Any Apple Airport/Wifi/Networking Experts?

[Mailman]

Guess we're all just a bunch of dumb bowhunters...I get that.

Anybody?

Google it... Duh!!!

[Casey]

Google it... Duh!!!

Where did I put that key to the ban button. It's around here somewhere....

[TimH]

Casey,

If you factory reset the Express and use the Airport setup utility, does it recognize the UBI network?

[Erik]

Here is a diagram of the setup. Both the airport and ubiquiti are hard-wired to the router. If the phone is connect to the wifi of the router or airport, airplay to the stereo works (blue lines). Connect phone to ubiquiti wifi, no airplay.

Ah yes yes yes...seems like there is more to the story here than I originally understood.

Are the Ubiquiti device and the "router" broadcasting two separate wireless networks? And as an extension of the question, are they 2 separate subnets? I think what you're getting here is an issue where you might be crossing 2 different subnets when connected to the ubiquiti device.

You might have a reason for doing this which we don't know about. Do you have issues with wifi reaching various areas of your house/property? If that is the case you definitely want the Ubiquiti in bridged mode to extend the subnet of the primary router.

Overall the best strategy is to collapse all the devices into ONE subnet. This will allow you to see all devices across all networks including your Airplay device.

If you have the ability to connect your Airport Express via ethernet, I highly recommend it. Ethernet is lower latency and better consistency when it comes to streaming audio. To do this, turn the wifi on the airport express to "off" and simply connect the ethernet cable to it. It should get a DHCP address from the primary router.

Let me redraw your diagram a little with regard to some best practices.

Lastly, what model number is your Airport Express?

[AtTheWall]

Cisco APs, enable the Bonjour protocol and the problem simply goes away

I know I'm not much help but, there has been a rash of performance issues with Apple's Ubiquiti AP, issues related to marginal Airplay performance, if and when they can play. The older Airport = Rock Solid.

Is the Zero Handoff setting on or off? ZH off, may remedy the issue on the Ubiquiti?

Change to two different SSIDs with ZH off. See if this makes a change in behavior.

[dhillis]

Cisco APs, enable the Bonjour protocol and the problem simply goes away

I know I'm not much help but, there has been a rash of performance issues with Apple's Ubiquiti AP, issues related to marginal Airplay performance, if and when they can play. The older Airport = Rock Solid.

I was wondering why I hadn't heard about it. Made by apple....

[Erik]

Let's assume your home network is 192.1.1.x/24. The above diagram shows how you can collapse the networks and bridge them all for one subnet. The Airport Express has the wifi disabled and is only communicating via the ethernet port connected to the router.

The key to all this magic is how "zeroconf" networking communicates which is what Airplay uses. In the situation where you are creating two separate subnets, the layer 3 access policies normally stop Airplay traffic. You need all your devices on the same subnet to allow zeroconf to work properly. (Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonjour_(software))

EDIT: 192.1.1.x/24 is publicly routable I think so your network obviously won't be this subnet. It is just for an example.

[Erik]

Cisco APs, enable the Bonjour protocol and the problem simply goes away
...The older Airport = Rock Solid.

Totally agree with AtTheWall. Most all of this is Bonjour related but you have to configure all the net devices to allow the traffic to pass through uninterrupted.

Also full disclosure, I do not have much ubiquiti experience.

[Mailman]

Where did I put that key to the ban button. It's around here somewhere....

Sir, if you can't figure out how to... "make your apple airport "visible" to your Ubiquiti Wireless access point. Which would allow you to connect an iphone/ipad, etc to the ubiquiti AP and then be able to play music to the airport that is connected to a stereo" Which any old hack can do, you ain't gonna find that ban button... Not Today!!!

You connect your airport and make it "visible" to your Ubiquiti, and play some sweet tunes, then we will talk about a ban.

I am just sitting at the office, twiddling my thumbs, call me if you need some help. I know all about airports, AP's, Ubiquiti's, etc...

[Erik]

I was wondering why I hadn't heard about it. Made by apple....

I think Ubiquiti is a different and unrelated company to apple though they are right down the road. I have never used their products though either.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubiquiti_Networks

[Erik]

I am just sitting at the office, twiddling my thumbs, call me if you need some help. I know all about airports, AP's, Ubiquiti's, etc...

Same here. Feel free to call me. I'll PM you my number. This would go much faster over the phone.

[dhillis]

From what I was seeing on YouTube he just needs to bridge the access point....should put them on same subnet.

[Erik]

From what I was seeing on YouTube he just needs to bridge the access point....should put them on same subnet.

I think so too. And turn off the wifi on the Airport express if using ethernet.

[Mailman]

I am just sitting at the office, twiddling my thumbs, call me if you need some help. I know all about airports, AP's, Ubiquiti's, etc...

Same here. Feel free to call me. I'll PM you my number. This would go much faster over the phone.

Casey, you have probably figured this out by now, but I don't know squat about this computer lingo / jargon you guys are talking about. Matter of fact, I'll go ahead and ban myself!!!

Call Erik if you need real help...

[AtTheWall]

Airplay requires a multicast network (IGMP). Make sure your router can support multicast as well as having the Ubiquiti setup to receive multicast.

The Airports have Multicast on by default.