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Apple Lossless Wirelessly

I've been experimenting with serving music stored on my iMac G4 in the study to iTunes running on a laptop (experimenting with a Dell, but eventually will get an iBook to handle this function) in the living room to an Airport Express that is cabled to my living room stereo system. I've been moving the music from iMac to laptop to Airport Express over my 802.11b wireless network.

So far, I've found that my 802.11b network can't adequately handle sending song files in Apple Lossless format from my iMac to iTunes on my laptop. There are breaks in the playback, especially when there is other traffic over the wireless connection. If the AL song files are on the laptop, there is no problem.

Since convenience is a big reason for this setup, I'd like to stick with a laptop as the control center and stay wireless if possible. I figure my two alternatives are: (1) upgrading my wireless network to 802.11g, and (2) buying Apple Remote Desktop so I can run iTunes on my iMac, where the song files are, while controlling it from the laptop.

Any comments on these options (and am I right about being able to use ARD this way)? Thanks!
jayboard
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freakystyley
7 posts
 
I have been using "airtunes" from my imac directly to my stereo via airport express. the results have been surprisingly good sound wise (which was my biggest fear) but unpredictable in terms of signal drop. I am not sure what is causing the interference/ drop but I suspect it is my imac processor at times...maybe just someone picking up the cordless phone in our building. I have not had the problem you have of having to control my library remotely. I would suggest that you first make sure that the problem lies in the server - client transfer and not in the airtunes signal try controlling airtunes via the imac for a few days. if the problem persists, then it is aitunes' problem and go to the apple site for an article on overcoming audio-drop while using airport express ( I havent had much success yet but others have--see discussion forums on apple's site). if the problem is solved then your best bet and in some ways may be to connect ibook to external harddrive while serving itunes which is what I ended up doing (hardwired to stereo ie no airtunes)
hope this helps
Dimitri
jayboard OP
301 posts
 
Dimitri, when the AL song file is on the laptop with iTunes, there is no problem streaming the output wirelessly to AX, so the server-laptop connection is the problem. I have a feeling I may end up with a hard drive connected to my laptop, even though it's not ideal in terms of convenience in the living room situation.

Restock, thanks for mentioning Timbukto. It led me to try out open source (free) VCN remote control software. On Mac OSX, a remote client can't use the server independently from someone who might be sitting at the server trying to use the machine--the two would "fight," so I realized that was not going to work.

Maybe 802.11g is the answer. I'd have to include in the cost a new wireless adapter card for a third computer that doesn't need the speed boost, because apparently mixing old "b" devices with newer "g" devices drags the throughput of the whole network down toward "b" level.

It ain't simple. There's music in there, somewhere.
kjg
171 posts
 
Before you jump to 802.11g, check to see if you're using a heavily trafficked channel. In my area there are a number of folks using wireless, and all are on channel 11, which is the default for many devices. I switched my access point from channel 11 to 5 and my wireless device connections became much more reliable. I don't know if crowded channels are a problem in your area, but itÂ’s easy enough to try switching and see if things improve.
rel
119 posts
 
Here's a link to a troubleshooting page from Apple: AirTunes audio stream drops or cuts out.

Hope it helps!
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freakystyley
7 posts
 
One option is to attach a 11g airport etreme station to the third computer by LAN port and have that be the main base station. this would make the whole network 11g. or merely upgrade the 3rd computer. However apple states that 11b is the standard for airtunes and their literature suggests trouble shooting by switching all components to 11b. also some users have found that using additional base stations interferes with airport express rather than augmenting the network as advertised. You should however be able to tell if the upgrade would change anything by temporarily switching to 11g and turning off any 11b devices in the network. the channel switch has helped my situation for a day or so now. good luck
Dimitri
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