Ruth Haines
Apple's AirPort Extreme is a residential gateway that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, NAS, and other features. The AirPort Extreme Base Station, introduced in 2003, was the first in the AirPort Extreme line to support the 802.11g standard and serve up to 50 Macs or PCs at once. Since then, Apple has released several generations of AirPort Extreme, with the latest 6th generation model supporting 802.11ac networking. While Apple discontinued developing its wireless routers in 2016, many users continue to use their older AirPort Extremes as routers and access points, praising their simplicity, design, and reliability. However, some have encountered issues with their older devices and have considered switching to newer routers for improved performance and speed.
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What You'll Learn
Airport Extreme as a router: is it a good option?
Airport Extreme is a line of residential gateways by Apple Inc. that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, along with other functions. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking in addition to older standards.
The Airport Extreme Base Station, the original Airport Extreme, was released in 2003 and supported the 802.11g standard. It could serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously and featured an internal 56K dial-up modem. The 6th generation Airport Extreme, released in 2013, featured three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3 Gbit/s, which is nearly three times faster than 802.11n.
The Airport Extreme is a great router option, especially for Apple users. It is capable of handling up to 50 simultaneous connections and supports simultaneous dual-band broadcasting. It has a theoretical throughput of 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band. However, it only has three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, while four ports are standard in competitive routers. Additionally, the Airport Extreme is inherently more secure than other routers due to its design. Apple routers have no default admin username and password, and you don't use a web browser to configure them, making them less susceptible to standard attack methods.
While the Airport Extreme is a reliable and secure router, it is important to note that Apple discontinued developing its lineup of wireless routers in 2016. As a result, the Airport Extreme may not receive future updates and could become outdated over time. Despite this, many users continue to use the Airport Extreme and find it to be a stable and fast router for their needs. Some have used it for years without issues, while others have encountered connectivity problems or opted for newer alternatives.
In conclusion, the Airport Extreme is a good router option, especially for those within the Apple ecosystem, offering security, ease of use, and reliable performance. However, with Apple's discontinuation of the product line, users may need to consider alternative options for future-proof solutions.
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Pros and cons of the Airport Extreme router
The Apple AirPort Extreme is a wireless router that has been described as a serious contender as one of the best wireless routers on the market. It is a sleek, minimalistic, and beautifully designed router that is easy to access and configure from any OSX or iOS device. While it is compatible with any Wi-Fi-enabled device, it is easiest to operate within the Apple ecosystem using the AirPort utility setup application.
Pros
- The AirPort Extreme is capable of handling up to 50 simultaneous connections.
- It supports simultaneous dual-band broadcasting with a theoretical throughput of 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
- It is inherently more secure than other routers due to its design. For instance, Apple routers have no default admin username and password, and you do not use a web browser to configure them, which means standard methods of attacking most routers do not work on them.
- It has a one-year warranty, and Apple offers extensive support resources, including manuals, software and firmware updates, discussion forums, and one-on-one meetings at the "Genius Bar" with a technical support representative.
- It is simple to set up and use, with all its ports hidden away at the rear of the device and only one small indicator light on the front.
Cons
- The AirPort Extreme only has three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, while four ports are standard among its competitors.
- It does not have parental controls, Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM), or Quality of Service (QoS), which means it cannot prioritize different types of network traffic or guarantee performance for specific applications.
- It is pretty old, and newer routers offer faster Wi-Fi standards, such as WiFi 6 and 6E, with WiFi 7 releasing soon.
- It may have issues connecting to the 5GHz band, which may require a reset or a new router to fix.
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How to set up an Airport Extreme as a router
Airport Extreme can be used as a router, and it is inherently more secure than other routers due to its design. Apple routers have no default admin username and password, and you do not use a web browser to configure them, which means standard methods of attacking most routers do not work on them.
- In the Airport Extreme menu, go to "Advanced," then select "DHCP," followed by "NAT," and finally "Router Mode."
- Confirm that "DHCP" and "NAT" are selected. If not, select them.
- Use the "Back" button and then select "Done."
- After completing the setup, you may receive a status message referring to "Double NAT." If this happens, ignore the message by sliding the selector on the error dialogue to show a green colour.
