Apple Airport Base Station Setup

Posted By admin On 14.12.20

Jun 28, 2019  With the AirPort Utility program installed, follow these steps: Launch the program. When it starts, you’ll see the new AirPort Express base station listed on the left. Single click to highlight it, if it's not already highlighted. Click Continue. Fill out the fields in the right side of the window. Thankfully, Apple's Airport Base Stations can take some of the edge off, thanks to the built-in AirPort Utility. How to set up your AirPort router. Plug your Airport Base Station into a power outlet. Connect the modem provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to your AirPort Extreme using an Ethernet cable.

The name 'AirPort Extreme' originally referred to any one of Apple's AirPort products that implemented the (then) newly introduced 802.11g Wi-Fi standard, differentiating it from earlier devices that ran the slower 802.11a and b standards. At that time the gateway part of this lineup was known as the AirPort Extreme Base Station. AirPort Express works with the AirPort software included on the AirPort Express CD. AirPort Setup Assistant Use the AirPort Setup Assistant (or the AirPort Express Assistant if you are using Windows XP) to set up your AirPort Express to connect to the Internet, play iTunes music on your home stereo or powered speakers, and share a printer. Just purchased an Airport Extreme or Airport Express and need help setting it up? How to Setup An Airport Extreme David A. Apple's new Airport base stations are so pretty and full of. The base station network name is set to 'Apple Network,' followed by the last six digits of the base station's MAC address. The base station won't be visible in the Wi-Fi status menu or AirPort Utility for up to a minute.

The back of a 2007 AirPort Extreme
History

The AirPort Extreme is a residential gateway combining the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point and NAS as well as varied other functions, and one of Apple's former AirPort products. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking in addition to older standards. Versions of the same system with a built-in network-accessible hard drive are known as the AirPort Time Capsule.

The name 'AirPort Extreme' originally referred to any one of Apple's AirPort products that implemented the (then) newly introduced 802.11g Wi-Fi standard, differentiating it from earlier devices that ran the slower 802.11a and b standards. At that time the gateway part of this lineup was known as the AirPort Extreme Base Station. With the addition of the even faster Draft-N standards in early 2009 this naming was dropped, and from then on only the gateway has been known as the AirPort Extreme. Several minor upgrades followed, mostly to change antenna and power in the Wi-Fi. In 2013, a major upgrade added 802.11ac support and more internal antennas.

The AirPort Extreme has gone through three distinct physical forms. The earliest models were packaged similar to the original AirPort Base Station, in a round housing known as the 'flying saucer'. From 2007 to 2013 the Extreme was packaged in a rounded-rectangle white plastic housing, similar in layout and size to the Mac mini or earlier Apple TVs. The 2013 802.11ac model was re-packaged into a more vertical case, taller than it is square.

According to a Bloomberg report on November 21, 2016, 'Apple Inc. has disbanded its division that develops wireless routers, another move to try to sharpen the company’s focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue, according to people familiar with the matter.'[1]

In an April 2018 statement to 9to5Mac[2], Apple announced the discontinuation of its AirPort line, effectively leaving the consumer router market. Apple will continue supporting the AirPort Extreme[3], however the company now provides a list of recommended features when consumers are searching for a new wireless router[4].

Apple Airport Base Station Setup Guide

  • 1Features
  • 2AirPort Extreme models by generation

Features[edit]

Apple Airport Base Station Setup

Overview[edit]

  • Fully featured 802.11acWi-Fi base station
  • Sleep Proxy Service[5]
  • 4 Ethernet ports (3 LAN ports, 1 WAN port) — all ports are gigabit Ethernet on newer versions
  • USB interface for disk and printer sharing
  • Built-in file server (AFP and SMB)
  • Runs VxWorks Operating System by WindRiver or a customized version of NetBSD.[6]

AirPort Disk[edit]

The AirPort Disk feature allows users to plug a USB hard drive into the AirPort Extreme for use as a network-attached storage (NAS) device for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows clients.[7] Users may also connect a USB hub and printer. The performance of USB hard drives attached to an AirPort Extreme is slower than if the drive were connected directly to a computer. This is due to the processor speed on the AirPort Extreme. Depending on the setup and types of reads and writes, performance ranges from 0.5 to 17.5 MB/s for writing and 1.9 to 25.6 MB/s for reading.[8] Performance for the same disk connected directly to a computer would be 6.6 to 31.6 MB/s for writing and 7.1 to 37.2 MB/s for reading. NTFS-formatted drives are not supported.

AirPort Extreme models by generation[edit]

Original generation[edit]

The original AirPort Extreme Base Station was so named because of its support for the 802.11g standard of the day, as well as for its ability to serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously.[9] One feature found in most models of this generation was an internal 56K dial-up modem, allowing homes that lacked a broadband connection to enjoy wireless connectivity, albeit at dial-up speeds.[10] It was the last generation to retain the 'flying saucer' form factor. Later generations would adopt the short, rounded-square form factor that would be seen until 2013.

1st generation[edit]

On January 9, 2007 the AirPort Extreme began shipping, with support for 802.11n draft specification, and built-in wireless print and storage server.

