I like to listen to BBC 7 Radio, which is only available in Hong Kong via the Web. What I want to do is have my Mac play the show but have the speaker output in another room. I know I can do this with a long cord from my headphones jack on the Mac to the small Sony speakers in the other room. But I want to do this wireless. Can you suggest a solution? Ian W. Johnston Hong Kong
This certainly sounds like something for Apple Computer's AirPort Express wireless networking base station. This device is supposed to make it easier to set up the sort of thing you want, but I must confess I have not actually done it myself. I did think about it, but I do not live in a 4,000 sq ft flat.
Nevertheless, my experience tells me this may not be quite as simple as it may at first seem.
Apple is not the only player in the wireless networking device market, of course. I think you would be wise to look at a few other solutions.
The assumption I must make is that you already have a Macintosh computer connected to the internet and it runs well. If you get an AirPort Express, you can put it in another room and listen to iTunes, or anything else on your machine, through speakers or a stereo system. But remember that the only way you can move from listening to the BBC to iTunes, for example, is by going to the computer itself. If you intend to do this often, it could be a bit of a pain.
There are a few non-Apple products well worth looking into, particularly if design is not an issue. The sad truth is that most of the other companies simply do not put much effort into design.
Apple has been criticised for not doing a number of things with the AirPort Express, including not supplying a remote control device. So, you must go elsewhere.