Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
mean back to the first time you saw a data processor accessing the Internet wirelessly . ( Yes , kids , there was a time before Wi - Fi ) . It altogether blew your mind , did n’t it ? Since then , Wi - Fi nucleotide stations have become something of a good . The newAirPort ExtremeBase Station ( 2009 edition ) might not bring that first boot of wonder back to Wi - Fi , but it certainly crams an incredible amount of power into a tiny , low - price box .
What’s new
The computer hardware improver are more numerous , but you would n’t know it from the outside of the unit . The casing has n’t changed a bit , nor have the ports on the back . What have changed are the radios inside . The AirPort Extreme now has two Wi - Fi radio set , which enable a feature calledsimultaneous dual - band . essentially , the AirPort Extreme sets up two different 802.11n ( Draft N ) networks : a 5GHz - lot connection only for young Macs , and a 2.4GHz - band meshwork required for older devices that employ 802.11b and 802.11 g communications protocol ( 802.11n can apply either set ) . estimator , iPhones , and other machine connect to whichever mesh they are compatible with . That mean gimmick which include support for the fast 5GHz - band will always apply that stripe when appropriate .
Previous generation of AirPort Extremes included one wireless that was capable of spread either a 2.4GHz or 5GHz web , but not both at once . You had to make a choice to use either the 2.4GHz band , which provide devices with 802.11b or 802.11 g hardware ( iPhones or one-time Macs ) to connect but achieves only a fraction of 802.11n ’s potential , or build two meshing with one servicing 2.4GHz - only machine and the other rig to 5GHz for newer 802.11n hardware . coincidental dual - set works around this by cause two consecrate web , one for each dance orchestra , earmark the highest speeds for every Wi - Fi adapter .
The two networks , by default option , share the same SSID ( or name ) , since there are n’t many reasons why you would want to separate the two . During initial setup , you pick out a web name for the AirPort Extreme , which it applies to both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks . you may choose to set the 5GHz connection with a different name , pull up stakes whatever name you entered during setup as the 2.4GHz connection name . However , when you do this , you mislay an important feature film : When the networks partake in the same SSID , newer Macs with the later Leopard AirPort node software program will automatically shift between the 2.4GHz and 5GHz connection bet on their aloofness from the base place and other ingredient . If the Mac is close-fitting to the base place , it ’ll apply the 5GHz internet , which is faster but has a curt reach ; when you drift further from the foundation station , it ’ll switch to 2.4GHz , which is slow but has a far greater range .
The front of the AirPort Extreme base station.
Apple used this alteration chance and some newer hardware to alleviate another characteristic , calledguest networking . This creates another simultaneous dual - band web , a practical one this clock time , which broadcasts with a different SSID . Notice that SSID is curious in this case — that ’s because the guest meshwork must expend the same SSID for both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz connection . The idea here is that this web , which is cordoned off from your primary web , can be used by Edgar Albert Guest either at your home plate or business . Simply set it up with an easy - to - remember password ( unlike from your main web ’s word ) and rest easy fuck that none of your web devices are available to anyone on that web . you could allow clients on the guest internet to see one another if you like , but they will never be able-bodied to get to machine attached to the primary internet : Bonjour and other local web traffic is n’t give to the guest clients .
Need for speed
During my examination , I loaded the 2.4GHz and 5GHz internet with lot of traffic , both at the same time and individually . I also connected two Macs to the AirPort Extreme via Ethernet , which resulted in consistent stop number of 934 Mbps . Between two laptops run on the 5GHz net , I was able to achieve pep pill hovering at about 70 Mbps , with episodic higher spikes . ( I live in an apartment construction where there are at least five other Wi - Fi web within range at any given time . ) When I added two Macs on the 2.4GHz net to the two on the 5GHz net , I did see a flyspeck dip in speed on the 5GHz net . ( The average was around 65 Mbps , with some high spikes . )
The reach of your wireless internet is also important , and the AirPort Extreme continues to offer with child coverage . My revaluation whole easily covered my total 1,200 - square - foot flat . No matter where I stood , I fuck off a full signal ( even switching from 2.4GHz to 5GHz meshing ) . Data transfer rates lessen as more walls came between me and the AirPort Extreme unit , but I was still able to get a signaling about 20 feet down the hallway from my front door .
What’s not so new
Clearly , the AirPort Extreme is a Wi - Fi base station first and first off , but is also comes with four gigabit Ethernet port wine , only three of which can be used for pumped up clients . ( The fourth is for your Internet connection , although it acts as a switched port in some limited cases — if you ’re using your base post in bridge modal value , for instance , or extending an AirPort internet via Wi - Fi alternatively of Ethernet . ) If you ’re anything like me , you have a number of networked devices in your house , and you want them to be able to enter the Internet and talk to one another as tight as possible . As older school as it sound , running wire result is far in faster performance than any flavour of Wi - Fi . In my sign , the Apple TV , Xbox 360 , VoIP phone , and Mac Pro are cable to a router . It would be great if Apple tot another functional gigabit Ethernet port or two to the AirPort Extreme so folk music like me could get rid of yet another slice of networking train . ( To be fairish , for about $ 40 you could get an eight - port gigabit switch ; while that adds wad more ports , it ’s also yet another machine you postulate to find a spot for . )
And since we ’re on the subject of the physical machine , what ’s up with the AirPort Extreme ’s AC adaptor ? I love the long power electric cord attach to it , but I ca n’t resist the adapter itself , as it is yet another thing you have to find a hiding place for . Here ’s hoping the AirPort Extreme will follow the Time Capsule ’s steer and have an integrated power adaptor in succeeding versions .
Macworld’s buying advice
The 2009 version of the AirPort Extreme Base Station pack in a ton of feature , as well as speed , into a small , jolly price package . If you ’re look to replace your current Wi - Fi router , you ca n’t go incorrect with the AirPort Extreme . If you ’re persist a pocket-size business , the new guest connection lineament alone might be worth the $ 179 price shred . owner of the premature genesis AirPort Extreme face up a tougher determination ; depending on the motley of devices on your wireless web , you may see focal ratio increment with the new AirPort Extreme when transferring file , which is handy for people using Apple goggle box or other media nerve centre devices .
[ Scott McNulty is a senior contributor for MacUser , blogs atblankbaby , and is the author ofBuilding a WordPress Blog People Want to Read(Peachpit Press , 2008 ) . ]
The back of the AirPort Extreme base station.
