Wireless connection with just Airport Express

[vedderaxl]

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Can the Airport Express be used via its Ethernet port to turn a non wireless device to a wireless one, via WDS and not using an Airport Extreme Base Station or another router? I understand that an Airport Extreme Base Station or compatible router is needed for WDS in Airport Express. I'm asking because I have been trying to connect my Xbox to my iBook with just the Airport Express:


Xbox <==> Ethernet <==> AP Express <==> Wifi <==> iBook


The Airport Admin Utility asks for the MAC address of a base station, but I can't provide one. I searched the web for such a configuration but found none. This is the closest one they discussed in a forum:


Xbox <==> Ethernet <==> AP Express <==> Wifi <==> AP Extreme <==> Wifi <==> iBook


Thanks.

[Dave_D]

If the desired result is to connect the Xbox to the iBook, you can just get a ethernet cross cable (as oppossed to a standard ethernet "straight" cable) to directly connect them.

You can then share your iBook's connection so that the Xbox can get to the internet to access it's game server hosts.

Good Luck.

[jbd]

From playing with Dave_D's airport express (because I'm too cheap to get one on my own).. the AE can only act as a) client or b) wifi bridge (e.g. WDS). In client mode, it acts as a regular router that will have its ethernet address assigned either statically or dhcp'ed. It will then use this address and NAT all the wireless clients that try to connect.

Now, I've never played with an Xbox configuration (again, too cheap), so I don't know how you configure the net deal. I would imagine that if you get a cross cable (if you don't have a hub) and statically assign both the xbox and the AE a static ip, you will be able to get the 2 connected. However due to the nat, your xbox will not be able to see the ibook, but the ibook will see the xbox (can't remember off of the top of my head, if the AE had port forwarding options).

The AE is not so much a router, even though it does perform a lot of the functions that a router does, but more of a network extender. If you explain what you want to do with the network, maybe we could give you some ideas as to what might be an optimal layout?

[vedderaxl]

Originally posted by Dave_D
If the desired result is to connect the Xbox to the iBook, you can just get a ethernet cross cable (as oppossed to a standard ethernet "straight" cable) to directly connect them.

You can then share your iBook's connection so that the Xbox can get to the internet to access it's game server hosts.

Good Luck.

Hi Dave,

I have been able to do the wired connections before. Actually the new iBook LAN port auto detects a direct connection and does an "auto" crossover so to speak so an ordinary cable works. The reason I want to have wireless connection from the iBook to the Xbox is to wirelesssly stream media from the laptop to the TV and sound system, as I don't want the iBook sitting next to the Xbox and have my 1 year old son smash it . Thanks though. BTW, anytime I see a post of you, I always remember my friend which goes by the name Dave Dy

[vedderaxl]

Originally posted by jbd
Now, I've never played with an Xbox configuration (again, too cheap), so I don't know how you configure the net deal. I would imagine that if you get a cross cable (if you don't have a hub) and statically assign both the xbox and the AE a static ip, you will be able to get the 2 connected. However due to the nat, your xbox will not be able to see the ibook, but the ibook will see the xbox (can't remember off of the top of my head, if the AE had port forwarding options).

Hi jbd. I tried assigning static IPs to both the Xbox and and APE, but the Airport Admin Utility wants the MAC address of the base station. I think this is WDS mode.

How about this setup?

PC/MAC <==> Ethernet <==> APExpress <==> Wifi <==> iBook

Just like you, I'm too cheap to get a router or a hub even hehe

[Dave_D]

Ok... I think I get it.

The problem with what you're trying to do is that there is an inherent lag streaming anything over Wifi.. This is the reason why I can't play DVD's on the mac and have the audio piped through the airport (like Airtunes) even if you use Optical connections coming from the airport to a home theater decoder.

Check out this FAQ from Airfoil

[vedderaxl]

I think I won't have any problems with the delays as the entire movie (video and audio) would go to the Xbox's media player (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com/info_project.htm) and then to the TV simultaneously. But I really appreciate your mention of Airfoil as I didn't know a program like that exists. It was part of my wishlist eversince I got the AirportExpress last month. Thanks!

[Dave_D]

Update:

If you have devices that just weren't Wifi ready in the first place... You can check out the ZyXEL G-405. It's a Wifi adapter that will work with anything that has a ethernet port (like an Xbox). The beauty of this thing is that it does NOT require any device drivers hence it will work with linux, windows, macs, Xbox, ps2, just about anything that has an ethernet port to enable the device to be wifi capable.

[Edited on 5-21-2005 by Dave_D]