Aging Airport Extreme: How Old Is Yours?

Apple's AirPort Extreme is a residential gateway that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, NAS, and other functions. The first AirPort Extreme was announced at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco on January 7, 2003. Since then, there have been six generations of the AirPort Extreme, with the latest model supporting 802.11ac networking. Apple discontinued its AirPort line of products in 2018, including the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme base stations, and AirPort Time Capsule. While Apple no longer sells these products, they continue to provide limited hardware and software support.

The Airport Extreme was first released in 2003

The 2003 release of the AirPort Extreme Base Station was also notable for its ability to serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously. Most models of this generation included an internal 56K dial-up modem, allowing wireless connectivity for homes that lacked a broadband connection. This first generation of the AirPort Extreme was the only one to use the distinctive "flying saucer" form factor, with later generations adopting a shorter, rounded-square shape.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station was an important product for Apple, marking their continued support for the 802.11 standard and helping to kickstart the Wi-Fi revolution. The AirPort Extreme has gone through several iterations since its original release, with minor upgrades and improvements made over the years. However, the original 2003 release laid the foundation for subsequent generations, with its combination of cutting-edge wireless technology and innovative design.

The AirPort Extreme has since been discontinued by Apple, with the company exiting the router market in 2018. Despite this, the AirPort Extreme remains a significant product in the history of wireless technology, offering improved performance and functionality that built upon the previous standards and paved the way for future advancements in Wi-Fi technology.

The latest Airport Extreme model is the 6th generation

The AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways made by Apple Inc. that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, NAS, and other functions. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking in addition to older standards.

The AirPort Extreme was first announced at the MacWorld expo in San Francisco on January 7, 2003. It featured 802.11g wireless technology for the first time in an AirPort base station. The name "AirPort Extreme" originally referred to any of Apple's AirPort products that implemented the newly introduced 802.11g Wi-Fi standard, differentiating it from earlier devices that ran the slower 802.11a and 802.11b standards.

Over the years, the AirPort Extreme has gone through three distinct physical forms. The earliest models featured a round "flying saucer" shape, similar to the original AirPort Base Station. From 2007 to 2013, the devices took on a flat rounded rectangle shape, similar to the layout and size of the Mac mini or early models of the Apple TV. The 2013 model introduced a more vertical form, taller than it was wide.

In 2013, a major upgrade was released, changing the physical structure of the device, adding 802.11ac support, and additional antennas. On June 10, 2013, Apple unveiled the AirPort Extreme 802.11ac (6th Generation), featuring 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. This 6th generation model also added support for Time Machine backups using an external USB hard drive.

Apple discontinued developing its lineup of wireless routers in 2016 and exited the router market in 2018 with the formal discontinuation of the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule products. Despite this, Apple continues to provide limited hardware and software support for the AirPort Extreme as of 2023.

Apple discontinued the Airport Extreme in 2018

The AirPort Extreme is a line of residential gateways made by Apple that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS. It was first introduced in 2003 and has since gone through several iterations, with the latest model being the 6th generation.

In 2016, Apple disbanded the wireless router team that developed the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme router. This led to speculation about the future of the AirPort line.

Finally, in 2018, Apple formally discontinued the AirPort Extreme, exiting the router market. This decision was met with surprise, as Apple rarely discontinues product categories. In fact, Bloomberg News noted that the move was "a boon for other wireless router makers."

Despite discontinuing the product, Apple has continued to provide limited hardware and software support for the AirPort Extreme. As of 2021, the most recent firmware update for the AirPort routers was in May 2019, and it is unlikely that any new updates will be released.

If you are still using an AirPort Extreme, it is important to consider the age of your device and whether it meets your networking goals and security needs. While it may continue to work, older devices may not support newer networking technology or provide the same level of security as more recent alternatives. Therefore, it is recommended to replace devices that are 6-7 years old or older, especially if you are concerned about up-to-date security.

The Airport Extreme combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point and NAS

The Airport Extreme is a router by Apple, which was discontinued in 2018. The Airport Extreme combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS.

Router

The Airport Extreme was first released in 2003, with the first generation released in 2007. The router was given a new design, with a square shape and rounded corners, and improvements were made to the wireless standard. The second generation of the Airport Extreme, released in 2007, introduced Gigabit Ethernet. The third, fourth, and fifth generations followed in 2009 and 2011, respectively, with the latter being the last hardware update made to the Airport routers. These models introduced antenna improvements and the ability to use Time Machine, which allowed users to back up an Apple computer to an external device.

Network Switch

The Airport Extreme can be used as a network switch. For example, an older model Airport Extreme can be used as a switch with a Google Wifi router. By connecting the Airport Extreme to the modem and the Google Wifi router, and turning off the wireless capability, the Airport Extreme functions as a switch.

Wireless Access Point

The Airport Extreme can also function as a wireless access point. For example, an older Airport Extreme can be set up in a garage to provide a separate 2.4GHz signal for smart devices that cannot connect to a newer router.

NAS

The Airport Extreme can be used as a basic network drive or NAS. However, it is not recommended for storing critical data as the devices are considered unstable, with questionable hardware and software components.

In conclusion, the Airport Extreme combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, offering versatility and functionality for its users.

The Airport Extreme has gone through three distinct physical forms

The Airport Extreme is a line of residential gateways made by Apple that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS. It is one of Apple's former AirPort products. The first Airport Extreme was announced at the MacWorld expo in San Francisco on January 7, 2003, and featured 802.11g wireless technology.

From 2007 to 2013, the devices took on a flat rounded rectangle shape, similar in layout and size to the Mac mini or early models of the Apple TV. This form factor was also adopted by later generations until 2013.

The 2013 model had a more vertical form, taller than it was wide. This design also included a major upgrade, changing the physical structure of the device, adding 802.11ac support, and adding more antennas.

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