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User profile for user: vverbon
vverbon Author
User level: Level 1
13 points

Can't stream through Airport Express

I have a MacBook Pro 2017 with OS Monterey 12.6.3. and an Airport Express 2nd generation firmware 7.8.1. It has always connected to the Airport without any trouble but now it suddenly stopped. My wife's Macbook Pro and both our iphones can still connect to the Airport Express without any trouble. Also my Macbook can see and communicate with the Airport Express through the Airport configuration program. The only thing that doesn't work is streaming music.


Internet is through another router, the Airport Express is wirelessly connected to this router. On the Airport Express DHCP is on, IPv6 is set to automatic (also tried link-local), Ipv6 mode is native (also tried tunnel)...nothing seems to work. Does anyone have any idea?


Thanks

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.12

Posted on Feb 10, 2023 8:10 AM

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,188 points

Posted on Feb 15, 2023 6:17 PM

Unless your ISP is providing you with IPv6 service, all you need to configure your Mac for is IPv6 Link-local. This would provide for IPv6 traffic for only your local network ... and this would be required for communication to the Express. The other required protocol is Bonjour ... Apple's version of mDNS.


Since you stated that you can access the Express via the AirPort Utility, one thing I would like for you to try is to downgrade its firmware to either v7.6.8 or v7.6.9. (Note: v7.8 & v7.8.1 added AirPlay 2 support for the Express, but has also introduced a number of streaming issues.)


After downgrading, see if this issue goes away. If it does, you have the option to try v7.8.1 again, or leaving it on the earlier release.


To downgrade:

  1. Open AirPort Utility.
  2. Select your Express base station, and then, click on Edit. A new window will appear.
  3. Hold down the Option key and hover the mouse cursor over the firmware build number. The firmware version number should now be highlighted.
  4. While still holding down the Option key, click on highlighted number to see all the firmware versions that are available.
  5. Click on the one you want to downgrade to. A dialog box will pop-up to let you know that the base station will be unavailable during the downgrade process.
  6. Choose "Continue" to continue with the downgrade. Allow the firmware to be downloaded, installed, and for the base station to restart.


To upgrade: Just follow these steps, but choose v7.8.1 instead.

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,188 points

Feb 15, 2023 6:17 PM in response to vverbon

Unless your ISP is providing you with IPv6 service, all you need to configure your Mac for is IPv6 Link-local. This would provide for IPv6 traffic for only your local network ... and this would be required for communication to the Express. The other required protocol is Bonjour ... Apple's version of mDNS.


Since you stated that you can access the Express via the AirPort Utility, one thing I would like for you to try is to downgrade its firmware to either v7.6.8 or v7.6.9. (Note: v7.8 & v7.8.1 added AirPlay 2 support for the Express, but has also introduced a number of streaming issues.)


After downgrading, see if this issue goes away. If it does, you have the option to try v7.8.1 again, or leaving it on the earlier release.


To downgrade:

  1. Open AirPort Utility.
  2. Select your Express base station, and then, click on Edit. A new window will appear.
  3. Hold down the Option key and hover the mouse cursor over the firmware build number. The firmware version number should now be highlighted.
  4. While still holding down the Option key, click on highlighted number to see all the firmware versions that are available.
  5. Click on the one you want to downgrade to. A dialog box will pop-up to let you know that the base station will be unavailable during the downgrade process.
  6. Choose "Continue" to continue with the downgrade. Allow the firmware to be downloaded, installed, and for the base station to restart.


To upgrade: Just follow these steps, but choose v7.8.1 instead.

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,188 points

Feb 10, 2023 8:46 AM in response to vverbon

In order for your Express to accept AirPlay streams, in your current network configuration, it has to be set up to "join a wireless network" as a wireless client. Apple refers to this a the "Client Mode."


In this setup, when you send a stream, it first goes to your wireless router, and from there, to the Express. The stream never goes directly to the Express from the AirPlay "source."


Ref: AirPort Express: How to join an existing Wi-Fi network in client mode - Apple Support


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Can't stream through Airport Express

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