Roberta Aguirre
Apple's Airport Extreme is a discontinued line of residential gateways that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking, offering faster Wi-Fi and a stronger, clearer signal. The Airport Extreme can be used to boost your wireless network and has four gigabit ethernet ports to create a wired network with fast data rates. It also has a USB port that can accept external hard drives and printers.
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What You'll Learn
Connect multiple devices
The AirPort Extreme is a wireless router that allows users to connect multiple devices. It is a discontinued 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 other functions.
The AirPort Extreme has three Gigabit Ethernet client ports, allowing for wired (Ethernet) clients. It supports Wi-Fi 5 802.11ac networking, in addition to older standards like 802.11g and 802.11n. This means that it can allow WiFi-G and WiFi-N devices on the same network, with all devices running at top speed, a feature known as Simultaneous Dual Band.
The AirPort Extreme's USB port can accept USB external hard drives, USB printers, and a powered USB hub for connecting multiple USB devices. This is in contrast to the Airport Express, which has a USB port that can only be used for connecting a printer.
The AirPort Extreme can also be used in Bridge Mode, where it connects to the "main" router and relays the signal, creating a wireless range extender. This can be useful for extending the range of the network or for use in hotel rooms with only wired connections.
One user reported having three AirPort Extremes in a mesh network at home, with two in the house and one in a separate garage, all working together to provide a strong and fast connection for smart devices, mobile devices, and smart TVs.
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Share a hard drive
The AirPort Extreme is a discontinued line of residential gateways by Apple Inc. that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions. Versions of the system with a built-in network-accessible hard drive are known as the AirPort Time Capsule.
The AirPort Extreme has a USB port that can be used to connect a USB external hard drive. This feature is known as the AirPort Disk. It allows users to plug a USB hard drive into the AirPort Extreme and use it as a network-attached storage (NAS) device for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows clients.
The performance of USB hard drives attached to an AirPort Extreme is slower than if the drive were connected directly to a computer due to the processor speed on the AirPort Extreme. Depending on the setup and types of reads and writes, performance ranges from 0.5 to 17.5 MB/s for writing and 1.9 to 25.6 MB/s for reading.
The AirPort Time Capsule, a version of the AirPort Extreme with a built-in network-accessible hard drive, was introduced in 2013. It featured 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. The 6th generation AirPort Extreme supported the use of an external USB hard drive connected to the device for Time Machine backups.
While Apple discontinued its wireless routers, including the AirPort Extreme, in 2018, it continues to provide limited hardware and software support as of 2023.
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Wired and wireless connections
The AirPort Extreme is a discontinued line of residential gateways from Apple Inc. that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, as well as other functions. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking in addition to older standards.
The AirPort Extreme can be used as a wireless router, creating a local wireless network that can be connected to the internet. It supports Wi-Fi G and Wi-Fi N devices on the same network, allowing for simultaneous dual-band connections without slowing down any devices. This means that multiple devices can be connected at the same time without any loss of speed.
The AirPort Extreme has three Gigabit Ethernet client ports, allowing for wired connections as well. This makes it ideal for a mixed-client situation, where some devices may require a wired connection, such as an older iPod Touch or a gaming rig.
The device also has a USB port that can be used to connect a USB printer or a USB external hard drive. A powered USB hub can also be connected to the USB port to connect multiple USB devices.
The AirPort Extreme can also be used as a wireless range extender, boosting the signal of another router to improve the wireless network coverage in a given area.
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Guest networking
The guest networking feature on Airport Extreme can be set up by creating a separate network name and password for guests. This can be done through the Airport Utility app, which is available for iOS and macOS. Once the guest network has been created, guests can connect to it using the provided network name and password.
In addition to creating a separate network for guests, the host can also set bandwidth limits for the guest network. This means that the host can control the speed of the internet connection for guests, ensuring that their own network is not slowed down by guest usage. The host can also choose to turn the guest network on or off as needed, providing flexibility and control over network access.
Another advantage of using the guest networking feature on Airport Extreme is the ability to create a captive portal. A captive portal is a web page that guests are directed to when they first connect to the network. This page can be customized by the host to include a welcome message, terms and conditions, or even advertising content. This feature enhances the host's ability to manage and control the guest network experience.
Overall, the guest networking capabilities of Airport Extreme provide a robust and secure way to offer internet access to guests while maintaining the privacy and integrity of the host's main network. By utilizing features such as network separation, bandwidth management, and captive portals, hosts can have greater control and flexibility in managing guest access to their Wi-Fi network.
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Network Attached Storage (NAS)
The AirPort Extreme is a discontinued line of residential gateways by Apple Inc. that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, along with other functions. The AirPort Extreme can be used as a wireless range extender and for streaming music to a stereo wirelessly. It is also capable of supporting Wi-Fi-G and Wi-Fi-N devices on the same network, with all devices running at top speed (called Simultaneous Dual Band).
The AirPort Extreme has three Gigabit Ethernet client ports, allowing wired (Ethernet) clients. The device also has a USB port that can be used to connect a USB printer or a USB external hard drive. The AirPort Disk feature allows users to plug a USB hard drive into the AirPort Extreme for use as a network-attached storage (NAS) device for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows clients.
The performance of USB hard drives attached to an AirPort Extreme is slower than if the drive were connected directly to a computer due to the processor speed on the AirPort Extreme. Depending on the setup and types of reads and writes, performance ranges from 0.5 to 17.5 MB/s for writing and 1.9 to 25.6 MB/s for reading.
The AirPort Extreme has gone through three distinct physical forms. The earliest models featured a round "flying saucer" shape, while later generations adopted a flat, rounded-square form factor until 2013. The 2013 model had a more vertical form, taller than it was wide.
While Apple discontinued its wireless routers in 2018, it continues to provide limited hardware and software support as of 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
Airport Extreme is a discontinued line of residential gateways made by Apple Inc. that combine the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point and NAS, as well as other functions.
The three main things the Airport Extreme can do that the Airport Express can't are:
- Allow wired (Ethernet) clients—it has three Gigabit Ethernet client ports, while the Express only allows wireless.
- Allow WiFi-G and WiFi-N devices on the same network, with all devices operating at top speed (called Simultaneous Dual Band).
- Attach external hard drives, turning them into network-attached storage devices (NAS).
The Airport Extreme offers faster Wi-Fi and a stronger, clearer signal than the Airport Express. It also has an internal power supply, so there is no need for an external power unit. It can also be used to make your printer wireless.
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