Apple AirPort Express with Air Tunes M9470LL/A [OLD VERSION]
by Apple Computer
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Apple AirPort Express with Air Tunes M9470LL/A [OLD VERSION]
Customer Review: Wow
Summary: 5 Stars
For a bit over $100, I extended my wifi coverage and distributed an audio signal substantially better than any sound card I've ever had (lots).
I've had the AX for a year using wifi. My signal was too weak (distance and walls) and I was getting the inevitable dropouts at times.
I just changed it to a wired WDS approach to provide ethernet to the other side of the house and provide a good quality audio signal to our reference system.
The DAC is solid and provides a much higher quality signal than whatever is in my computer and an M-Audio sound card. The improved wifi coverage was substantially better than with a Hawkings amplified antenna could deliver.
Setup was not the simplest. I first attempted it in "Expert mode" (Airport Utility) and, while everything worked I was getting three different error messages. I then reset my AEBS (worked on a DI-624 as well) and AX back to factory defaults and let Apple's auto configuration tool do the work. Everything worked, no error messages. Then I went back in Expert mode and set some static IP's I need.
For the money, a really product and good execution by Apple.
This is a November update (installed in October): After listening to the Airport Express via the analog out and comparing the same radio station streamed from a Squeezebox, we realized although it is better than our soundcard, it leaves room for improvement. We added an outboard DAC. Although at least doubles the price, the addition of a DAC is highly recommended to those who value sound quality.
Customer Review: Awesome router
Summary: 5 Stars
Sure, it's a bit expensive, but this is seriously the best router I've ever used. I've never had a connection problem like I have with Linksys, or any problem for that matter. The AirTunes feature is awesome - something I use every day because I am always moving my laptop around and otherwise I would have to leave my computer next to my speakers every time I want to listen to music. I'm really surprised more routers don't support this feature. The range is sufficient because I live in a small apartment (700 square feet). No coverage problems here but I can't comment on how it would be in a large house. Another nice thing is the fact that this router only draws 2 Watts of power. I don't know how that compares to other from direct experience, but I read 10-20 watts on average, so the Airport Express is incredibly energy efficient. Sure it would be nice to have a newer faster router, but realistically I can't afford an internet connection that is faster than this router's maximum capability, so it's not much of an issue. The wireless printing ability is another feature I use every day and I could no longer live without.
Some routers have more ports, bigger antennas, etc, but in reality, I don't need any of that, and this router does everything I could ever want. After using this for 3 years I could never live with a router that didn't have USB printing and AirTunes capabilities.
I think I'm going to get a second one so I can put it in my other room and then I will be able to play music wirelessly in either room in my apartment.
Customer Review: Only one complaint
Summary: 5 Stars
The only complaint I have is that there is no good remote control. For me it is no big issue since I have a PowerBook but for others this might be a problem.
Setting up printer sharing was easy. I have heard people have problems setting it up on Windows PCs. There is a way to make it easy but sadly Apple doesn't include it on the install disc. If you install Rendevous (Apple's network zero configuration technology) which is availible on Apple's web site (sorry I don't have a link) it makes it as easy to install as it does on a Mac. Also as a note, the AirPort Express is cheaper than most standalone wireless print servers.
I cannot comment on range since I usually don't use it as a router. I have used it in hotel rooms and works fairly well. Using one of these on travel is a big plus, it is easy to carry around and perfect for hotel rooms that provide broadband internet access. Just a note about range, it is possible to hook up two Express' and extend the range which is neat. I may buy another one myself and have one Express on the second floor of my house and one on the lower floor to provide better coverage than my current D-Link router.
In conclusion it is a good product that I do recommend highly but it isn't for everyone. It's reliability has gone up since its release due to firmware updates from Apple.
If I could I'd give it 4 1/2 stars because of the lack of a good remote but I'll give it a 5 insted since it isn't an issue for me and its merits outweigh that one little problem.
Customer Review: A bargain of a wireless USB print server - and small!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a Macintosh IT guy, and had been pricing wireless USB printer servers. They are in the $120 range, but bulky. This unit is nice and compact.
It works great as a print server - lay on the couch with my PowerBook and print in the other room. Also works great as a wireless hub/router/access point. I don't live the iLife, so I haven't even bothered using it with iTunes.
By the way, did I mention it's nice & compact? It slides easily into my bag when I make service calls.
Even without iTunes support it's a great unit and belongs in an IT professionals bag of tricks.
---Update ---
I have since used it to extend the range of my home Linksys WCG-200 combined cable modem/firewall/router/wireless access point. All done with minimal aggravation. The only aggravation is that the in the meantime I had upgraded to OS X 10.4, and the software supplied with the AirPort Express (APExp) is now part of Tiger and the CD supplied with the APExp no longer worked. A couple minutes banging around (We don't need no steenkin' directions!) and all was still A-OK!
A neat feature I had not previously discovered: If you attempt to route iTunes to the APExp and you do NOT have a speaker set/stereo/etc plugged in to the audio-out on the APExp, a red LED behind the audio-out jack lights up. Not sure that it's all that useful, but definitely long on the Cool factor. I guess it shows you where you're supposed to stick that plug!
If anything, my opinion of this is even better.
Customer Review: Great for Extending Network
Summary: 5 Stars
I set up an Airport Extreme and and Airport Express extended network in order to use my Apple Powerbook wirelessly. It was so easy that when my sister's Linksys wireless router died after only a year, I bought another Apple Extreme and Apple Express to create the same sort of extended network setup for her PC laptop. I used my Powerbook to set up the network, and with no effort on my part, both routers running on a new network in less than five minutes. The routers recognized everything they needed to in order to configure themselves - ip addresses, etc. - so that I practically only had to click the "Accept" buttons and the "Next" buttons. It actually took longer to unpack the routers than it did to set them up. That's another reason that I will be an Apple fan for life - their equipment works, right out of the box and with no stress or calls to Customer Support - even when used for PC's.
I don't know if the process would be any more difficult using the PC for set-up, but I doubt it. I only used my Powerbook because it was quicker for me to use an interface with which I was familiar. I had also previously run a quick Google search and found a good article on extending a network using the Airport Express - it provided some good guidance - perhaps better than the Instructions that accompany the Airport Express. The article is entitled "Extend your AirPort Network with AirPort Express" and can be found at http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2004/10/12/airport_express.html