AirPort Extreme
The AirPort Extreme is a wireless router from Apple. The name AirPort Extreme also refers to the protocol (802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n), the expansion card and the base station. On on January 9, 2007, the AirPort Extreme Base Station was updated to support the 802.11a/b/g and Draft-N protocols. This version was renamed to just AirPort Extreme. This revision also adds two LAN ports for a total of three.[1] It now more closely resembles the square-shaped 1st generation Apple TV and Mac mini, and is about the same size as the Mini.
An AirPort Extreme base station can serve a maximum of 50 wireless clients simultaneously.
The new 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.[2] Users may also connect a USB hub and printer. 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. 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 [3]. Performance for the same disk connected directly to a computer would be 6.6 to 31.6 MB/s for writing and 7.1 to 37.2 MB/s for reading.
The AirPort Extreme has no port for an external antenna.
Apple AirPort Extreme Models by Generation
First generation
On August 7, 2007, the AirPort Extreme began shipping with Gigabit Ethernet, matching most other Apple products.
Second generation
On March 19, 2008, Apple released a firmware update for both models of the AirPort Extreme to allow AirPort Disks to be used in conjunction with Time Machine, similar to the functionality provided by Time Capsule.[4] However, this feature was later discontinued.[5]
Third generation
On March 3, 2009, Apple unveiled a new AirPort Extreme with simultaneous dual-band 802.11 Draft-N radios. This allows full 802.11 Draft-N 2x2 communication in both 802.11 Draft-N bands at the same time.
Fourth generation
On October 20, 2009, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme base station with antenna improvements.
Fifth generation
On June 21, 2011, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme base station, referred to as AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation).
The detailed table of output power comparison between the previous model MC340LL/A and the current model MD031LL/A can be seen below:[6] [7]
Frequency range (MHz) Mode AirPort Extreme model Output power (dBm) Output power (mW) Comparison (percents) Difference (percents) 2412–2462 802.11b Previous 24.57 286.42 100 -10.3 Current 24.10 257.04 89.7 802.11g Previous 21.56 143.22 100 +114.8 Current 24.88 307.61 214.8 802.11n HT20 Previous 21.17 130.92 100 +96.8 Current 24.11 257.63 196.8 5745–5825 802.11a Previous 23.07 202.77 100 +61.1 Current 25.14 326.59 161.1 5745–5805 802.11n HT20 Previous 22.17 164.82 100 +104.6 Current 25.28 337.29 204.6 5755–5795 802.11n HT40 Previous 21.44 139.32 100 +181.8 Current 25.94 392.64 281.8
Comparison Chart
Approx. release date AirPort Extreme Model Wi-Fi standard LAN ports Built-in modem External antenna port Power over Ethernet Gigabit ports Simultaneous dual-band capable January 7, 2003 M8930LL/A A1034 802.11b/g 2 No No No No No M8799LL/A 802.11b/g 2 Yes Yes No No No April 19, 2004 M9397LL/A A1075 802.11b/g 2 No Yes Yes No No January 9, 2007 MA073LL/A A1143 ('1st Generation', previously 'Fast Ethernet') 802.11a/b/g/Draft N 3 No No No No No, but can provide either a 5 GHz or a 2.4 GHz network August 7, 2007 MB053LL/A A1143 ('2nd Generation', previously 'Gigabit Ethernet') 802.11a/b/g/Draft N 3 No No No Yes No, but can provide either a 5 GHz or a 2.4 GHz network March 3, 2009 MB763LL/A A1301 ('3rd Generation', previously 'Simultaneous Dual-Band') 802.11a/b/g/Draft N 3 No No No Yes Yes October 20, 2009 MC340LL/A A1354 ('4th Generation', previously 'Simultaneous Dual-Band II') 802.11a/b/g/Final N 3 No No No Yes Yes June 21, 2011 MD031LL/A A1408 ('5th Generation') 802.11a/b/g/Final N 3 No No No Yes Yes
Notes
- ^ Apple.com – AirPort Extreme Product page.
- ^ Apple.com – AirPort Extreme – Sharing, Retrieved on January 17, 2007.
- ^ "Airport Extreme (5th Gen) and Time Capsule (4th Gen) Review - Faster WiFi". Airport Extreme (5th Gen) and Time Capsule (4th Gen) Review. AnandTech. Retrieved 24 October 2011.
- ^ "Time Machine now works with AirPort Extreme's AirDisk feature". Engadget.com. March 19, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
- ^ Mac OS X 10.6 Help: Disks that can be used with Time Machine
- ^ Test Report – Previous version Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- ^ Test Report – Current version Federal Communications Commission (FCC)