AirPort Extreme

The AirPort Extreme is a residential gateway combining the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point and NAS as well as varied other functions, and one of Apple's former AirPort products. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking in addition to older standards. Versions of the same system with a built-in network-accessible hard drive are known as the AirPort Time Capsule.

The back of a 2007 AirPort Extreme
Historical development of some wireless router chipset variants

The name "AirPort Extreme" originally referred to any one of Apple's AirPort products that implemented the (then) newly introduced 802.11g Wi-Fi standard, differentiating it from earlier devices that ran the slower 802.11a and b standards. At that time the gateway part of this lineup was known as the AirPort Extreme Base Station. With the addition of the even faster Draft-N standards in early 2009 this naming was dropped, and from then on only the gateway has been known as the AirPort Extreme. Several minor upgrades followed, mostly to change antenna and power in the Wi-Fi. In 2013, a major upgrade added 802.11ac support and more internal antennas.

The AirPort Extreme has gone through three distinct physical forms. The earliest models were packaged similar to the original AirPort Base Station, in a round housing known as the "flying saucer". From 2007 to 2013 the Extreme was packaged in a rounded-rectangle white plastic housing, similar in layout and size to the Mac mini or earlier Apple TVs. The 2013 802.11ac model was re-packaged into a more vertical case, taller than it is square.

Apple has discontinued developing its lineup of wireless routers, but continues limited support of its earlier products.

Features

Overview

AirPort Disk

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.[3] 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.[4] 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. NTFS-formatted drives are not supported.

AirPort Extreme models by generation

Original generation

The original AirPort Extreme Base Station was so named because of its support for the 802.11g standard of the day, as well as for its ability to serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously.[5] One feature found in most models of this generation was an internal 56K dial-up modem, allowing homes that lacked a broadband connection to enjoy wireless connectivity, albeit at dial-up speeds.[6] It was the last generation to retain the "flying saucer" form factor. Later generations would adopt the short, rounded-square form factor that would be seen until 2013.

1st generation

On January 9, 2007 the AirPort Extreme began shipping, with support for 802.11n draft specification, and built-in wireless print and storage server.

2nd generation

On March 19, 2008, Apple released a firmware update for both models of the AirPort Extreme that, according to third-party reports, allowed AirPort Disks to be used in conjunction with Time Machine, similar to the functionality provided by AirPort Time Capsule.[7][8]

3rd generation

On March 3, 2009, Apple unveiled a new AirPort Extreme with simultaneous dual-band 802.11 Draft-N radios. This allowed full 802.11 Draft-N 2x2 communication in both 802.11 Draft-N bands at the same time.

4th generation

On October 20, 2009, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme with antenna improvements.

5th generation

On June 21, 2011, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme, referred to as AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation).

The detailed table of output power comparison between the 4th generation model MC340LL/A and the 5th generation model MD031LL/A can be seen below:[9][10]

Frequency range (MHz) Mode AirPort Extreme model Output power (dBm) Output power (mW) Comparison (percents) Difference (percents)
2412–2462 802.11b 4th generation 24.57 286.42 100 -10.3
5th generation 24.10 257.04 89.7
802.11g 4th generation 21.56 143.22 100 +114.8
5th generation 24.88 307.61 214.8
802.11n HT20 4th generation 21.17 130.92 100 +96.8
5th generation 24.11 257.63 196.8
5745–5825 802.11a 4th generation 23.07 202.77 100 +61.1
5th generation 25.14 326.59 161.1
5745–5805 802.11n HT20 4th generation 22.17 164.82 100 +104.6
5th generation 25.28 337.29 204.6
5755–5795 802.11n HT40 4th generation 21.44 139.32 100 +181.8
5th generation 25.94 392.64 281.8

Note: A 3dB increase is equivalent to a doubling of power output.

