Apple Airport Express: Still Functional Or Obsolete?

Apple's AirPort Express router was discontinued in 2018, but it may still be available new from remaining stock, as well as refurbished or used through select online and brick-and-mortar retailers. While the AirPort Express is no longer supported by Apple, some users have found ways to configure it to connect to WiFi and stream music. However, there are concerns about the security and longevity of the product, as Apple has not released updates for it in a while. Some users have chosen to retire their AirPort Express routers in favour of newer options that offer better speeds, range, device management, and security.

Apple Airport Express setup

Apple discontinued the AirPort Express in April 2018, but you can still purchase one from the secondary market. The AirPort Express base station lets you wirelessly share devices like speakers or printers with other computers. It can also be used to connect any home speaker to a single iTunes library, creating a wireless home music network.

• Plug the AirPort Express into an electrical outlet in the room where you want to use it.
• Install the AirPort Utility software. If you don't already have it installed, you can install it from the CD that came with the AirPort Express or download it from Apple's website.
• Launch the AirPort Utility. Once it starts, you should see the AirPort Express base station listed in the left pane. Single-click to highlight it if it's not already highlighted.
• Complete the fields on the right side. Give the AirPort Express a name and password that you will remember so you can access it later.
• Choose the Airport Express Connection Type. Decide what kind of Wi-Fi connection you want to set up. You can choose to connect the AirPort Express to an existing Wi-Fi network, replace another, or connect via Ethernet.
• Select your network. A list of available wireless networks will display. Select the appropriate network and click Continue.
• Wait for the AirPort Express to restart. Once it restarts, it will appear in the AirPort Utility window with the new name and will be ready to use.

You can also use AirPlay to stream music to an AirPlay-enabled device, such as an Apple TV, or directly to an AirPort Express. Here's how:

• Plug the AirPort Express into AC power and ensure the green light indicates that it is connected to your home network.
• Use AirPlay to send music to your AirPort Express.
• Connect the AirPort Express to an audio input on your stereo/AV receiver or powered speakers.
• Open iTunes on your computer. At the bottom right of your iTunes window, you will see a drop-down menu listing the available AirPlay devices in your setup.
• Choose AirPort Express from the list, and the music you play in iTunes will play over the connected speakers or stereo system.
• On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod, look for the arrow-in-a-box Airplay icon when playing music or audio, and tap on it to bring up a list of Airplay sources.
• Choose the AirPort Express, and you can now stream music from compatible Airplay-enabled apps from your device.

Apple Airport Express as an access point

The Apple AirPort Express can be used as an access point to extend the range of a wireless network. Once set up, the AirPort Express will wirelessly connect to your home network router and can share that wireless connection with up to 10 wireless devices, allowing them to connect to your home network. This is especially useful for devices in another room or further from the home network router, which may not be able to connect to the router directly.

To set up an Apple AirPort Express as an access point, follow these steps:

• Connect a network cable to the WAN port on your AirPort Express and the LAN port on your router.
• Start the AirPort Utility application and wait for it to find the AirPort Express.
• Click the Edit button to access the configuration settings.
• Go to the Internet tab of your AirPort Express and verify that "Connect Using" is set to DHCP so that your AirPort Express can get an IP address from your router.
• Go to the Network tab and under Network Mode, select "Off (Bridge Mode)".
• Note that you may want to disable the wireless network on your router to avoid interference with the AirPort Express.

The AirPort Express has two Ethernet/LAN ports. One port is for connection to a PC, Ethernet hub, or networked printer, while the other is for a wired connection to a modem or Ethernet-based network. It also has a USB port that can be used to connect a non-network printer for wireless network printing. Additionally, the AirPort Express has a 3.5mm mini-jack port that can be used to connect to powered speakers or, with an adapter, to a soundbar, stereo, or home theater system.

Apple Airport Express for streaming music

The Apple AirPort Express was discontinued in April 2018, but it can still be purchased from remaining stock, as well as refurbished or second-hand from select online and brick-and-mortar retailers. The AirPort Express can be used to extend Wi-Fi from your wireless router and it can also act as an access point.

Streaming Music with AirPort Express

The AirPort Express can be used to stream music from iTunes on your computer, or your iPod, iPhone and/or iPad to an AirPlay-enabled device. This can include an Apple TV, AirPlay-enabled home theatre receivers, as well as other AirPlay devices, such as an iPhone.

