Off to buy...

[John Duncan]

Right, won't be able to talk you through this till lunchtime - unless anybody else wants to chip in with how to connect to the router using a CAT5 cable, change security to WPA, make sure that DHCP is set on to make sure the Airport Express can pick up an IP address automatically, blah blah...

 

[professorhat]

Okay, well, first step is to open a web browser and in the address bar, type 192.168.1.254 and press return and this will take you to the configuration page.

From there, click on Home Network then Interfaces and then WLAN: O2wireless and click Configure from the upper right options to display the box's configuration settings.

This is where things get a bit hazy (there seems to be few instructions on the web!) However, apparently there is a Help button / link there which will give you some guidance. If you're still stuck, do you know how to post screenshots? Otherwise, hopefully JD has some more tricks up his sleeve!

EDIT - although the more I read about the O2 wireless box, the more nervous I am about this - a lot of people seem to think getting WDS to work with it is virtually impossible...

 

[Anonymous]

Right, I have news: it is working! Although not as I want it to be. Even the nice man at Cork's Apple Tech Support told me that I now need to go and buy Airport Extreme (which is another £140).ÿ

Currently, I can either listen wirelessly via AirTunes OR surf the internet. Obviously, I would like to be able to do both at the same time. Greedy (naive?) me!... Isn't that configuration possible?

Right now, I have AE connected into the back of my O2 modem and I have both wireless music playing and the internet is working as well. If I disconnect the 2 boxes, I can only have 1 function (internet OR music). Grrr...

ÿ

 

[professorhat]

Well, I don't think you need Airport Extreme - from what I've been reading on various forums this morning, it seems the O2 box is just a bit rubbish and loads of people don't seem to be able to get WDS (Wireless Distribution System) working with it. So if you can't get WDS working with the Express, the Extreme isn't going to make any difference.

A lot of people seem to have bought another box to create the wireless network and only use the O2 box as a modem. The AE unit can do this and it sounds like this is what you're doing at the moment i.e. the AE unit is plugged into the O2 box and is actually creating the wireless network itself - is this right?

ÿ

 

[Gerrardasnails]

JoelSim:Hmmm. On-open-load-close-play

I don't have any of these problems with Media Center extender and Windows Media Player.

 

[Anonymous]

professorhat:
Well, I don't think you need Airport Extreme - from what I've been reading on various forums this morning, it seems the O2 box is just a bit rubbish and loads of people don't seem to be able to get WDS (Wireless Distribution System) working with it. So if you can't get WDS working with the Express, the Extreme isn't going to make any difference.

A lot of people seem to have bought another box to create the wireless network and only use the O2 box as a modem. The AE unit can do this and it sounds like this is what you're doing at the moment i.e. the AE unit is plugged into the O2 box and is actually creating the wireless network itself - is this right?

It is right (says he hesitantly). I'm not sure I understand what you're saying 100% though.

I have found in the modem config area where to set-up a WDS to my AE "network".

Let's try that again...ÿ

 

[professorhat]

Sorry! So basically, your O2 modem has the ability to create a wireless network and what you should be able to do is ask the AE to join that network and extend it out - this is known as WDS.

However, from what I'm reading, the O2 box just doesn't seem to allow other devices to do this. So what people are doing is buying another device (like an Airport Express) which they then plug into the O2 router. They then use this device to create the wireless network (rather than the O2 box) and this then allows other devices to connect to it and extend it. All wireless traffic then travels through this device, to the O2 box through the wired connection and they can therefore connect out to the internet.

This is basically what I do as I don't have a wireless router. I have one Airport Express unit which plugs into the router in my living room and creates a wireless network. I then have another AE unit in my office and another in my kitchen and these are connected into the wireless network as WDS devices. Using these other two, I can then stream music into my office and my kitchen wirelessly, as well as connect my laptop up to the internet through this wireless network anywhere in my flat.

ÿ

 

[John Duncan]

Back now, after six hours of meetings next to the WHF?S&V cinema dem room. Think I heard the first 20 minutes of Saving private Ryan in there, and a bit of Star Trek soundtrack....

So - can you summarise, what's working/what's not?

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:Back now, after six hours of meetings next to the WHF?S&V cinema dem room. Think I heard the first 20 minutes of Saving private Ryan in there, and a bit of Star Trek soundtrack....So - can you summarise, what's working/what's not?

I have 2 wireless networks: 1 for AE and 1 for the O2 box.

Just been on the phone to O2 tech support now - who I must say are very helpful and professional. They're not sure WDS works on the box I have. (as an aside...)

The AE does work into the DacM. and the hifi, so I guess that's something. But when it does, I can't use the internet (O2 box and AE are not wired-up). Basically I need to switch between the 2 wireless networks depending what application I want: streaming music or Internet.

Only way to have both at the same time is to have AE plugged into the back of the O2 modem.

ÿ

 

[Anonymous]

I think (and hope) that my AE settings are correct. Whenever I try to go for "Join a wireless network" or "Participate in a WDS..." then I normally get ÿthe 6753 error. It does work as described above from "Create a wireless network" though. (You probably got that bit though, didn't you?) ;-)

 

[professorhat]

Mmm, sounds like O2 are confirming what I read on their forums this morning.

One option is to get another wireless router just to create a wireless network. This would act the same way as your AE is acting at the moment when you have it plugged into the O2 box, i.e. the wireless router plugs into the O2 box and creates a wireless network. Your AE unit then joins this network and acts as a WDS. Your PC also then joins the same wireless network and in this way, you can stream music and also access the internet from the same wireless network.

