Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Apple's Airport Express Alternitives

Jul 31, 2004 1:24AM PDT

I just purchased Apple's Airport Express for the sole purpose of delivering streaming mp3s from my computer to my home stereo. After fighting this thing for my entire Friday night (which rhymes with "loser"), the thing still doesn't work right.

I'm not the most tech savvy guy, but I think I can hold my own. I can get into config settings, I know what IP and MAC addresses are, and, occasionally click on the "Advanced" tab in "Properties". But based on several things that I've read on Apple's support forum and a few other boards, this thing is not as friendly as the Apple techs think it is.

My question is, are there other alternitive products to streaming music, and music only (no printers, no internet connection, just mp3s to a stereo or powered speakers) across a wireless network?

I'll take the answer off the air. Thanks.

-Wayne

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Re: Apple's Airport Express Alternitives
Jul 31, 2004 1:35AM PDT

WiFi products are not designed for such a narrow application. In fact, such a product would fail miserably in the marketplace.

So far, we have one buyer.

Maybe the other approach? Try the Wifi and apply it to what you want?

Bob

- Collapse -
WiFi MP3 player.
Jul 31, 2004 2:26AM PDT
- Collapse -
Re: WiFi MP3 player.
Jul 31, 2004 2:39AM PDT

Bob,

Thanks for the link. And yes, I realize that this is a narrow application of WiFi. But I hardly think that I'm the only one who would like to see this application hit the marketplace (as evidenced by the Airport Express flying off the shelves - and not just as a printer router).

I have tried using my laptop as a wifi client to distribute the music from my desktop to my stereo. This has obvious limitations: 1) the need to move the laptop back to the stereo everytime I want to listen to music; 2) the inability to use the laptop while listening to music (unless I buy 100' of RCA cables - not exactly "wireless"); 3) lots of unused computing power just to listen to tunes.

My hope was that there was a product somewhere between an entire computer and a wireless card that could stream music.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

Thanks
-Wayne

- Collapse -
The issue is the market size.
Jul 31, 2004 2:45AM PDT

It's what it is and you may wish for something, but let's try this.

The Samsung Napster MP3 player as weill as almost any iPod or such with a FM transmitter can play on your stereo music from a very small device.

Since there is a hard disk MP3 player (to FM), this again shrinks the potential market for some WiFi hard disk MP3 player and it's matching "reciever" on the stereo system.

Be realistic and note that market size and with existing solutions, your product with "just these" features is D.O.A.

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: The issue is the market size.
Jul 31, 2004 3:02AM PDT

Yeah, thought about the FM idea. Problem there is that is reduces sound quality to FM. I'm no audiophile but even I can tell the difference between mp3s and the radio. I also had problems with range. I can see a place for the FM market for use in the car if you're not lucky enough to have the wiring in place for a direct connect (aux input). I even thought about stringing a looooooooooooong FM antenna throughout the house, but, again, the sound quality issue comes up.

Interesting article you sent concerning digital audio receivers (DARs). And that's what I'm looking for. And I think that is what will be successful in the market place. And that's one of the stregnths of Apple's Airport Express. And, for now, all the products out there suck to one degree or another.

Maybe buying a used laptop for exculsive use as a means to stream mp3s from the desktop is the answer I'm looking for. That answer is disappointing.

Thanks for your time Bob.

-Wayne.

- Collapse -
Maybe you just want a DVR?
Jul 31, 2004 3:11AM PDT

A RCA DVR I looked at, not only was a hard disk based DVR, but allowed one to populate the hard disk with MP3s. It was in the mid 300 buck range when I saw it at Compgeeks.

What I may have missed is how you expected to stream MP3 audio from your desktop when the desktop was off?

Bob

- Collapse -
Re: Maybe you just want a DVR?
Jul 31, 2004 3:26AM PDT

No, I don't expect to listen to the tunes with the desktop off (it's on all the time anyway). All my mp3s are currently stored on a 160GB second internal HD, all fully organized and tagged and efficient (and I'm oh so proud of it). Again, I was just looking for a way to stream from the desktop to "product x" connected to the stereo/speakers. Looks like Creative makes something that might work (http://reviews.cnet.com/Creative_Sound_Blaster_Wireless_Music/4505-6739_7-30557177.html?tag=upidmlp)

I think I'll just go build something out of duct tape, solder, chewing gum, an 802.11b card, and a beer bottle. Or do you think I should use cans? The aluminum might cause interference.

- Collapse -
Re: Maybe you just want a DVR?
Aug 12, 2004 8:39AM PDT

Motorola makes something with less interference than the beercan contraption you are proposing. They call it the SimpliFi, I think.

There is also something cool called the Show Center from Pinnaclesys.com that includes the capability to view pics and video as well as play music from your PC.