
The Airport Extreme Base Station is a wireless router by Apple Inc. that was released in 2003. The 2009 version of the Airport Extreme Base Station was priced at $179 and offered a range of features, including dual-band support, high throughput speeds, and a simple setup process. While it was praised for its design and ease of use, particularly for Mac and novice users, it received criticism for its limited networking features and lack of support for Windows users. In this response, we will explore the pros and cons of the 2009 Airport Extreme Base Station and evaluate its performance and features.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Release date | Winter 2009 |
| Price | $179 |
| Speed | Fast throughput speeds |
| Design | Sleek, compact, internal antenna, square shape, all-white housing |
| Ease of use | Easy to use, simple setup |
| Dual-band support | True dual-band Wireless-N |
| Guest networking | Supported |
| Printer support | Supported |
| Network storage support | Supported |
| Ports | 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports, 1 USB port |
| Web interface | No Web interface |
| Remote access | No remote access for Windows users |
| Clients | Supports up to 50 clients |
| OS access | Requires OS X 10.4 or later to access storage feature |
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What You'll Learn
- Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is a great wireless router for Mac and novice users
- The 2009 version packs in a lot of features, as well as speed, into a reasonably priced package
- The 2009 version has dual-band support, which is great for users with a mixed wireless environment
- The 2009 version has limited networking features and is not a good option for Windows users
- The 2009 version has high throughput speeds and is easy to use, like most Apple products

Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is a great wireless router for Mac and novice users
The Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is a wireless router that was first introduced in 2003. Over the years, it has gone through several iterations, with the 2009 version offering a range of features and improvements.
The 2009 Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is particularly well-suited for Mac and novice users. It offers a simple setup process, making it easy for those who are new to wireless routers or prefer the user-friendly experience associated with Apple products. The setup process is straightforward and does not require a web-based wizard, as it utilises the AirPort Utility that is available for both Mac and Windows. This utility also allows for guest networking, enabling users to create a secondary network for clients without compromising their primary network or data security.
In terms of design, the 2009 AirPort Extreme Base Station continues the sleek aesthetic often associated with Apple products. It features an unobtrusive, all-white housing and internal antennas that complement other Apple devices. The router has a compact form factor, with a square shape and internal antenna, creating a modern and elegant look.
Performance-wise, the 2009 AirPort Extreme Base Station delivers high throughput speeds, ensuring efficient data transfer. It supports dual-band Wireless-N, allowing it to work with both Wireless-N and Wireless-G clients. This dual-band support is particularly beneficial for users with a mixed wireless environment, providing faster Wi-Fi transfer speeds. Additionally, the router offers good range, maintaining a steady connection beyond 300 feet in the 2.4GHz band and around 280 feet in the 5GHz band.
While the 2009 AirPort Extreme Base Station may not offer an extensive array of extra features, it provides a reliable and user-friendly experience, especially for Mac and novice users. Its simplicity, performance, and aesthetically pleasing design make it a great choice for those seeking a functional and straightforward wireless router.
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The 2009 version packs in a lot of features, as well as speed, into a reasonably priced package
The 2009 version of the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is a great wireless router for Mac or novice users who need something that's simple, nice-looking, and works well for their homes. It packs in a lot of features, as well as speed, into a reasonably priced package.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station offers good range. In an office building, a steady connection was maintained farther than 300 feet in the 2.4GHz band and about 280 feet in the 5GHz band. Expect even longer ranges in a more open environment. The base station also offers stability, with no disconnections when moving data constantly back and forth between clients over a long period of time.
The 2009 version of the AirPort Extreme Base Station has two big improvements: true dual-band Wireless-N and guest networking. These features make it comparable to other true dual-band Wireless-N routers such as the D-Link Xtreme DIR-825 or the Linksys WRT610N. The dual-band support is especially useful for users with a mixed wireless environment who want the fastest Wi-Fi transfer speeds possible.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station is easy to set up, with a simple setup process that is typical of most Apple products. The print-serving feature is easy to set up no matter what kind of device you use. The necessary drivers come preloaded if you're using Mac OS X, while if you use a Windows OS, you need to install the driver CD that came with the printer or rely on Microsoft's hardware wizard.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station has three Gigabit Ethernet ports and one USB port. The USB port can be used to host either a printer or an external hard drive to share among network users. However, 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.
Overall, the 2009 version of the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station offers a lot of features and speed at a reasonable price, making it a great choice for Mac or novice users.
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$89.99 $129.99

The 2009 version has dual-band support, which is great for users with a mixed wireless environment
The 2009 version of the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is a great choice for users with a mixed wireless environment. It offers dual-band support, allowing users to utilize both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously. This feature provides faster Wi-Fi transfer speeds and improved performance, especially when compared to the previous model.