6th generation

On June 10, 2013, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme, referred to as AirPort Extreme 802.11ac (6th Generation). The 6th generation AirPort Extreme (and 5th generation AirPort Time Capsule) featured three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3Gbit/s, which is nearly three times faster than 802.11n. Time Machine was now supported using an external USB hard drive connected to AirPort Extreme (802.11ac model only).[11]

Comparison chart
Approx. release date Consumer nickname AirPort Extreme Model Wireless standard Gigabit Ethernet Guest network[12] Radio type MIMO IPv6 router mode*** Time-Machine Backup****
January 7, 2003 Original/round M8799LL/A A1034 802.11b/g No No Single band

2.4 GHz

 No No No
January 9, 2007 1st generation MA073LL/A A1143 802.11a/b/g/n* No No Dual band

2.4 GHz or 5 GHz

 3×3:2 No No
August 7, 2007 2nd generation MB053LL/A A1143 802.11a/b/g/n* Yes No Dual band

2.4 GHz or 5 GHz

 3×3:2 No No
March 3, 2009 3rd generation MB763LL/A A1301 802.11a/b/g/n* Yes Yes Dual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

 2×2:2 (in each band) No No
October 20, 2009 4th generation MC340AM/A A1354
 802.11a/b/g/n Yes Yes Dual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

 3×3:3 (in each band) Yes, but not over PPPoE Yes, with latest software
June 21, 2011 5th generation MD031AM/A A1408 802.11a/b/g/n Yes Yes Dual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

 3×3:3 (in each band) Yes, but not over PPPoE Yes, with latest software
June 10, 2013 6th generation ME918LL/A A1521 802.11a/b/g/n/ac** Yes Yes Dual band (simultaneous)

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

 3×3:3 (in each band) Yes, but not over PPPoE Yes

*802.11n draft-specification support in 1st- to 3rd-generation models.
**802.11ac draft-specification support in 6th-generation model.
***All models support IPv6 tunnel mode.
****Supported by Apple.[13]

Discontinuation and support

According to a Bloomberg report on November 21, 2016, "Apple Inc. has disbanded its division that develops wireless routers, another move to try to sharpen the company’s focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue, according to people familiar with the matter."[14]

In an April 2018 statement to 9to5Mac,[15] Apple announced the discontinuation of its AirPort line, effectively leaving the consumer router market. Apple continued supporting the AirPort Extreme.[16][17]

See also

Notes
  1. "Mac OS X v10.6: About Wake on Demand (Apple Article HT3774)". Apple. August 27, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009. Setting up Wake on Demand", "Setting up a Bonjour Sleep Proxy
  2. "AirPort Extreme: Apple Breaks 90 Mbps". wifinetnews.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  3. Apple.com – AirPort Extreme – Sharing Archived August 20, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on January 17, 2007.
  4. "Airport Extreme (5th Gen) and Time Capsule (4th Gen) Review – Faster WiFi". Airport Extreme (5th Gen) and Time Capsule (4th Gen) Review. AnandTech. Retrieved October 24, 2011.
  5. "AirPort Extreme". Apple.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  6. "AirPort Extreme – Technical Specifications". Apple.com. Archived from the original on June 8, 2004. Retrieved November 1, 2014.
  7. "Time Machine now works with AirPort Extreme's AirDisk feature". Engadget.com. March 19, 2008. Archived from the original on March 20, 2008. Retrieved March 19, 2008.
  8. "Update allows Time Machine backups on AirPort Extreme". Macworld.com. March 19, 2008. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  9. Test Report – Previous version Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  10. Test Report – Current version Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
  11. AirPort base stations: Time Machine hard drive compatibility
  12. About the guest network feature of AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule
  13. AirPort base stations: Time Machine hard drive compatibility
  14. Gurman, Mark - Apple Abandons Development of Wireless Routers November 21, 2016 BLOOMBERG
  15. "Apple officially discontinues AirPort router line, no plans for future hardware". 9to5Mac. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  16. "Vintage and obsolete products". Apple. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  17. "Update the firmware on your AirPort base station". Apple Support. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
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