Airtunes stuttering over 802.11n (b/g compatible)

AlanD

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone manages to run Airtunes from the Airport Express using 802.11n (b/g compatible) from their extreme base station?

I was running with 802.11n (5Hz only) and Airtunes worked perfectly. iTunes is on my MacBook but the files are stored on an external HDD connected to the extreme base station.

So I changed the wireless option to 802.11n (b/g) so I could connect my N95 phone to the wireless network and now airtunes is just intermittent in transmitting. It'll play a bit and stop for a bit. It seems the bandwidth just isn't enough.

So stick with 802.11n exclusively then, yes? Well, I'm hoping to get an iPod Touch soon enough and use the remote app to play music to airtunes, and the iPod Touch is only b/g compatible. So I reckon I'll get the same stuttering problem.

So, how do I resolve the problem with 802.11n (b/g). Should I just connect external HDD direct to laptop? Which doesn't make the MacBook so portable of course.

Any other options?

Thanks,

Alan.

J-blk

Mine works fine for streaming any audio and I'm using the mixed mode since I have a Mac Mini, an iPhone and other 802.11g devices on my network. Even streaming audio for videos, etc (using AirFoil) work fine.

However, I am in a fairly small apartment... so distances between all my equipment are not that great - maybe that's a factor in your setup? If the MacBook is close to the Express, does it help at all?

AlanD

Distance could be a factor. I'm in a 4 bed semi, so we're not talking huge distances, front of house upstairs to back of house downstairs (where express is).

How does the connection work? MacBook is connected to the base station upstairs wirelessly which also has the HDD connected to it. I play music from HDD to express which is downstairs. Would it be easier to use express as an airtunes port and an internet wifi connection tool?

I dunno.

if I move my base station, I will only be able to move it 4/5 foot, so it's not going to be a big change really.

When using 802.11n (b/g) does it not still broadcast at 5 GHz....how is it n compatible as well as b and g?

Username!

Maybe you have some 2.4Ghz interferrance around the house.

Have you any TV / Video Senders or Cordless Phones close to your Airport Express?

AlanD

Username! wrote: »

Maybe you have some 2.4Ghz interferrance around the house.

Have you any TV / Video Senders or Cordless Phones close to your Airport Express?

2.4 GHz is the same frequency as bluetooth isn't it? Normally, all bluetooth devices are off when I'm using Airtunes.

There is a cordless phone in the house but it's the other side of the house.

I'll see can I find other wireless devices......off the top of my head I don't know of any.

J-blk

AlanD wrote: »

How does the connection work? MacBook is connected to the base station upstairs wirelessly which also has the HDD connected to it. I play music from HDD to express which is downstairs.

Ok, I see how you have it all set up now. Are you sure the bottleneck is the Express though? Since you have the HDD with the Music connected to the Extreme, if you play the music on your MacBook directly, does it ever stutter? If yes, that's where the bottleneck is - if no, then the problem is indeed streaming to the Express. It could be since your are basically streaming from the Extreme to the MacBook (iTunes) and then back to the Express, the network becomes congested but I can't see this happening on a N network (even in shared mode) with music files.

I have an identical network setup (an Airport Extreme and an Express) and streaming HD videos while copying across the network and downloading stuff at the same time works fine and all that would create a lot more network congestion.

And BT devices should not be an issue - I have all kinds of things running and they never mess with the network connection.

As for the distance thing, if playing music on the MacBook works fine (from the HDD on the Extreme) at the distance you want to use it, try bringing the MacBook closer to the Express for testing - that's the distance factor I had in mind...

AlanD

If I play through the computer I have no stuttering. And normally when I do this, I'm in the kitchen where the express is, so the MacBook is no more than 4/5 feet away from the Express.

Does the base station not stream the music to the Express directly?

So on 5 GHz I have no issues, it's just on the n (b/g) compatible setting I have the issue.

I think moving some things around might help me solve the problem

J-blk

AlanD wrote: »

Does the base station not stream the music to the Express directly?

I don't think so (but I may be wrong here). The Express acts as a remote audio device/speaker for iTunes - so iTunes is playing the source material (pulling it from the HDD on the Extreme) and then streaming it to the Express. So it goes Extreme => Mac => Express. The 5Ghz frequency is meant to be better for larger distances, that's why I keep thinking that may be a factor but if you're having problems with the MacBook so close to the Express, I'm kinda stumped...

AlanD

The signal from the extreme could be hampered in some way. There are a few things around it, like two external HD, an audio interface (doesn't transmit), a monitor and two wireless mice...one at 2.4 GHz. So I'll move it away from any of that possible interference to see.

I LOVE Airtunes btw the way.....who needs to spend big money on those Phillips wireless yokes when 89 euro gets you an express. Genius.