Identifying Airport Express Generations: A Quick Guide

The AirPort Express is a discontinued Wi-Fi base station product from Apple Inc. Apple discontinued its wireless routers in 2018 but continues to support later models. There are a few ways to determine the generation of your AirPort Express. One way is to locate the model number on the side of the device, which starts with an A followed by four numbers. Another way is to use the AirPort Utility, which can be found in the applications folder.

Check the model number on the side of the AirPort Express

To determine which generation of the AirPort Express you own, you can check the model number on the side of the device. The model number starts with an "A" followed by four numbers.

For example, A1084 or A1088 are older "b/g" versions of the AirPort Express. These versions are not compatible with much else anymore, as they do not have the capability to extend a wireless network.

The A1264 model is the 1st Gen 802.11n version, which works with the Lion, Mountain Lion, and Mavericks operating systems. This model supports the 802.11 Draft-N draft specification and can operate in either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands.

Checking the model number on the side of your AirPort Express device is a quick and easy way to identify which generation you have.

Refer to the AirPort Utility

Referring to the AirPort Utility is another way to determine the AirPort Extreme Base Station's generation. Here are the steps to do so:

Step 1:

Open the AirPort Utility on your iPhone, Mac, or PC. If you are using an Apple router, such as the AirPort Extreme, the AirPort Utility is already installed on your computer.

Step 2:

If you are using an AirPort Extreme, install the AirPort Utility on your Mac or PC. This will guide you through the steps to set up your AirPort Express and extend your network.

Step 3:

Once set up, the AirPort Express will connect wirelessly to your home network router. It can share this wireless connection with up to 10 wireless devices, allowing them to connect to your home network.

Step 4:

The AirPort Express can extend your Wi-Fi network by becoming an access point. This is useful for extending the network to a music streaming unit in the garage or a computer in an adjoining office.

Step 5:

To stream music using the AirPort Express, connect it to an audio input on your stereo/AV receiver, or to powered speakers.

Step 6:

To stream music from your computer, open iTunes. At the bottom right of the iTunes window, you will see a drop-down menu listing the available AirPlay devices.

Step 7:

Select your AirPort Express from the list, and the music you play in iTunes will play over the connected speakers or home theatre receiver.

Step 8:

On an iPhone, iPad, or iPod, look for the arrow-in-a-box AirPlay icon when playing music or audio. Tap this to bring up a list of AirPlay sources, and select your AirPort Express.

Step 9:

You can now stream music from compatible AirPlay-enabled apps from your device and listen through the speakers or stereo connected to your AirPort Express.

Identify the generation by the year of release

The AirPort Express is a discontinued Wi-Fi base station product from Apple. The first version (M9470LL/A, model A1084) was introduced by Apple on July 7, 2004. This model included an analog-optical audio mini-jack output, a USB port for remote printing, and one Ethernet port.

An updated version (MB321LL/A, model A1264) was released in March 2008. This model supported the faster 802.11 Draft-N draft specification and operation in either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands.

In 2012, Apple introduced a completely redesigned model with a new square form factor and two Ethernet ports. This model was discontinued in April 2018.

AirPort Express 802.11g (1st Generation): Released in July 2004 and discontinued in March 2008. It featured a 10/100 Ethernet WAN or LAN port and an analog/digital audio output jack.

AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation): Released in March 2008 and discontinued in June 2012. It offered enhanced performance and extended range compared to its predecessor. This model supported the 802.11n specification, allowing for faster speeds and improved range.

AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd Generation): Released in June 2012 and discontinued in April 2018. This model introduced a redesigned form factor with two Ethernet ports: one WAN and one LAN. It supported 802.11a/b/g/n simultaneous dual-band and included an analog/digital audio output jack.

You can identify your AirPort Express generation by referring to the model number, which starts with an "A" followed by four numbers. For example, A1084 or A1088 are older "b/g" versions, while A1264 is the 1st Generation 802.11n version.

Additionally, you can use the AirPort Utility to determine the generation of your AirPort Express.

Check the manual for the generation

Checking the manual is a good way to determine the generation of your Apple AirPort Express. Apple has published four different manuals on the AirPort Express:

• AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation) - Setup Guide
• AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd Generation): Guide to Ports and Connectors
• AirPort Express 802.11g (1st Generation)
• AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation)

The first three manuals listed above correspond to the first three generations of the AirPort Express, respectively. The fourth manual, titled "AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation)," is for a newer generation of the device. This is because Apple did not start using the generation naming convention until the "n" wireless versions of the Express appeared in 2007.

Therefore, if you have access to the manual for your AirPort Express, you can determine its generation by checking the title or the content of the manual and comparing it to the list provided above.

In addition to checking the manual, you can also determine the generation of your AirPort Express by locating the model number on the side of the device. The model number starts with an "A" followed by four numbers. Here are the model numbers for each generation:

• 1st Generation: A1084
• 2nd Generation: A1264

By locating the model number and referring to the list above, you can identify the generation of your AirPort Express.

Furthermore, you can also use the AirPort Utility to determine the generation of your AirPort Express. Open the Applications folder on your computer, launch the AirPort Utility, and the necessary information will be displayed on the pop-up window.

Identify by the number of Ethernet ports

The number of Ethernet ports on an AirPort Express can help you identify which generation of the device you own.

The first version of the AirPort Express (model number A1084) was introduced by Apple in 2004 and included one Ethernet port. This model is also known as AirPort Express 802.11g (1st Generation).

In 2008, Apple released an updated version (model number A1264) with support for the 802.11 Draft-N specification. This model, known as AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation), continued to feature one Ethernet port.

Finally, in 2012, Apple introduced a redesigned AirPort Express model with two Ethernet ports: one WAN and one LAN. This model is referred to as AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd Generation).

Therefore, if your AirPort Express has one Ethernet port, it is likely either the 2004 AirPort Express 802.11g (1st Generation) or the 2008 AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation). If your device has two Ethernet ports, it is most likely the 2012 AirPort Express 802.11n (2nd Generation).

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