airport express to add eyehome to wireless network?

[davemchine]

I have an existing wireless network in my house. I want to add my eyehome to that network so I know I need a wireless access point. I also know the airport express can do this, but can it do it without an airport base station? I use a wrt54g for my base.

Thanks,

dave

[mattkime]

http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyehome

Using EyeHome wirelessly has just gotten easier! Elgato has tested the Apple Airport Express wireless adapter and found that it's a great way to add EyeHome to an existing AirPort Extreme wireless network. For more details on AirPort Express see http://www.apple.com/airportexpress
For setup instructions, click here

As an alternative to Apple's AirPort Express, Elgato recommends several inexpensive Wireless Bridges from D-Link to add EyeHome to an existing wireless 802.11g wireless network. We recommend the DWL-G810 for use in Europe and the US, and the DWL-2000AP+ in Australia. The DWL-2000AP+ is also available in Europe. For further information visit www.dlink.com.

The EyeHome Wireless Edition featuring the AirVast wireless adapter is available at the European Apple Online Store.

[davemchine]

Ok, i pulled the trigger. $99 refurb on it's way.

dave

[Gilbert]

Not sure if the AEX Setup Assistant will see your Linksys wireless network as compatible.

One note, I found several months back when I considered doing the same thing from http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/archives/002812.html :

"You mean to tell me that this won't worth with my existing Linksys hardware? Is that true? Why would Apple do that? Are they really using a proprietary protocol for this?

This strikes me as the sort of detail that really shouldn't be hidden away in a footnote.

Luckily, Amazon.com's user reviews have an answer for me:

For apple users I imagine installation is a breeze... Well, I use XP and I have got this puppy hooked up to a Linksys wrt54g 1.1 router. Installation in this setting wasn't such a nice experience. Since the Apple Express Assistant will only automatically detect Apple wireless networks, you have to install the device initially (using an Ethernet cable from your router) as its own network. Once you have done that you can step back in using the Apple Admin Utility to join your current network (you will need to type the name of the network in manually). It is not a major problem but it took me a couple of hours to figure it out/install. Had the directions been clear would never have been the case. Apple tech support truly blows, but many of the user groups are pretty good, so use these if you have problems."

[dotman]

guitarman and I discussed this once a way back and said the AE kinda sucked with eyehome. I own both and haven't tried it yet, but the word is, not pretty.

dot.

[davemchine]

Thanks for the info Gilbert. Once I have it in hand I will report back as to how difficult it is to setup in this setting. I'm not adverse to buying the apple basestation but if I can save a few bucks by using the one I have now, why not?

dave

[dotman]

btw, I was referring to the performance of eyehome over wireless. If you're hard wired, you'll be fine. It was discussed that performance wirelessly approached unusable. Maybe they've improved performance.

dot.

[davemchine]

I have limited my network to 802.11g devices so I should be getting full speed out of it. The proof is in using it though. I'll post back.

dave

[dotman]

would love to hear your results. thanks.

dot.

[BigGuynRusty]

[quote davemchine]I have limited my network to 802.11g devices so I should be getting full speed out of it. The proof is in using it though. I'll post back.

dave
What are you trying to stream?
HandBraked DVD's?
EyeTV recordings?

I used to do both, but I couldn't do big downloads on my iBook while watching DVD's from my server, it would make them stutter, and freeze.
Also if anyone was using another EyeHome on wireless, it would do the same thing.
Finally did a crawlspace run, pulled enet all over the house, and pulled wires for the two surround sound systems I wanted to install. All the EyeHomes are on enet, and runs great now.

BGnR