Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
The redesign 2012 model of theAirPort ExpressWi - Fi base station has become the mouse that roar . The revisions transform this simulation into a tiny powerhouse by adding to its previous small attributes a second ethernet embrasure , simultaneous dual - band Wi - Fi , and a guest net option all in a form constituent indistinguishable to the Apple TV ( except white-hot and an apothecaries' ounce lighter ) .
At the same $ 99 as the former two models , the AirPort Express might serve an intact flat or single - story home , or do as a main radical station to which other floor stations are chain via Wi - Fi or ethernet , where antecedently the $ 179AirPort Extremebase station would be ask . The Express use the same configuration tools and options as its bigger siblings , the Extreme andTime Capsule . In testing , carrying out and throughput are in line with those models .
It ’s extremely difficult to offer generically useful advice when quiz the chain of mountains for a al-Qa’ida station , because every household and office vary in what block or reflects wireless signal . The new Express offer fantabulous sign strength across my 90 - twelvemonth - one-time sign of the zodiac , which requires three fundament stations to encompass its small size due to materials in walls and the base between the master story and basement that block signal . The Express compares favourably to two different models of Extreme in use in the same house . As with all base stations , you may call for to try out an Express , and even move it to different locating , to determine if it can cover the area you involve . ( Try the free NetSpot single-valued function program to help with that task . )
While any Wi - Fi twist may unite to an AirPort Express web , Apple only admit configuration via AirPort Utility , whether on iOS , Windows , or Mac OS X in Leopard , Snow Leopard , and Lion . Apple currently has two chain of utility program software program in Mac OS X to provide legacy living for features it removed in a software rescript , but which are still available in ironware . With Leopard and Snow Leopard , AirPort Utility 5.6.1 must be installed to configure an AirPort Express ; with Lion , the minimum version is now 6.1 . ( While Lion can still apply 5.6.0 to access features in all late 802.11n root word stations , those release from 2007 to 2011 , 6.1 is absolutely take for the young Express , and Lion ca n’t use 5.6.1 . )
Simultaneous dual-band
While the previous AirPort Express ( 2008 ) tolerate 802.11n networking , you had to make a choice to set the Express to utilise either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band available for 802.11n , not both at the same time ( known as simultaneous dual - banding ) .
All old 802.11b and 802.11 g gear can plug into only using 2.4GHz epithelial duct . This is also true of a fairly big amount of newer equipment that supports 802.11n , but only for 2.4 gigahertz connections , which includes all iPhones and iPod touch models with 802.11n , many smartphone and handhelds , and even some New computers . All iPad models , the Apple TV , and all Mac models relinquish since 2006 can utilise either 2.4GHz or 5GHz . ( The 5GHz band offers much greater throughput but only at closer length than 2.4GHz . )
have both bands useable at once in the 2012 AirPort Express ( a feature added in 2009 to the Extreme and Time Capsule models ) allow your mesh to execute at the highest potential speeds no matter how aloof a gimmick is from the base station while it rest in image of a signal . That ’s a meaning improvement , and makes the Express a much good value , especially compared with equipment from compete manufacturers , such as Linksys . Competitors have offer up relatively cheap coincidental twofold - band gateways for eld , but those models miss Mac - specific characteristic , such as Wake on Demand .
Two streams
The AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule model ( since 2009 ) have one advantage in the wireless department over the Express . In 802.11n , the tuner organisation can use varying amounts of power across the multiple transmitting aerial used to send out out data to “ guide ” a signal ( think of multiple cue spliff collide with a pool orchis to control how it carom ) , and create freestanding datum streams at full throughput across unlike paths in space . The Express has two stream , while the Extreme and Time Capsule provide three .
This approach allow a three - stream router , like the Extreme , to have an effective bare-assed throughput of 450 Mbps in 5GHz and 225 Mbps in 2.4GHz , while the Express is limited to 300 Mbps and 150 Mbps , respectively . In practice , the net throughput might be just 10 to 30 percentage gamy for an Extreme or Time Capsule over an Express ( say 130 Mbps or else of 100 Mbps ) , and if you ’re that concerned about throughput , you may ask to use electrify connexion in any case . Apple ’s AFP file - share-out typically top at much lower rates than these maximum data rate .
