AirPort Express versus AirPort Extreme - which is right for me?

I am trying to figure out what the right product is for me to set up my apartment for Wireless. I have a new MacBook Pro, and my boyfriend has an older MacBook. Our Internet service is of a moderate speed - up to 10 Mbps.
My question is whether I will see any difference in speed for Internet access and downloads with the AirPort Extreme, or if I will have basically the same experience with the Express? Also, someone told me that since there will be an older (approximately 2.5 yo) computer connected to the Express, it will default to that speed if I have the Express. I want to connect at the best speed possible, but also don't have the money to waste if the Extreme won't make a huge difference.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks!

Welcome to the discussions!
The AirPort Express will create a single wireless network that will handle up to 10 connections, to that would work fine for your purpose. Since you have a newer "n" speed computer and an older "g" speed computer there (when you say 2.5 yrs+ I am guessing that it is a "g" device..you might want to confirm), the default radio mode that the Express creates would allow both computers to connect. If you are connected, you will be at the faster "n" speed. If the "g" device connects, the wireless network will drop down to "g" levels as long as that device is active.
The AirPort Extreme will create two separate wireless networks, plus it includes 3 ethernet ports if you wanted to connect devices to it directly with an ethernet cable, which is a much faster connection that wireless. The advantage of a dual network arrangement would be that you could connect at a faster "n" speed on the "main" network, while the other computer would connect to the "guest" network at "g" speeds and the "g" connection would not affect your "n" connection.
If you are going to use your wireless for normal internet browsing, etc. the Express would probably suffice. If you do a lot of downloading, have big email attachments, etc., then the faster "n" speed will make a difference for you. The "g" computer will perform the same with either the Express or the Extreme.

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I have an airport extreme which doesn't come with a straight audio jack on it like the express. Can I get a converter to go from the dual speaker plugs to usb on the extreme?

I have an airport extreme which doesn't come with a straight audio jack on it like the express does. Can I get a converter to go from the dual speaker plugs to usb on the extreme?

Sorry, but no. The only Apple router with an audio output jack is the AirPort Express.

I have an Airport Extreme which I'm using for a wireless network. Can I also plug in my iMac to one of the free ethernet ports on the Airport Extreme to connect to the Internet that way? Thank you.

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Yes, you can.

The internet coming from my AirPort Extreme, which is extended by an AirPort Express and my Time Capsule, is being very flaky. It is dropping and I have to reconnect every few minutes. Any solutions?

To be more detailed, my AirPort Extreme needs to be extended by an AirPort Express, which then is extended to my personal Time Capsule. The internet drops on my MacBook Pro and other MacBook Pros randomly. We then reconnect with no problem and go on with what we were doing. The internet is fine. Always able to connect. We have Open DNS set up as well. But the flaky internet is annoying. Any ideas how to fix this?

The primary issue that you will need to contend with is the distance between routers. 300' would be at the fringe of the signal coming from the base station located in the house which, most likely, make it too "weak" to extend/repeat with the second base station at the shop.
There is a method to configure a relay base station between them in a Wireless Distribution System (WDS), but a WDS has two major drawbacks: 1) It can only operate in the 802.11g Radio Mode, and 2) For every base station participating in the WDS, the overall bandwidth will be cut in half .., so with a total of three (main, relay, & remote), the maximum of 54 Mbps (for 802.11g) would be more like 15-17 Mbps. If you plan on streaming HD video (either 720p or 1080p), your local wireless network may not have enough bandwidth to do so successfully.
You proposal to run the DSL line to the shop does offer another option. Instead of running a DSL line, run an Ethernet cable between the house and the shop. You would connect one end to any of the available LAN ports on the AirPort Extreme to the Ethernet port on the AirPort Express. You can then configure both base stations into a roaming network and not have bandwidth loss of the WDS.

