Sachin Walls
Apple Airport, also known as Wi-Fi networking products, debuted in 1999 with the release of the original AirPort Base Station, which featured a dial-up modem and an Ethernet port. In 2003, Apple introduced the AirPort Extreme, which supported the 802.11g standard and could serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking and combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS. While Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018, exiting the consumer router market, it has been speculated if the Apple Airport Express can be used as a wired access point for a non-Apple router.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Launch | 1999 |
| Discontinuation | 2018 |
| Use | Connect AirPort-enabled computers to the Internet, each other, a wired LAN, and/or other devices |
| Features | Router, network switch, wireless access point, NAS |
| Variants | AirPort Base Station, AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, AirPort Time Capsule |
| Protocols | 802.11b, g, n, and ac standards |
| Compatibility | All Macs, iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products |
| Management | AirPort Utility for Mac OS X and iOS |
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What You'll Learn
Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018
Apple's AirPort line, including the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule, was discontinued in 2018. The discontinuation was announced in an April 2018 statement to 9to5Mac, with Apple citing its exit from the consumer router market as the reason.
The AirPort line was first introduced in 1999 at Macworld New York, with Steve Jobs showcasing wireless internet technology on an Apple laptop for the first time. The AirPort Base Station, also introduced in 1999, featured a dial-up modem and an Ethernet port. In 2001, a second-generation model was released, offering a second Ethernet port and the ability to connect to and share America Online's dial-up service.
Over the years, Apple released several updates to the AirPort line, including the AirPort Express in 2004, which could be used as a portable travel router and an audio streaming device, and the AirPort Extreme in 2007, which introduced support for the 802.11 Draft-N protocol and added two LAN ports. In 2013, a major upgrade to the AirPort Extreme changed the physical structure, added more antennas, and included support for 802.11ac.
Despite the discontinuation of the AirPort line, Apple continued to offer support for existing AirPort products and retail routers from other brands in its stores. However, there were no plans for future hardware revisions or a return to the wireless router business. The decision to leave the router market was unexpected, as Apple rarely discontinues product categories, and it left a gap for other wireless router makers to fill.
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AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways
Apple debuted AirPort in 1999, with the release of an expansion card for Apple's iBook notebooks and an AirPort Base Station. The AirPort card was later added as an option for almost all of Apple's product line, including PowerBooks, eMacs, iMacs, and Power Macs. The original AirPort system allowed transfer rates of up to 11 Mbit/s and was commonly used to share Internet access and files between multiple computers.
In 2003, Apple introduced AirPort Extreme, based on the 802.11g specification, which offered faster wireless connectivity compared to the previous 802.11a and b standards. The AirPort Extreme Base Station could serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously and included a 56K dial-up modem, allowing homes without broadband to access the internet wirelessly, albeit at slower speeds.
Over the years, Apple released several updated versions of the AirPort Extreme, adding features such as support for Power over Ethernet, additional Ethernet ports, and compatibility with newer wireless standards like 802.11 Draft-N and 802.11ac. The latest model, the 6th generation AirPort Extreme, offers three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3 Gbit/s.
In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router team, and in 2018, the company formally discontinued its AirPort product line, including the AirPort Extreme. However, Apple continues to provide limited hardware and software support for these products.
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AirPort Express can be used as a portable travel router
Apple debuted AirPort in 1999, as a wireless internet technology for Apple laptops. The AirPort card was later added as an option for almost all of Apple's product lines. The AirPort Express was released in 2004 and can be used as a portable travel router.
The AirPort Express is a small device, with the same footprint as an Apple TV, and it creates a Wi-Fi network. It features the 802.11n dual-band antenna and can be used to print wirelessly. You can use the AirPort Express to print wirelessly by plugging the printer into the USB port on the back of the AirPort Express and turning your printer into a wireless printer. The AirPort Express can also be used as an audio streaming device, with both line-level and optical audio outputs.
The AirPort Express can be used as a wired access point for a non-Apple router. To do this, the "Router mode" should be set to "bridge (off)'" and the wifi mode set to "Create a wireless network", with the same SSID and password as the other router's wifi network.
In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router team and discontinued all of its AirPort products, exiting the router market. However, as of 2023, it continues to provide limited hardware and software support for AirPort products.
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AirPort Base Station features a dial-up modem
The original AirPort Base Station, also known as Graphite, was released in 1999 and featured a dial-up modem and an Ethernet port. This base station was the first Apple product to offer wireless internet technology, allowing for the sharing of internet access and files between multiple computers.
The second-generation AirPort model, released in 2001, featured a second Ethernet port, allowing for a shared internet connection with both wired and wireless clients. This model also included the ability to connect to and share America Online's dial-up service, a feature unique to Apple base stations at the time.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station, released in 2003, featured an internal 56K dial-up modem, allowing homes without broadband connections to access the internet wirelessly, although at slower dial-up speeds. This base station could serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously.
In 2004, Apple released the AirPort Express base station, a multifunction product that could be used as a portable travel router, an audio streaming device, and a USB printer-sharing device. The AirPort Express could also be used to extend a wireless network when connected to another router with Ethernet.
While Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018, the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express base stations offered unique features such as dial-up modem capabilities and wireless network extensions that improved internet connectivity for many users.
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AirPort Utility is a user-friendly interface
Apple's AirPort is a brand name for its Wi-Fi networking products, which include the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule. The AirPort Base Station, which was released in 1999, featured a dial-up modem and an Ethernet port. However, Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018 and no longer develops wireless routers.
The AirPort Utility app is designed to simplify the process of setting up and managing a wireless network. It offers a straightforward and intuitive way to access and adjust network settings, such as Wi-Fi passwords, network names, and security options. Its user-friendly interface eliminates the need for complex technical knowledge, making it accessible to a wide range of users.
One of the key advantages of AirPort Utility is its ability to work seamlessly with other Apple devices and services. For example, it can be used to set up and manage AirPort Express as a portable travel router or to enable wireless printing by connecting a printer to the USB port. Additionally, AirPort Utility allows users to create separate 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks, providing greater flexibility and performance for their devices.
Furthermore, AirPort Utility enhances the user experience by offering features such as Time Machine support. With this feature, users can connect an external USB hard drive to their AirPort Extreme, enabling them to back up and restore their Mac computers wirelessly. This adds a layer of convenience and data security to the overall networking experience.
In summary, AirPort Utility is a user-friendly interface that empowers Apple users to easily manage their networks and get the most out of their AirPort devices. Its simplicity, seamless integration with Apple devices, and additional features like wireless printing and Time Machine support make it a valuable tool for anyone using Apple's Wi-Fi networking products.
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Frequently asked questions
Apple Airport is a brand name for Apple's Wi-Fi networking products, including routers, and not a modem. However, the original AirPort Base Station (Graphite) features a dial-up modem and an Ethernet port.
A modem connects your devices to the internet, whereas Apple Airport connects AirPort-enabled computers to the internet, each other, a wired LAN, and/or other devices.
Yes, Apple Airport can be used with a modem.
Yes, Apple Airport can be used without a modem.
No, Apple Airport cannot replace a modem as it is not a modem.
