start I-Tunes, it will play the music.

If I then (for example) connect a fire-wire device, the music connection will fail and subsequent attempts to restart it will produce the above message.....

Come on guys.... any ideas out there?

If the signal strength was better, would I not be having these problems or is it a clash of devices or something....

[jimmy5k]

idea: possibly because itunes doesnt like giving up bandwidth?
idea: msn messenger connection requires more bandwidth than mundane running so to prevent partial or degraded quality in music, itunes drops out?


is there a way of telling itunes how much bandwidth/processing to use?

i have no real in depth idea on how this works. or any real strong grasp. i'm just having ideas. they may be right or wrong.

[dogone]

I'm having similar problems, it must be BELKIN! :mad:

[Variable]

hmm, Yes it could be that Belkin makes a product that doesn't work but continues to sell them to the unwitting public. It also could be that the device works like it is supposed to but the situation it is placed in, means it doesn't function as it should. Networking with wires is complicated enough for most people, this wireless stuff is down right confusing! What needs to happen is for Microsoft to get into the Wireless hardware business and make it less complicated for the average user. They know how to make software that works for the average person. Security, will of course, be slightly degraded BUT I am sure that most people don't care, as long as, they can plug it in and it all lights up and works. That is why plug and play was invented. They just need plug and play for wireless networking and more powerful transmitters - what do you think? Maybe, 100 watts per household would be enough. Sure you would have some bleed over and you couldn't leave chocolate near the transmitter BUT you would have bandwidth for streaming music and MS Messenger. You could even play Counterstrike at the same time!

Hopefully, this will be soon. If enough people will just complain...

[dogone]

Not Microsoft, HONDA…haven’t you seen the ad?

[PrntRhd]

What needs to happen is for Microsoft to get into the Wireless hardware business and make it less complicated for the average user.
M$ decided to get out of the network hardware business only a short while ago.

[Variable]

Havn't seen the Honda add, Dogone. I don't watch to much TV and when I do I tend to change the channel around during commercials. Soon I will get one of those boxes that will allow me to skip all commercials if I watch the shows with a delay. That should be perfect.

(PrnRhd)
I have never heard of a MS wireless router. Maybe they didn't sell them here in in NC? It's to bad Bill didn't stick it out. I'm sure after a few years they would have worked the bugs out.

[PrntRhd]

Variable,
MS got out of the network hardware business period. They had decent enough equipment and even had WEP security turned on out of the box, but most of the stuff was $25 more than the equivalent Netgear or Linksys, so the stuff stayed on the store shelves way too long which embarrased MS who had delusions of being a major player in the networking hardware field. All their stuff was built by outsource contractors anyway.
:rolleyes:

[dogone]

I may owe an apology to BELKIN. I think I’ve worked out how to solve the problem with the AirPort Express disappearing off the wireless network every time I restart the PC (and often after it started during a normal session). It would seem you need to set up a manual IP Address, as the AirPort Express can’t get one through DHCP (well it’s not very good at it)! If you don’t, you’ll have to keep resetting the damn AE after you ‘start-up’, because the AE can’t get an IP address and it’s trying to connect to an existing network, and you lose all contact with it. Access this via the AirPort Admin Utility (third tab in – internet – configure: manual, not using DHCP).

I’m running WAP-PSK (TKIP Encryption) on channel 11 with ‘protected mode’ turned off (much better throughput) and support for g and b (that way the iPAQ can connect with ‘RemoteAmp Server’ to control iTunes from another room - v.nice). I also run MAC address filtering and don’t broadcast (as safe as I can make it with limited wireless knowledge). NB: broadcast SSID when setting up AE for the first time or it will never find your network (AirPort Express is joining an existing wireless network)!

BELKIN Wireless G Router F5D7230-4

However, BELKIN still need to get their sh[t together: http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/Belkin_20F5D7230_2d4#head-3e1a3f74df667e98dbfa6692cd04bcccf18c32a4

HONDA Accord Euro TV commercial “isn’t nice when things just work”. You’ll never catch that slogan in a Microsoft advertising campaign!

Hope this helps someone out there....Dogone

[deddard]

This is also one of the few areas where QoS (Quality of Service) comes into play. Make sure you have it enabled on your systems - it effectively allows certain protocols and streams to be prioritised (music, video etc needs a constant feed without interruption)

[PrntRhd]

Dogone,
Thanks for posting back with the solution, it is easy to blame the hardware and hard to blame the operator sometimes.
;)