The additional transmitting aerial required and the extra flow also fill up in hard - to - reach spaces with salutary Wi - Fi coverage . For larger home or agency , or ones that have utter areas with an Express or other Wi - Fi gear , the Extreme or Time Capsule may be ask .
Ethernet connectivity
The AirPort Express once had a individual ethernet port wine , which limited how it connect to a wired connection . You could either stop up it into a broadband modem and share approach via Wi - Fi ( including to other infrastructure stations ) , or connect to it a web permutation to extend an existing Wi - Fi web . You could not , however , utilise it as both a wired and wireless main base place connected to the broadband connection . Older models could also extend an existing Apple wireless electronic internet ( that feature of speech still live ) and expend the single ethernet embrasure to provide access code to pumped machines . The novel second ethernet larboard open up up the Express by allowing both a Wide Area web ( WAN ) joining to a broadband modem or a larger web , and a Local Area web ( LAN ) connection to a information processing system via ethernet , or to an ethernet switch to which many estimator and devices can be connected .
The Time Capsule and Extreme each have a built - in three - port gigabit ethernet ( 10/100/1000 Mbps ) switch , while the Express continues to utilize 10/100 Mbps ethernet on both its WAN and LAN ports . However , the 100 Mbps point of accumulation does n’t affect data point interchange between Wi - Fi devices , which work at the maximum wireless rates usable , and it ’s easy enough to plug in an inexpensive gigabit ethernet switch to allow the fastest throughput between wired twist .
Only two particular situations ask an Extreme or Time Capsule because of the ethernet limitation : if you have a broadband connection of fast than 100 Mbps , which is uncommon , but becoming more wide available ; or you are dictated to have the maximum possible throughput between ethernet and Wi - Fi devices on the same connection .
More features
Guest networking has also been added , which allows a second practical web with a unique meshing name ( SSID ) and security scheme to be available to visitor or others without providing entree to the main web . Guest user ca n’t sniff or have accession to Bonjour resources ( like shared printers or file servers ) or other traffic on the main mesh , either . This has been in Apple ’s full - sized base station for year , and it ’s a decent feature to find in the $ 99 model .
Apple also brings over the option from the other simultaneous duple - band gateways of naming the 2.4 gigahertz and 5 GHz networks separately . That let you opt to have a equipment connect to one ring or another if it has the option of connecting to either . On some compounding of devices and networks , it can be utile to draw 5 GHz for throughput or 2.4 gigacycle per second for range .
The Express continues to have a unequalled choice in the Wi - Fi base post line of reasoning - up , which is a dual - occasion analog and digital optic ( Toslink ) interface which lets it be a target for AirPlay audio streaming from iTunes on a Mac or Windows organisation and from any equal to app in iOS . ( Rogue Amoeba’sAirfoilextends AirPlay streaming to any audio outturn in Mac OS X or under Windows . )
Previous poser had an integral two - prong power plug ( in 110 - V countries ) that admit them to hang now off a bulwark electric receptacle or suit into a business leader strip . The theme station was laboured enough that it could easily fall off the way out , and locating it by an outlet or a king strip could often think that signal were blocked by furniture . A separate cord with a three - prong plug was only available as part of a $ 39 A / V outfit . The 2012 Express ( in the U.S. variant at least ) has a 6.5 - foot ( 200 centimetre ) long two - prong cable that allow for it to be more easily invest . It ’s also attractive enough , unlike the unit it replaced , to sit on top of a telecasting cabinet or tabular array .
The 2012 Express , just like the two preceding model , can only portion out a single USB printer using Bonjour . The Extreme and Time Capsule use Bonjour communion for a printer or arduous driving ( via AFP and Samba ) through a USB port , but also give up the use of a USB hub to divvy up multiple devices .
Macworld’s buying advice
The quibbles about USB and ethernet are comparatively nonaged compared to the feature usable in this mighty mite . For the money , the Express make an effective foundation place for modestly sized flat or homes , or where access is only needed in a few adjacent rooms in an office . This satiny model is the right choice for many , and at $ 80 less than the AirPort Extreme , a prudent one as well .
[ Glenn Fleishman , a senior contributor to Macworld , wrote a book about using Wi - Fi with Apple hardware called “ Take Control of Your 802.11n AirPort connection . ” The third edition is updated for Lion , AirPort Utility 6 , and the iOS AirPort Utility app . ]
