Airtunes without Aiport Express?

[Johnny Utah]

Please choose the appropriate forum for this topic. Thank you. Does anybody know if it's possible to stream music using airtunes (Itunes 4.6) without having the airport express hardware, or a mac?

I have a PC, XP pro, Microsoft 802.11g router.

I want to stream to a laptop hooked up to a stereo in the living room equipped with a wifi card.

Will the streaming feature in Itunes 4.6 still work or does it require aiport express?

Thanks!

Johnny Utah.

[MikeM]

It requires Airport Express. But that's not Mac specific- its can be used with Windows.

There's been a hack of airtunes but that only will allow other software apps to stream to an airport express. There's no news of a hack to allow streaming to other base stations. That may be more of a hardware limitation than a software issue.

[jerrodh]

AirTunes requires Airport Express, but it doesn't sound like that's what you require.

If I understand correctly, you want to stream from a source computer (desktop?) to a laptop that is plugged into the stereo. This you can do:

Use the standard network streaming feature (not related to AirTunes) to stream from the source computer to the laptop (which is plugged into the stereo).

However, this is a client-control streaming (the laptop is in control of song selection and order) rather than a server-control streaming (like streaming to an airport express, where the source controls the playing). I think it will fit what you're asking for, though.

[bordeaaj]

I was just told by the guys at my local Apple Store that airtunes will work just fine with my netgear super g router. They said airport express is not required. Can anyone confirm this for me? Thanks a bunch!

[bordeaaj]

I did a second search and found my own answer here:
http://www.ipodlounge.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=35048&highlight=airtunes

(why does a search for the same keyword yield only a couple of results one time and then yield many more only minutes later?)

[AndrewHarrison]

it doesnt require airport express unless you are using a mac.
if you are using a PC, any 802.x wifi adapter is able to be configured to use it.

[bordeaaj]

Once again I have conflicting reports from the local Apple Store. Now they are saying the wireless g must be built into the tower of the computer and that the Netgear WGT624 wireless super g router I have going right now won't work. This is just the opposite of what they told me last time I was in. I don't think these guys really know what they are talking about. Does anyone know what the real situation is? Thanks again!

[moofie74]

Some people have apparently gotten AirPort Express routers to extend the range of non-Apple WiFi networks, but if you want to use AirTunes you're going to need to plug an AP Express in to your stereo. No other router I'm aware of has the capacity to handle a digital sound bitstream.

There are other music players like the Roku Sound Bridge, and the SlimP3, but they don't act as routers. They do have nice displays, but they're spendy.

As far as I've determined, if you want to stream from iTunes on your computer to your stereo, a plain vanilla Linksys or Netgear router will not do the job (as they don't have sound out).

[bordeaaj]

Dang it, it happened again today! More conflicting answers from AppleStore and CompUSA employees. As I am only trying to broadcast music via Airtunes and not looking to extend my existing network I guess the question should be:

Is an AirPort Extreme router required in order to wirelessly broadcast music via Airtunes to an AirPort Express unit plugged into my home stereo. Music from iTunes on my pc broadcast through my Netgear router WILL or WILL NOT be picked up by an Airport Express unit plugged into my home stereo?

Thanks

[moofie74]

Ah! Now I understand your question.

AirPort Extreme (the big flying saucery guy) is not repeat NOT necessary.

I have two computers and an AirPort Express. The APX is connected to my cable modem, and the other two computers talk to the APX. The APX is connected to the stereo for routery goodness AND music-y goodness.

Your netgear router will be superfluous. You may be able to get the APX to talk to the Netgear, and the Netgear to talk to your computers, but assuming that your computers aren't too too far from your stereo, you may not even need to bother.

Does that answer your question?

[i_am_petro]

okay...this may infact be THE dumbest question e-v-e-r, but it's late so here goes. i have airport extreme -- can i use airtunes with extreme?

danke!

-p

[moofie74]

Petro,

AirPort Extreme doesn't have an audio out port, so you couldn't connect it to your stereo.

Bordeaaj,

However, if you want AP Express to be ONLY an endpoint for your stereo, and Just Play Music, you can do that according to Apple's FAQ. This should work with your Netgear router.

http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?14@196.tr0JavJnxVn.141087@.6894c6a5

Wireless Client Card Mode

The AX acts as a client to an existing Wi-Fi 802.11b or 802.11g network. Think of this as a PowerBook with an AirPort Extreme card in it. It is just a client of the 802.11b/g network. In the idea of this as a client, think if you had two PowerBooks and were sending a file from one to the other. The destination computer just receives the data stream and writes the incoming stream/file to the hard drive. AirPort Express receives the stream/data and outputs it to the audio port. While using an AX in this mode, the ethernet port would not be active.

[i_am_petro]

ah...okay <smacks head> thank you moofie!

[bordeaaj]

moofie, thanks for the info. Maybe I should just buy an AirPort Express and give it a try for myself. I can always return it if it doesn't work. I'll be sure to report back if I do buy one.

[moofie74]

I got mine exactly a week ago and I'm /very/ pleased with it. It seems to work well with my gf's slightly wonky USB wifi adaptor, and it's done a good job as a NAT router. The configuration is Apple-like (that is, very good) and the performance has been Just Fine.

Apple may well come out with more capable versions in the future, but this thing will ALWAYS be useful to me. (I can always use a little more wifi range and a place to plug in speakers...)