2nd generation[edit]

On March 19, 2008, Apple released a firmware update for both models of the AirPort Extreme that, according to third-party reports, allowed AirPort Disks to be used in conjunction with Time Machine, similar to the functionality provided by AirPort Time Capsule[11][12].

3rd generation[edit]

On March 3, 2009, Apple unveiled a new AirPort Extreme with simultaneous dual-band 802.11 Draft-N radios. This allowed full 802.11 Draft-N 2x2 communication in both 802.11 Draft-N bands at the same time.

4th generation[edit]

On October 20, 2009, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme with antenna improvements.

5th generation[edit]

Apple Airport Base Station Ebay

On June 21, 2011, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme, referred to as AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation).

The detailed table of output power comparison between the 4th generation model MC340LL/A and the 5th generation model MD031LL/A can be seen below:[13][14]

Frequency range (MHz)ModeAirPort Extreme modelOutput power (dBm)Output power (mW)Comparison (percents)Difference (percents)
2412–2462802.11b4th generation24.57286.42100-10.3
5th generation24.10257.0489.7
802.11g4th generation21.56143.22100+114.8
5th generation24.88307.61214.8
802.11n HT204th generation21.17130.92100+96.8
5th generation24.11257.63196.8
5745–5825802.11a4th generation23.07202.77100+61.1
5th generation25.14326.59161.1
5745–5805802.11n HT204th generation22.17164.82100+104.6
5th generation25.28337.29204.6
5755–5795802.11n HT404th generation21.44139.32100+181.8
5th generation25.94392.64281.8

Note: 3dB more equals a doubling of power output

6th generation[edit]

On June 10, 2013, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme, referred to as AirPort Extreme 802.11ac (6th Generation). The 6th generation AirPort Extreme (and 5th generation AirPort Time Capsule) features three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3Gbit/s, which is nearly three times faster than 802.11n. Time Machine is now supported using an external USB hard drive connected to AirPort Extreme (802.11ac model only).[15]

Comparison chart[edit]

Approx. release dateConsumer nicknameAirPort ExtremeModelWireless standardGigabit EthernetGuest network[16]Radio typeMIMOIPv6 router mode***Time-Machine Backup****
January 7, 2003Original/roundM8799LL/AA1034802.11b/gNoNoSingle band

2.4 GHz

NoNoNo
January 9, 20071st generationMA073LL/AA1143802.11a/b/g/n*NoNoDual band

2.4 GHz or 5 GHz

3×3:2NoNo
August 7, 20072nd generationMB053LL/AA1143802.11a/b/g/n*YesNoDual band

2.4 GHz or 5 GHz

3×3:2NoNo
March 3, 20093rd generationMB763LL/AA1301802.11a/b/g/n*YesYesDual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

2×2:2 (in each band)NoNo
October 20, 20094th generationMC340LL/AA1354
802.11a/b/g/nYesYesDual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

3×3:3 (in each band)Yes, but not over PPPoENo
June 21, 20115th generationMD031LL/AA1408802.11a/b/g/nYesYesDual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

3×3:3 (in each band)Yes, but not over PPPoENo
June 10, 20136th generationME918LL/AA1521802.11a/b/g/n/ac**YesYesDual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

3×3:3 (in each band)Yes, but not over PPPoEYes

*802.11n draft-specification support in 1st- to 3rd-generation models.
**802.11ac draft-specification support in 6th-generation model.
***All models support IPv6 tunnel mode.
****Supported by Apple.[17]Precalculus demana pdf.

See also[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to AirPort Extreme.

Apple Airport Base Station Setup Vive

Notes[edit]

  1. ^Gurman, Mark - Apple Abandons Development of Wireless Routers November 21, 2016 BLOOMBERG
  2. ^'Apple officially discontinues AirPort router line, no plans for future hardware'. 9to5Mac. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  3. ^'Vintage and obsolete products'. Apple. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  4. ^'Choosing a Wi-Fi router to use with Apple devices'. Apple. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  5. ^'Mac OS X v10.6: About Wake on Demand (Apple Article HT3774)'. Apple. August 27, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009. Setting up Wake on Demand', 'Setting up a Bonjour Sleep Proxy
  6. ^'AirPort Extreme: Apple Breaks 90 Mbps'. wifinetnews.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  7. ^Apple.com – AirPort Extreme – SharingArchived August 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on January 17, 2007.
  8. ^'Airport Extreme (5th Gen) and Time Capsule (4th Gen) Review – Faster WiFi'. Airport Extreme (5th Gen) and Time Capsule (4th Gen) Review. AnandTech. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  9. ^'AirPort Extreme'. Apple.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  10. ^'AirPort Extreme – Technical Specifications'. Apple.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  11. ^'Time Machine now works with AirPort Extreme's AirDisk feature'. Engadget.com. March 19, 2008. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
  12. ^'Update allows Time Machine backups on AirPort Extreme'. Macworld.com. March 19, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  13. ^Test Report – Previous version Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  14. ^Test Report – Current version Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  15. ^AirPort base stations: Time Machine hard drive compatibility
  16. ^About the guest network feature of AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule
  17. ^AirPort base stations: Time Machine hard drive compatibility

What Is Airport Base Station

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