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Clueless about Wireless Networking
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2005
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I'm lost on the Apple products for Wireless networking.
What exactly is the advantage to paying extra for the Air Port Extreme vs. the Airport Express?
And why are they so expensive? I see non-Apple wireless products advertised for much, much less. Am I paying for how pretty the Apple products are or do they have features that make it worthwhile?
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Admin Emeritus  Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
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The Extreme base station has an optional modem, and has two ethernet jacks (one WAN, one LAN) that make it useful for mixed wireless/wired networks. The Express has only one ethernet jack, which makes it useless in most cases where you need wired clients as well. But it has the audio jack.
The Apple base stations are easier to set up, and seem to be more reliable, than most regular models. I've gone through 4 non-Apple units before the Linksys I have now, which has been working OK. But if it starts to give me trouble, I will get an Apple unit.
tooki
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2005
Status:
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My brother-in-law is getting a MacBook and wants to network it with his iMac, sharing his USB printer and a broadband cable modem. If I understand you correctly, he would have to go all wireless with the Express, whereas with the Extreme he could have the iMac plugged in and run the MacBook wirelessly. Is that right?
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Administrator  Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Offline
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You're correct; with the AirPort Extreme, your brother-in-law could do exactly what you say. I personally think that as a stand-alone device, the Extreme is more flexible and more capable than the Express. The Express shines particularly in audio streaming through iTunes and in being so tiny, but with only one ethernet port, it lacks flexibility.
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Glenn -----
OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Northern California
Status:
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Isn't the Express meant as a companion to an existing wireless network, for you to broadcast music to a stereo? I didn't think it was a router.
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Mac OS X 10.5.0, Mac Pro 2.66GHz/2 GB RAM/X1900 XT, 23" ACD
esdesign
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Administrator Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
Status:
Offline
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It is a router, but as I say, it's limited.
From the tech specs on Apple's Extreme specs page:
Interfaces
* 10/100BASE-T Ethernet WAN port (RJ-45 connector) for connecting a DSL or cable modem
If it weren't a router, why would it need to connect to a broadband modem? Further, in their Technology Overview document, they call it "the first mobile base station." All of the other AirPort Base Stations are routers. They just never come out and say it's a wireless router in so many words.
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Glenn -----
OTR/L, MOT, Tx
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Apr 2005
Status:
Offline
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