- The configuration is complete when the internet icon turns green.
Note: If your iPad was previously connected to another WiFi network, forget the old network as iPads tend to switch to previous networks.
While Airport Extreme is a capable router, it is important to note that it is an older device. Newer routers may offer improved features and performance, so consider your specific needs and requirements when choosing a router.
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Airport Extreme as a router: what are the alternatives?
The Airport Extreme is a router that can be used for WiFi connections. It is inherently more secure than other routers due to its design. For example, Apple routers have no default admin username and password, and you don't use a web browser to configure them, which means standard methods of attacking most routers don't work on them. The Airport Extreme is capable of handling up to 50 simultaneous connections and supports simultaneous dual-band broadcasting. However, it only has three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, while four ports are standard in the competitive field.
While the Airport Extreme has been praised for its performance and security, it is an old device. The last Airport Extreme Base Station was released 9.5 years ago, and the device is stuck on WiFi 5, while WiFi 6, 6E, and 7 have since been released.
If you are looking for alternatives to the Airport Extreme, there are several options available:
- The ASUS RT-AC5300 is capable of handling multiple devices using a lot of traffic at the same time without sacrificing performance. It offers game-enhancement options such as Multi-User Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), and 4X4 data transmissions. However, it is an expensive router, and unless you have a lot of devices performing demanding tasks, it might be overkill.
- The RT-AC3200 is theoretically capable of 3.2 Gbps throughput over its three bands. It uses state-of-the-art built-in security software called AiProtection, which detects infected devices and prevents any information from being stolen. It is also expensive, priced at $220.
- The Orbi router is a tri-band AC3000 device that can deliver theoretical throughput speeds of 1,266 Mbps (400 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 866 Mbps on the 5 GHz band). The third 5 GHz band can reach maximum speeds of 1,733 Mbps.
- The Ubiquiti AmpliFi Alien was chosen by a user on MacRumors Forums as a replacement for their Airport Extreme, and they reported being happy with the switch.
- The Eero 6+ was chosen by a user on Reddit as a replacement for their Airport Extreme, but it started randomly dropping connections to their cameras and smart plugs.
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Airport Extreme vs Airport Express: which is better?
The Airport Extreme and Airport Express are both WiFi routers, but the Extreme has more capabilities. The Airport Extreme is capable of handling up to 50 simultaneous connections, compared to the Express which can handle around 10-12. The Extreme also has stronger antennas and can cover a larger area with its WiFi signal, making it better suited for a large house or apartment. It has three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, compared to the Express which only has one ethernet input and one ethernet output. The Extreme also supports simultaneous dual-band broadcasting, operating on 5 and 2.4 GHz, while the Express can operate on one or the other but not both at the same time.
The Airport Express is a good option for those on a budget or those who only need to cover a small area, such as a college dorm or small apartment. It has a USB port for connecting a printer, while the Extreme has multiple USB ports and can be used to connect a printer or hard drive.
Both options are easy to configure and set up, even from a Windows-based PC. However, the Extreme is more expensive than the Express, and some users have reported issues with the latest versions of the Extreme, such as not being able to see a list of wired clients without using the Terminal.
In terms of speed, the Extreme handles up to 802.11ac WiFi speeds, while the Express handles up to 802.11n WiFi speeds. The Extreme also has a higher theoretical throughput, with 450 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz band.
Overall, if you have a large space to cover and multiple devices to connect, the Airport Extreme is the better option. However, if you only need basic functionality and don't want to break the bank, the Airport Express may be sufficient.
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Frequently asked questions
AirPort Extreme is a residential gateway made by Apple Inc. that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions.
Yes, AirPort Extreme can be used as a router. It is capable of handling up to 50 simultaneous connections and supports dual-band broadcasting.
Using Airport Utility, click on your AE, then click on Wireless and choose "Network Mode" to join, extend, or create a wireless network. If you click on "create a wireless network", enter a different network name and password for a new network.
AirPort Extreme is a secure router due to its design. Apple routers have no default admin username and password, and you don't use a web browser to configure them, so standard methods of attacking routers don't work. Additionally, AirPort Extreme supports simultaneous dual-band broadcasting and has three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports.
