Lois Larson
Apple's AirPort routers were a line of Wi-Fi routers that combined the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, with other varied functions. The AirPort routers allowed for transfer rates of up to 54 Mbit/s and were backward compatible with existing 802.11b wireless network cards and base stations. The AirPort Extreme Base Station, for example, featured a dial-up modem and an Ethernet port, while the AirPort Express could be used as a portable travel router, an audio streaming device, and a USB printer-sharing device. Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018 but may return to the Wi-Fi router market in the future.
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What You'll Learn
Apple AirPort routers can be used to connect AirPort-enabled computers to the internet
Apple AirPort routers are primarily used to connect AirPort-enabled computers to the internet. They were first introduced in 1999, and since then, Apple has released several AirPort products, including the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule. These routers offer various features such as wireless internet connectivity, audio streaming, printer sharing, and external storage.
The AirPort Extreme, for example, acts as a residential gateway, combining the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS. It offers high data transfer rates and is compatible with various Apple computers, including the MacBook Pro, MacBook, Mac Mini, and iMac.
The AirPort Express, on the other hand, is a portable travel router with additional functionalities such as audio streaming and printer sharing.
The AirPort Time Capsule, an AirPort Extreme with an internal hard drive, allows for wireless backups and can be used as a shared volume for computers running Mac OS or Windows.
In 2018, Apple discontinued its AirPort product line, but the technology developed for AirPort routers continues to be used in other Apple devices, such as AirPlay, AirDrop, and Time Machine functionalities.
Apple may potentially return to the Wi-Fi router market in the future, with rumours suggesting the development of a new chip that could turn Apple TV and HomePod models into wireless access points.
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They can be used as a portable travel router
Apple Airport routers were wireless routers that combined the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions. They were designed to connect AirPort-enabled computers to the internet, each other, a wired LAN, and/or other devices.
In 2004, Apple released the AirPort Express base station, which could be used as a portable travel router. It used the same AC connectors as Apple's AC adapters, allowing for easy portability. This model also had additional functions, such as audio streaming capabilities and a USB host port for printer sharing.
The AirPort Express was a popular product, with many users connecting it to their stereos to enable AirPlay functionality. It was also praised for its ease of use and ability to wirelessly charge iPods.
While Apple discontinued its AirPort line in 2018, the portable AirPort Express remains a useful option for travellers seeking a compact and functional router. The technology developed for the AirPort routers has also influenced and enhanced many other Apple devices, such as Apple TV and AirDrop.
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They can be used as an audio streaming device
Apple Airport routers were wireless routers that allowed AirPort-enabled computers to connect to the internet, each other, a wired LAN, and/or other devices. They were introduced in 1999 and discontinued in 2018.
The AirPort Express, a portable router released in 2004, could play music, charge iPods, and allow printers to be used wirelessly. It could also be used as an audio streaming device, with both line-level and optical audio outputs. This was made possible by its AirTunes feature, which preceded Apple's AirPlay functionality.
The AirPort Express was updated in 2008 and redesigned in 2012, but it is unclear if these newer versions retained the audio streaming capabilities of the original. However, even after the discontinuation of the AirPort line, some people still use their old AirPort Express routers as audio streaming devices, connecting them to their stereos to AirPlay to them.
Thus, while the primary function of Airport routers was to provide wireless internet connectivity, their additional features, such as audio streaming, made them versatile and multifunctional devices.
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They can be used as a USB printer sharing device
Airport routers, such as Apple's AirPort Express, can be used as a USB printer sharing device. This allows multiple computers and devices to share a single printer.
To use an Airport router as a USB printer sharing device, the router must have a USB port. Not all routers support a USB connection, but most high-end routers, including the AirPort Extreme, offer USB functionality. Once the printer is connected to the USB port on the router, the router must be configured to act as a print server. This can be done by opening a web browser and typing the router's IP address into the address bar, then logging in and enabling USB printer support or Printer Server mode.
With the printer connected to the router, and the router configured to support USB printer sharing, the printer can be added to any computer on the network. On a Mac, this is done by going to System Preferences -> Print & Scan and clicking the + symbol to add the printer. On Windows, this can be done by going to the "Add" window and clicking "Add" in the lower-right corner, which installs the printer driver and allows the printer to be added.
Using an Airport router as a USB printer sharing device eliminates the need for a separate printer in every room and reduces the clutter and cost associated with a complicated network setup.
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They can be used as a wireless backup device
Apple Airport routers can be used as wireless backup devices. The Time Capsule, for example, can be used as a wireless backup device, allowing automatic, untethered backups of the client computer. The Time Capsule is a version of the AirPort Extreme (802.11 Draft-N) with an internal hard drive.
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. The AirPort Extreme allows theoretical peak data transfer rates of up to 54 Mbit/s and is backward compatible with existing 802.11b wireless network cards and base stations.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station Wi-Fi router, released in 2004, supported Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. This allowed the device to be placed in air-handling spaces and enabled up to 50 users to connect to it simultaneously.
The AirPort Extreme remained the primary Wi-Fi router Apple worked on and sold. In 2007, the AirPort Extreme was given a new design, improving from a 802.11b/g wireless standard to a 802.11a/b/g/n wireless standard. This new design was labelled the first generation of the Apple AirPort Extreme, with the 2003 model considered the "original".
In 2008, Apple released a firmware update for both models of the AirPort Extreme, allowing AirPort Disks to be used in conjunction with Time Machine, similar to the functionality provided by the AirPort Time Capsule.
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Frequently asked questions
An airport router is a line of residential gateways made by Apple Inc. that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point and NAS as well as varied other functions.
The airport router was used to connect AirPort-enabled computers to the internet, each other, a wired LAN, and/or other devices.
There was a standard AirPort Express, a higher-end AirPort Extreme with more advanced networking features, and an AirPort Time Capsule that doubled as an external storage drive for backing up a Mac with Time Machine.
No, Apple discontinued the AirPort line in 2018.
