Apple Tv And Airport Express: A Perfect Match?

Apple TV and Airport Express are two different devices that can be used together to enhance the user's experience. The Apple AirPort Express was discontinued in April 2018 but is still available for purchase. It can be used to extend Wi-Fi from a wireless router and also acts as an access point. The Apple TV, on the other hand, is a network client and cannot perform as a base station as it lacks routing and wireless radios to create a Wi-Fi network. However, it is possible to connect the two devices and use them simultaneously. For instance, one can play Apple TV audio to an Airport Express and the Apple TV at the same time, or use the Airport Express to enable AirPlay on non-Airplay ceiling speakers while playing a movie on the Apple TV.

Apple TV and Airport Express setup with a new router

To set up your Apple TV and Airport Express with a new router, you can follow these steps:

Firstly, ensure that your Apple TV and Airport Express are compatible with each other. The latest model of the Airport Express with a power cord is required for AirPlay 2 compatibility.

Next, connect your Apple TV to your new router. This can be done by going to the main screen of your Apple TV and selecting the appropriate Wi-Fi network.

Now, connect your Airport Express to the same Wi-Fi network. You may need to reset your Airport Express to factory settings and reconfigure it as a wireless client to connect to your new router.

Once both devices are connected to the same network, you can use AirPlay to stream content from your Apple TV to your Airport Express.

If you encounter issues with Wi-Fi connectivity, you can try using an Ethernet cable to connect your devices directly to your router. Alternatively, you can use powerline adapters or homeplugs to create a pseudo Ethernet connection using your home's electrical circuit.

Additionally, you can use the Apple Support Community to find specific instructions for your devices and router.

Connecting Airport Express to Apple TV

Connecting an Airport Express to an Apple TV can be done in several ways, depending on your specific use case and the equipment you already have set up. Here is a guide on how to connect the two devices:

If you want to connect your Airport Express to your Apple TV to play audio on non-WiFi speakers, there are a few ways to do this. Firstly, ensure that your Airport Express is updated to the latest version to ensure AirPlay 2 compatibility. Then, on your Apple TV remote, hold down the play/pause button to show your audio options. From there, you can select your Airport Express as the audio output.

Alternatively, if you want to connect your iPhone or Mac to non-WiFi speakers through the Airport Express, you will need to ensure that your speakers have analogue line-in ports, as the base station's audio port supports both analogue and optical digital output. You may need either a 3.5 mm analogue plug to split into analogue RCA-type plugs or a mini-to-mini cable, depending on what your speakers accept.

If you want to use Airport Express to enable video streaming on your Apple TV, you will need to ensure that your Airport Express is connected to the internet. Then, connect your MacBook to the WiFi network of the Airport Express, and you can reach your Apple TV through Airplay.

For those who want to use Airport Express and Apple TV without an internet connection, you can reset your Airport Express to factory settings and set it up as a router. This will allow it to pass IP addresses to your computer and Apple TV.

Limitations and Considerations

It is important to note that Airport Express does not have video capability, so you will not be able to watch the screen of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac on your TV through the Airport Express. Instead, you would need to use an Apple TV to mirror your device screen. Additionally, the Apple TV cannot act as a base station, as it is a network client and does not have routing or wireless radios to create a WiFi network.

Using AirPort Express to Stream Music

Apple's AirPlay lets you stream music from iTunes on your computer, iPod, iPhone, and/or iPad to an AirPlay-enabled device. You can use AirPlay to stream to an Apple TV, AirPlay-enabled home theatre receivers, and other AirPlay devices, such as an iPhone. You can also use AirPlay to stream directly to an AirPort Express.

To set up the AirPort Express, you need to run the AirPort Utility on your iPhone, Mac, or PC. If you use an Apple router, such as the AirPort Extreme, you already have the AirPort Utility installed on your computer. If you are using an AirPort Extreme, install the AirPort Utility on your Mac or PC and it will walk you through the steps to get your AirPort Express up and running and extend your network to the AirPort Express.

To stream music from your computer, open iTunes. At the bottom right of your iTunes window, you will notice a drop-down menu that lists the available AirPlay devices in your setup. Choose AirPort Express from the list and the music you play in iTunes will play over the home theatre receiver, or powered speakers, that are connected to your AirPort Express.

