Dear forum, I have a question for you experts in Mac and networks.
Currently, my system consists of: Apple Airport Express (this gets internet signal from an ethernet cable plugged in the wall), an iMac where I have all my music (which receives internet wireless from the Airport), and a Squeezebox Touch (which receives both internet radios and music from the iMac).
Now, while the radio is always fine, sometimes I have drops when listening hires files, hence I wanted to connect the iMac with the Squeezebox with an ethernet cable (this should also allow to dis-activate the wifi module in the SB and gain some SQ).
I tried to connect them via ethernet, but it does not work: the SB does not 'see' the ethernet, or possibly the iMac is not sending data out through the ethernet. Which settings should I change?
Thanks in advance for your help
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by Geoff P
First question have you just plugged an ethernet cable direct between the iMac and the Touch?
If so then that won't work. They need to go through a router with wired ports which is necessary to issue them i.p. addresses and get them talking.
If you want to implement wired ethernet for both the iMac and the Touch you should be able to plug a router into the ethernet cable coming out of the wall.
I think I am correct in thinking the Apple Airport Express has 1 wired ethernet port. As a first experiment you could try plugging the squeezebox touch in and seeing if that helps even though the iMac is still using WiFi
regards
Geoff
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by matpip
Hi Geoff,
thanks for your reply.
Yes, I tried to link iMac and SB via ethernet.
Unfortunately I cannot test what you suggest because the Express has only 1 port, which is taken by the ethernet cable carrying the internet signal...
I guess then I have to buy a real router, say an Aiport Extreme if I want to stick to Apple. It's just that I wanted to test the wired connection iMac/SB before spending money.
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by NickSeattle
Presumably, your wire out of the AE goes to your main router, which is your ultimate gateway to the Internet. If that router is too far away or has only one LAN port, you should swap a switch into the AE position, not another router, unless you have a reason you want to add another router, after all. Then, plug your AE into the switch, if you still need wireless.
The AE itself can be set up as a firewall/router, or not; you have the choice. If you go the firewall route, wireless nodes may not see the wired ones, and vice versa. Pass-through "bridged" mode is usually what you want, rather than firewall.
Nick
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by matpip
Nick, i'm not sure I
fully understand your suggestion. I dont have a router, i only have one airport express, which has one port lan: this is connected via ethernet to a lan port in the wall. That all i know! My undersatnding is that the airport gets internet from the ethernet cable, and dispatch it to all my wireless devices. My question was to know if i can link the imac to the sb via ethernet. Apparently i cant, and i should get an airport extreme and build a network wired (airport extreme to wall, to imac and to sb, 3 ports utilized), while still able to send internet signal to wireless devices (ipad or laptops). Is this correct?
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by NickSeattle
Hello, matpip,
I see you are in UAE. Here in the US, when you subscribe to an Internet service, the provider typically gives or rents you a router to use at the point where the service enters your building. Maybe in your case that router is shared by multiple housholds, and is out of your control. If that is true, you definitely do need your own router (AirPort Extreme is an excellent choice, IMHO), and the firewall protection it offers between you and others on the shared service.
Regards,
Nick
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by matpip
You are right Nick, here in my building there must be a central router (at least one per floor). When the technician came, he asked me which LAN I wanted to be activated, then went out of my apartment and 5 minutes later internet was there.
Thanks for explaining. You suggest that Apple Extreme is a good choice, any other cheaper and good option or should I just go for Apple (rest of the house technology is mainly Apple).
Cheers
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by NickSeattle
IME, especially if your computers are Macs, the synergy and ease of setup are worth the little extra money the Extreme costs. The Apple Wireless utility only works with Apple devices, but is easy to use, and is especially convenient if you want to keep using the Express at the same time in other ways. Netgear makes nice products for similar prices, with their own setup utility. IME, in the past, some Linksys routers have been difficult to set up without a Windows PC. Once configured, all are OS-agnostic, I believe.
Good luck.
Nick
Posted on: 18 March 2012 by matpip
yes sure, I will not trash it! you are right, it's very useful when you are in a hotel room with poor wifi signal...just plug the express and make your own local network.
Now I just have to get ethernet cables, I guess CAT6 is the way to go.
Posted on: 21 March 2012 by matpip
Just received the Airport Extreme today. Painless installation (Apple style, love it), got 2 cables CAT6 and linked everything (iMac and Squeezebox).
Wifi internet seems faster, but particularly no more drops in the hires music to the Squeezebox, which btw also seems to sound better (already switched off the wlan module with soundcheck).
Life is good, thanks chaps for your help.