The dual-band support in the 2009 AirPort Extreme is a significant advantage for those with a variety of wireless devices. For example, users with older laptops that only support 2.4GHz wireless connections can connect seamlessly alongside newer devices that operate on the less congested 5GHz band. This ensures that all devices can connect to the internet without sacrificing speed or performance.
Additionally, the 2009 AirPort Extreme provides a simple setup process, making it ideal for novice users. Its unobtrusive design, with an all-white housing, visually complements other Apple products. The rear of the unit houses all the expected plugs, including a WAN port for connecting to a broadband modem and three Gigabit LAN ports.
While the 2009 AirPort Extreme offers dual-band support, it's important to note that the 5GHz performance may not be as impressive as some competing routers. Some reviews indicate that the 5GHz band's range and throughput are lower than those of other dual-band routers on the market. However, the 2009 AirPort Extreme still provides a robust feature set, including guest networking and the ability to connect a USB hard drive for network-attached storage (NAS).
Overall, the 2009 version of the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is a solid choice for users with a mixed wireless environment. Its dual-band support enables seamless connectivity for a range of devices, and its simple setup makes it accessible to those who may be less tech-savvy. While there may be routers with slightly better 5GHz performance, the AirPort Extreme's combination of features, design, and dual-band functionality make it a competitive option.
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The 2009 version has limited networking features and is not a good option for Windows users
The 2009 version of the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is a good option for Mac or novice users who need a simple, nice-looking, and functional wireless router for their homes. However, it has limited networking features and is not the best option for savvy Windows users who are looking for more advanced functionality.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station offers high throughput speeds and the ease of use typical of Apple products. It provides dual-band support, allowing users to take advantage of the IEEE 802.11n throughput potential. The setup process is straightforward, making it accessible to those who are new to wireless routers. Additionally, it offers guest networking, enabling users to create a secondary network for clients without exposing their primary network or data.
However, the 2009 version of the AirPort Extreme Base Station has some limitations, especially for Windows users. It only has three LAN or Ethernet ports, which is fewer than most other wireless-N routers. This restricts the number of wired clients that can be connected directly to the router. While it supports network storage, it is limited to HFS+-formatted hard drives, and it does not support NTFS-formatted drives. Additionally, it lacks a Web interface, and Windows users cannot access the storage feature unless they are using OS X 10.4 or later.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station also has picky support for USB external hard drives, and there is no remote access for Windows users. At the time of its release, it was priced at $179, which was considered relatively expensive compared to other high-end routers. For Windows users seeking more advanced networking features, customization options, and faster speeds, there were alternative routers available that offered better value for money.
In summary, while the 2009 version of the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station has its advantages, such as simplicity, aesthetics, and good performance for basic home use, it falls short in terms of networking features, particularly for Windows users. Savvy Windows users or those seeking more advanced functionality would be better off exploring alternative options that offer a wider range of features and customization options.
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The 2009 version has high throughput speeds and is easy to use, like most Apple products
The 2009 version of the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station is an excellent wireless router for Mac users or novices who need a simple, attractive, and functional device for their homes. It has a sleek, unobtrusive design with an all-white housing and internal antennas that visually complement other Apple products.
The 2009 AirPort Extreme offers high throughput speeds and is easy to use, like most Apple products. It features true dual-band Wireless-N and guest networking, making it comparable to other true dual-band Wireless-N routers such as the D-Link Xtreme DIR-825 and the Linksys WRT610N. The dual-band support is particularly useful for users with a mixed wireless environment who want the fastest Wi-Fi transfer speeds possible.
The setup process is simple, and the device offers stability with a good range. In a CNET test, the router maintained a steady connection at a distance of over 300 feet in the 2.4GHz band and about 280 feet in the 5GHz band. The AirPort Extreme also allows for guest networking, enabling users to create a secondary network for clients without exposing their primary network or data.
However, the 2009 AirPort Extreme has some limitations. It only has three Ethernet ports, which is one fewer than most other USB Wireless-N routers. Additionally, it offers a relatively skimpy amount of networking features, especially for Windows users, and has picky support for USB external hard drives. It also lacks a Web interface and does not support remote access for Windows users.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport Extreme is a line of residential gateways made by Apple Inc. that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, NAS, and other functions.
The 2009 version of the Airport Extreme Base Station was praised for its fast throughput, ease of use, dual-band support, guest networking, and aesthetically pleasing design. However, it was also noted to have limited networking features, picky support for USB external hard drives, only three Ethernet ports, and no Web interface or remote access for Windows users.
The Airport Extreme Base Station is a great option for Mac users or novice users who are looking for a simple, nice-looking, and functional wireless router for their homes. Windows users may find other alternatives that offer more features and customization options.