On an 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 iPad, iPhone, or iPod, and listen to the music through the speakers or stereo connected to your AirPort Express.

Make sure that any powered speakers connected to the AirPort Express are turned on. If the AirPort Express is connected to a stereo or home theatre receiver, it must be turned on and switched to the input where you have connected the AirPort Express.

The sound quality is determined by the quality of the source media files and the capabilities of your audio system and speakers.

You can also use the AirPort Express to extend Wi-Fi from your wireless router, and it can also act as an access point. The AirPort Express can share a wireless connection with up to 10 wireless devices, allowing all of them to connect to your home network.

Apple TV audio to Airport Express

Overview

The Apple TV can be connected to an Airport Express to stream audio to non-Airplay speakers. This setup involves connecting the Airport Express to a power source and the speaker system, then configuring the Apple TV's audio output settings.

When to Use This Setup

This setup is useful when you want to stream audio from an Apple TV to non-Airplay speakers. It is particularly relevant for users with older speaker models that are not Airplay-compatible.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Connect the Airport Express

The Airport Express needs to be connected to a power source and the desired speaker system.

For the power connection, use the latest model Airport Express with a power cord, as the older model that plugs directly into the wall does not support AirPlay 2.

For the speaker connection, you may need an adapter depending on your speaker model. For example, if your speakers are Bang & Olufsen Beosystem 3000, you will need either a 3.5 mini analog plug to split analog RCA-type plugs or a mini-to-mini cable.

Step 2: Configure Apple TV Audio Output

On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Audio and Video > Audio Output. Select your Airport Express from the list of AirPlay-compatible devices.

Step 3: Additional Considerations

• If you are experiencing audio stuttering when someone else is using the Wi-Fi, it may be due to limited bandwidth.
• To reduce latency, consider connecting the Airport Express to the Apple TV via Ethernet rather than Wi-Fi.
• If you have a third-generation Apple TV with an optical audio port, you can use it to route audio from your fourth-generation Apple TV to your speaker system.
• If you don't want to use an older Apple TV, you can also use an HDMI-to-Toslink (optical audio) extractor to separate the HDMI video and audio signals.
• Ensure that your remote control is trained to control your speaker system.

By following these steps, you can successfully stream audio from your Apple TV to non-Airplay speakers using an Airport Express. This setup provides flexibility and allows you to enjoy your favourite content on your preferred speaker system.

Apple TV and Airport Express without internet

It is possible to combine Apple TV and Airport Express without an internet connection. However, it requires some technical knowledge and adjustments to your network configuration. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set it up:

• Save your current configuration: Using the Airport Utility, open the express and export your current configuration by selecting the option from the top menu. This will save your current settings in case you need to revert to them.
• Reset the Airport Express: Reset your Airport Express to its factory settings. This will wipe all current settings, so make sure to back them up first.
• Set up a new network: Configure the Airport Express to create a new network. During the setup, it may complain about not having an internet connection. Ignore these warnings and continue with the setup if possible. If you encounter any issues, you may need additional steps to get around them.
• Ignore error messages: Once the Airport Express is set up as a router, it will assign IP addresses to your computer and Apple TV, allowing them to communicate on the local network. Ignore any error messages about problems with the network setup.
• Export the new configuration: After setting up the Airport Express as a router, export this configuration with a different name. This will allow you to switch between the internet and non-internet configurations.
• Switch configurations as needed: When you want to use the setup with an internet connection, restore the configuration for the internet. When you are without internet access, restore the configuration for router mode. This approach may not be elegant, but it should work.
• Alternative method: Another option is to accept double NAT (Network Address Translation). Reset the Airport Express to factory settings and set it up as a router. Set the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) to a different IP range, such as 172.16.x.x. You will likely encounter a double NAT error, but you can ignore it. This setup should work with some errors when you are without an internet connection.

By following these steps, you can use Apple TV and Airport Express without an internet connection. However, keep in mind that you may encounter some errors or limitations when operating in router mode without an internet connection.

Frequently asked questions