To set up the AirPort Express for music streaming, plug it into an AC power source and ensure the green light is on, indicating that it is connected to your home network. You can then use AirPlay to send music to your AirPort Express.

To listen to streaming music, connect the AirPort Express to an audio input on your stereo/AV receiver, or connect it to powered speakers.

On your iPhone, iPad or iPod, look for the arrow-in-a-box Airplay icon when playing music or audio. Tap on the Airplay icon to bring up a list of Airplay sources. Choose the AirPort Express and you can stream music from compatible Airplay-enabled apps from your device.

AirPlay 2

Apple has provided a firmware update that allows AirPort Express to be used with AirPlay 2. This means that although you may no longer be able to use it as a Wi-Fi router, you can still use AirPort Express as a Wi-Fi extender for some devices, as well as a streaming reception point in an AirPlay 2-based wireless multi-speaker/multi-room audio setup.

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble setting up your AirPort Express, try using the iOS version of the AirPort Utility app, as this works better than the computer version for finding the Express. You can also try plugging the AirPort Express directly into your computer via an ethernet cable.

If you are still having trouble, try a manual setup. First, find the IP address of the AirPort Express. You can do this by going to your main router and looking up the DHCP table. On your Synology router, for example, this can be found under 'Local Network'. If the AirPort Express does not appear on the list, try using a software network analyser like Fing (free version for iOS or Mac).

Once you have the IP address, open Airport Utility and go to:

• Top menu
• File
• Configure Other

Fill in the IP address (no password is needed for a reset Express). Click OK. You will then need to go to each of the tabs along the top and fill in all the details.

Apple Airport Express compatibility with other devices

The Apple AirPort Express is compatible with a wide range of devices, including Mac and Windows operating systems, as well as iOS and Windows-based PCs. It also works with other Wi-Fi devices and can be used with iTunes and AirPlay.

The AirPort Express has two Ethernet/LAN ports. One port is used to connect to a PC, Ethernet hub, or networked printer, while the other is for a wired connection to a modem or Ethernet-based network. Additionally, the AirPort Express has a USB port that allows for a wireless network printing connection to any printer.

For music streaming, the AirPort Express has a 3.5mm mini-jack port that can connect to powered speakers or, via an RCA connection adapter, to a soundbar, sound base, stereo/home theatre receiver, or audio system with analog stereo audio input connections.

To set up the AirPort Express, you will need to run the AirPort Utility on your iPhone, Mac, or PC. If you are using an Apple router, such as the AirPort Extreme, the AirPort Utility is already installed on your computer. However, if you are using a Windows-based PC, you will need to download the AirPort Utility for Windows.

While the AirPort Express offers a range of compatibility options, there may be some challenges with older models. For example, the A1084 and A1088 versions of the AirPort Express, which were discontinued in 2007, may require an older Mac OS like Leopard (10.5.x) or Snow Leopard (10.6.x) or a PC with Windows XP or later to administer the device.

In summary, the Apple AirPort Express is compatible with various devices and operating systems, offering flexibility for users. However, older models may have limited compatibility and require older software versions for setup and administration.

Apple Airport Express security

Apple Airport Express is a consumer-grade networking product that offers up to WPA2-level wireless security. It was discontinued in 2018, and while Apple did provide a few updates after that, it hasn't released any new updates since. As a result, there are security concerns about using the product.

Apple Airport Express supports wireless security (WEP) configurable for 40-bit and 128-bit encryption. It also supports Wi‑Fi Protected Access™ (WPA/WPA2), which reduces the maximum number of network users. However, WPA2 requires a Mac computer with an AirPort Extreme Card and OS X v10.3 or later.

In terms of security issues, Apple Airport Express has had several vulnerabilities that could be exploited by remote attackers. For example, an integer overflow in the netsnmp_create_subtree_cache function could allow an attacker to cause the SNMP server to terminate, denying service to legitimate clients. Additionally, a null pointer dereference in racoon's handling of fragmented ISAKMP packets could allow a remote attacker to cause an unexpected termination of the racoon daemon. These issues have been addressed through updates and patches released by Apple.

It is important to note that Apple no longer supports the older models of Airport Express, such as the A1084. These older models may not be compatible with modern security standards and could pose security risks.

To ensure the best security for your network, it is recommended to use newer, supported hardware that receives regular updates. While Apple Airport Express may still work, it is important to consider the potential security risks and take appropriate measures, such as using more advanced security configurations or upgrading to newer hardware.

Frequently asked questions