Just looking on eBay, there's a Linksys one which should do the job for £17 (including delivery) here. Probably could find a better bargain, but the seller at least looks reputable on this one...

 

[Gerrardasnails]

JohnDuncan:Back now, after six hours of meetings next to the WHF?S&V cinema dem room. Think I heard the first 20 minutes of Saving private Ryan in there, and a bit of Star Trek soundtrack....

So - can you summarise, what's working/what's not?

I watched SPR for the first time this afternoon! Always used it as demo to family and friends for the opening scene but never watched it. Very good film.

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:Back now, after six hours of meetings next to the WHF?S&V cinema dem room. Think I heard the first 20 minutes of Saving private Ryan in there, and a bit of Star Trek soundtrack....So - can you summarise, what's working/what's not?

Hi John

Didn't know it was you next door, I'd have invited you in for a blast! You're very close - it was Band Of Brothers most of the time. No Star Trek though - the rest was Batman Begins, 3:10 to Yuma, Foo Fighters Live at Wembley and I Am Legend.ÿ

The culprit, in case you were wondering, was a Monitor Audio Platinum system, with a 1000 watt, 15in PLW15 subwoofer shaking the foundations. I'm just getting started on the Ultimate Guide to High-end.

Andyÿ

 

[John Duncan]

Andy Kerr:a 1000 watt, 15in PLW15 subwoofer shaking the foundations

I think I have four broken ribs...

 

[Anonymous]

Drop me a line tomorrow, let's see if we can do the rest of them.

 

[Gerrardasnails]

Andy Kerr:
JohnDuncan:Back now, after six hours of meetings next to the WHF?S&V cinema dem room. Think I heard the first 20 minutes of Saving private Ryan in there, and a bit of Star Trek soundtrack....So - can you summarise, what's working/what's not?

Hi John

Didn't know it was you next door, I'd have invited you in for a blast! You're very close - it was Band Of Brothers most of the time. No Star Trek though - the rest was Batman Begins, 3:10 to Yuma, Foo Fighters Live at Wembley and I Am Legend.ÿ

The culprit, in case you were wondering, was a Monitor Audio Platinum system, with a 1000 watt, 15in PLW15 subwoofer shaking the foundations. I'm just getting started on the Ultimate Guide to High-end.

Andyÿ

Sorry to jump this thread but Andy, what is the Platinum sub like? One liner maybe?

 

[John Duncan]

Gerrardasnails:Sorry to jump this thread but Andy, what is the Platinum sub like? One liner maybe?

"I think I have four broken ribs..."

 

[John Duncan]

But back to the OP - time for a new cable modem/router perhaps?

 

[Anonymous]

Sorry Gerrardasnails - can't say for now, as the review will be appearing in the next UG, and as you know we don't like to let the cat out of the bag too early. But JD's earlier comment is pretty insightful, if you catch my meaning.

 

[John Duncan]

Have now been in the same room as the whole system:

 

[Anonymous]

I'm pleased (and relieved) to report that all is working at best is possible with current hardware. I had to move router and landline phone, and AE is now plugged into the O2 modem. At least I'm streaming and surfing at the same time. It's all good in the end. Enjoying the freedom this set-up has to offer.

With the BDP into the DAC for CD playback, I think the system is pretty much complete.

(I'll see about a sub later)

 

[John Duncan]

Cool. I think if you bought new wireless hardware to replace the O2 modem/router, you'd be able to get a setup that works properly, but glad you got it fixed for the time being.

Hope also it sounds as good as mine does

 

[Anonymous]

Very interesting thread.

I bought an AE last week with a view to streaming audio from my iTunes on my laptop across the network to the AE and into the Optical input on my AVR600. Would it work? Would it xxxx. In the end I took it back.

The AE is an excellent concept. Since you can use Apple Remote on the iPhone or iTouch, it's a truly brilliant idea, but it doesn't work properly unless you have an all Apple chain (PCs and Routers). This is a shame, as with the iPhone running the controls, there's no need to have a screen running. For music alone and as a wireless bridge for ethernet access for the AVR600 it should be perfect. So why with Windows PCs is it such a buxxxx to set-up?

Apple TV is another option, but this isn't a streamer, it's more of a recepticle in it's own right. Beautiful interface, but 40 or 160GB is looking a bit skinny nowadays and it's expensive for what you're getting. Popcorn Hour bring out a new machine next week, so that'll be interesting and then there's the expensive Sonos option.

Having iPhone (Apple Remote ap) control is really important as it saves you having to buy a seperate remote and works beautifully with iTunes.

Such a shame the AE didn't work for me. It would have been cheaper, and a very elegant solution.

 

[professorhat]

Well, it doesn't have to be Apple throughout, plenty of people have it working with their PC. However, it is generally a lot easier if you do go all out Apple, I'll grant you, but then that's kind of to be expected.

But that's the nature of Windows - it's hugely more flexible than Macs because of the sheer number of them and therefore the number of applications and devices which are developed for them. Unfortunately, the downside of that flexibility and that many devices is it's much easier for things not to work due to incompatibility issues e.g. in this case, it was actually the O2 box itself and its lack of WDS support which caused the issue rather than anything to do with the PC / Windows.

 

[John Duncan]

Agreed, works fine with my Belkin router and all of iMac/Macbook/Vista laptop...