Extending your Wireless Network and Playing iTunes on Remote Speakers

If you are in a situation that your home (or even small office) WiFi does not radiate to all areas, you can use a great feature in Airport to extend your network seamlessly. In addition to extending your Internet connection, you can also stream music through this network as well as enable remote printing. Let me explain how I have achieved this at my home.

I have an Airport Extreme / Time Capsule (TC) as my primary WiFi router connected to my Broadband network. I created a Wireless Network (named it, password protected, etc.) using the Airport Utility. The Wireless tab in the settings has an option to "Allow this network to be extended" -- check that. The rest of the settings are as any normal setup for the TC.

Now, I got myself an Airport Express (AX, the smaller, portable WiFi access point) and located it in another room. It has to be within the range of the primary WiFi, at the same time distant enough to extend the network further. While setting up the AX, I chose, "Extend a wireless network" in the Wireless tab. I chose the wireless network I had created with TC and entered the password. Also, don't forget to check the "Allow wireless clients" option in the same tab.

The AX now acts as a seamless extension of the wireless network... the same SSID and password are applicable to both the access points. In fact , by using multiple such AX you could theoretically connect a large office or home... all you need is a power source for each AX and about Rs 4500 per piece.

Now, for the more interesting parts... the AX has an audio out jack that can be used to connect (using standard audio cables) to any music system / speakers. As soon as you do that, iTunes will immediately detect the AX (multiple speakers -- see image) and you can choose to play your music through the computer or your speakers or both. In fact, if you combine this with the Remote app of the iPhone, you can create a great home music system that can be controlled from anywhere!

Just envisage this situation: your computer with all your music (in iTunes) is in your study but you want to play music off that collection in your bedroom at night or on the terrace for a party. Connect your AX to the music system, open up iTunes on your computer using the iPhone remote, select the song and the AX speaker, and enjoy your music. You just need the computer to be ON and connected to the wireless network.

The AX also has a USB port to connect a printer, and you can print wirelessly from your computer to the remote printer. This is particularly useful when you are working on a laptop away from the printer and or need to provide printer access to multiple users at home or office.

If you have any ideas or suggestions on how to get more out of the Airport network, do write in. Or if you need any help with the settings...

Update: This site has a detailed process for the above setup. It also uses a Linksys router so you don't need an Airprort Extreme / TimeCapsule for the music streaming, just the AX.