Apple Airport Express: A Portable Wireless Router

Apple's AirPort Express is a discontinued Wi-Fi base station that was part of the AirPort product line. It was a small, lightweight router designed for music sharing and to extend a wireless network. The AirPort Express was the first AirPlay device to receive streamed audio from a computer running iTunes on the local network. It could also be used as a wireless access point, a printer and audio server, and to stream multimedia to various devices. It was compatible with both Mac and Windows operating systems.

Apple Airport Express: A compact Wi-Fi base station

The Apple AirPort Express is a compact Wi-Fi base station that allows users to create a wireless internet access point almost anywhere. It is a versatile device that offers wireless networking capabilities, multimedia streaming, and network extension. With dimensions of 3.85 inches by 3.85 inches by 0.9 inches and weighing just 8.5 ounces, the AirPort Express is designed to be easily portable and convenient to set up.

The AirPort Express is compatible with popular Wi-Fi flavours, including 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11n, and works with both Mac and Windows operating systems. It provides wireless internet access for up to 10 users and can be used as a wireless access point when connected to an Ethernet network. The device features two Ethernet/LAN ports for connecting to a PC, Ethernet hub, or networked printer, and one WAN port. Additionally, it has a USB port that enables wireless network printing by connecting to a non-network printer.

One of the standout features of the AirPort Express is its audio capabilities. It includes a 3.5 mm audio mini-jack that can be connected to powered speakers or audio systems, allowing users to stream music wirelessly from their iTunes library on a desktop or laptop computer. This feature, known as AirPlay, also enables remote control of iTunes from Apple handheld devices such as iPhones or iPod Touch.

The AirPort Express is easy to set up and use, requiring only an Ethernet connection and a power source to get started. It includes AirPort Setup Assistant software that guides users through the configuration process, making it simple to create a new network and connect wireless devices.

While Apple discontinued the AirPort Express in 2018, it still offers limited support for later models, and refurbished or used units may still be available from select retailers. Overall, the AirPort Express is a powerful yet compact device that enhances wireless networking and multimedia streaming capabilities for its users.

Wireless networking capabilities

The pint-sized Apple AirPort Express is packed with wireless networking capabilities. It can be used to create a wireless Internet access point anywhere, be it at home or in a hotel room. It also allows users to stream multimedia to various devices and extend the range of an existing wireless network.

The AirPort Express is compatible with all popular flavours of Wi-Fi, including 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11n. It can be connected to a DSL (direct subscriber line) or cable modem, or an Ethernet network, and it provides wireless Internet access for up to 10 users. It can also be used as an Ethernet-to-wireless bridge under certain wireless configurations.

The AirPort Express can be used to extend the range of a network, including functioning as a printer and audio server. It has two Ethernet/LAN ports. One is for connection to a PC, Ethernet hub, or a networked printer, and the other is for a wired connection to a modem or an Ethernet-based network. The AirPort Express also has a USB port that can connect a non-network printer, allowing wireless network printing on any printer.

The AirPort Express uses an audio connector that combines a 3.5 mm minijack socket and a mini-TOSLINK optical digital transmitter, allowing connection to an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) or amplifier with an internal DAC. It also has a built-in power supply, meaning there are no cords to lose or tangle, whether at home or on the road.

The AirPort Express can be set up as an Internet access point by connecting the Ethernet cable from a DSL or cable modem to the AirPort and plugging it into an electrical socket. It has a light on the front that shines green when it is connected to a home network and ready to stream, and yellow if it is not connected.

Setting up an access point

Step 1: Connect to Your Network

Connect the AirPort Express to your existing network by plugging in an Ethernet cable from your DSL or cable modem into the Ethernet WAN port on the AirPort Express base station. This will provide an internet connection to the AirPort Express.

Step 2: Power the Device

Plug the AirPort Express into an electrical outlet. The device does not have a power switch, so it should turn on automatically. The status light should illuminate, first appearing as a dark yellow, and then changing to a steady green light when it is ready to use.

Step 3: Install AirPort Utility

To configure the AirPort Express, you will need to install the AirPort Utility software. This software is typically included on a CD with the AirPort Express. If you don't have the CD, you can download AirPort Utility for free from the Apple website. AirPort Utility will serve as your central hub for configuring and controlling your AirPort Express.

Step 4: Follow the Setup Instructions

Open the AirPort Utility software and follow the on-screen instructions to set up your wireless device. You will be guided through the process of creating a new network, selecting a network name, and setting a password. Once you've completed the setup, your AirPort Express network will be visible on your wireless devices.

Step 5: Connect to Stereo or Speakers (Optional)

If you plan to use the AirPort Express for streaming music, you can connect it to your stereo or powered speakers. Use an audio cable to connect the audio minijack on the AirPort Express to the appropriate input on your stereo or speakers. Make sure to use a compatible stereo system or powered speakers.

Step 6: Connect a USB Printer (Optional)

The AirPort Express also allows you to set up wireless printing. If you have a compatible USB printer, connect it to the USB port on the AirPort Express base station. You can then use your computer's operating system to locate and connect to the printer on the network.

With these steps, you can easily set up an access point using the Apple AirPort Express, allowing you to extend your wireless network and take advantage of its multimedia streaming capabilities.

Streaming songs and videos through iTunes

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 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.

Standard audio CDs ripped in iTunes into Apple Lossless format streamed to the AirPort Express will output a bit-for-bit identical bitstream when compared to the original CD (provided any sound enhancement settings in iTunes are disabled). DTS-encoded CDs ripped to Apple Lossless audio files will play back correctly when the AirPort Express is connected via TOSLINK to a DTS-compatible amplifier-decoder. This is limited to 16-bit and 44.1 kHz when streaming from iTunes; any higher-quality content, such as high-fidelity audio that uses up to 24-bit and/or 192 kHz will be truncated down to 16-bit and 44.1 kHz.

The audio output feature of the AirPort Express on a system running OS X Lion or earlier can only be used to wirelessly stream audio files from within iTunes to an attached stereo system. It cannot be used to output the soundtrack of iTunes video content to an attached stereo. OS X Mountain Lion introduced AirPlay support, a feature to output Mac system-wide audio directly to AirPort Express. This allows output of the audio of protected video content within iTunes, and also correctly maintains the audio sync with the image displayed on-screen. Video is synced with output audio when playing the video through an AirPort Express if the video is in a format supported by QuickTime Player (such as HTML 5 video in Safari etc.).

For Windows and Mac operating systems (before OS X Mountain Lion), there are a few software options available for streaming system-wide audio to the AirPort Express, such as Airfoil and TuneBlade.

Discontinuation and support

On November 21, 2016, Bloomberg reported that Apple had disbanded its wireless router division. In an April 2018 statement, Apple announced the discontinuation of its AirPort line, including the AirPort Express, exiting the consumer router market.

Apple continued to support the AirPort Express, although an older version of its "AirPort Utility" is required to support the earliest version of the device. Apple also provided a firmware update that allows the AirPort Express to be used with AirPlay 2. This update extended the life of the device for use as a streaming reception point in an AirPlay 2-based wireless multi-speaker/multi-room audio setup.

Apple committed to supporting the AirPort Base Stations for five years with firmware updates, which means support ended in April 2023. However, as early as 2021, it was noted that Apple was unlikely to release any further firmware updates for the AirPort routers.

Apple published a support document detailing what to look for when replacing AirPort devices. Suggested replacements for the AirPort Express include the Linksys Velop Whole Home mesh Wi-Fi system, which can be connected to the AirPort Express, and the Asus AC2900 Wi-Fi Router, which offers network storage and Time Machine support for under $200.

Frequently asked questions