Since updating to ISO 8 my iPod touch keeps dropping me from from wifi.i have to keep rebooting. I have an airport extreme which looks like a white space ship. Can anyone help.thank you

Since updating to ISO ate my iPod touch fifth-generation keeps dropping me from Wi-Fi I have an older AirPort Extreme that looks like a white spaceship does anybody have any solutions I have an iPad first-generation and my girlfriend has an iPod touch fifth-generation that she hasn't updated yet and there is no problem with those two units

I would either say that the iOS is correpted due to a software glitch or y have have a hardware problem like bad memory locations that are corrupting the iOS.
- Restore from backup via iTunes. This will install a fresh copy of the iOS. See:
iOS: How to back up
- Restore to factory settings/new iOS device.   This will elimate corruptin in the backup causing the problem.
If still problem, make an appointment at the Genius Bar of an Apple store since it appears you have a hardware problem.
Apple Retail Store - Genius Bar

How do I extend my Airport Extreme version 5.7 for better wireless at a distance?

From my researching of this problem, it seems like I may need to "extend" my Airport Extreme version 5.7 to strengthen my signal at a distance. It is used, but I was able to reset and set it up to my network. The previous user was getting much better performance. When at my desk, right next to the router and Airport Express, I get up to 19Mbps. At a distance of 30-50 ft. (which I often use) wirelessly, I can only get up to 4Mbps. Will "extending" the Airport help those speeds and strengthen the connection so as not to burden it even farther with 3 users connected to the network or is there something else that I can do? Am I just being picky? I am an Apple novice and have read everything I can to figure out my problems, but this one is still lingering. Problem or not?
Info: if needed
Airport Extreme v 5.7 - only one as a base station
Wireless network with ZyXel Q1000 router - Airport Extreme is connected to that via ethernet cable.
I use a Toshiba Satellite laptop, less than a year old running Windows 7.
Often work about 30-50 feet away wirelessly and speeds are up to par without Airport Extreme, got it to strengthen signal as another user will be added to my network shortly. Speeds at a distance 4Mbps or less. Next to router and Airport 19 Mbps.
I have Century Link 20Mbps high speed internet service.
Airport "dome" has three lights on top. Middle is steady green and the two on each side periodically blink white.
Successfully set up using airport utility for PC. It shows up on that list and on my wireless connection list.
Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions or positive comments.
david
badboyfun - apple novice.

I'm having a bit of trouble confirming that the ZyXEL is a combination modem & wireless-N router. If it is, then you really won't get any advantages of using the 802.11g AirPort.
If the range of your ZyXEL is limited, you may find that doing either or both of the following will help: 1) Move the ZyXEL so that it is higher vs. lower in the room, that is away from any closed areas or placed in a metal cabinet, and 2) Changing radio channels. The latter is especially important in you live in an area where there are a number of competing Wi-Fi.
A good utility to find out, is iStumbler. You would use this to find these other Wi-Fi and find which have the strongest signal value. Those that do, you would also want to note which channel they are operating on, and then, change yours to one that is at least 3-5 channels away. So, for example, if you find strong ones on channels 1 & 6, change yours to 11.

Airport Extreme with ATT Router for Open DNS use

I'd like my whole home network to have a filter on it so all computers and hand devices are protected. I get my internet with an ATT router which I can not change the DNS servers. ATT says they can not be changed. But I have an airport extreme directly connected to the ATT router. The extreme supplies wi-fi to the house. I can not change the DNS settings in the extreme. They are grayed out. I'm assuming it has something to do with the connection to the ATT router. Does anyone know how I can put a DNS address in the extreme?
Some of the settings on the extreme are:
Internet Tab: connect using DHCP, DNS Servers "grayed out", Domain Name "grayed out"
Network Tab: Router Mode (off (bridge mode))
thanks!

Does anyone know how I can put a DNS address in the extreme?
Not sure what you mean that you cannot enter the DNS numbers on your AirPort Extreme configuration page.
Open up AirPort Utility and select the Internet tab
Look at the first DNS entry there. There should be a cursor at the beginning of the DNS Server Box. If not, click to set the insertion point at the beginning of the box.
Simply start typing in the DNS server number that you want to use.....208.67.222.222...... and it will overwrite the grayed out values there.
Do the same for the second DNS box....208.67.220.220.
Click Update at the lower right and you are all set.

Time Capsule or AirPort Extreme + External Hard Drive for iTunes Library

Hi, I currently have an Airport Extreme (Gigabit) and am planning on getting a MacBook Pro. What I want to do is keep my iTunes Library on an External Hard Drive and attach it to my AirPort so I can access it anywhere in the house (and world). Now I have been reading various reviews that perhaps a Time Capsule would be better for my needs. I don't plan on using it for Time Machine backups right now, just as a NAS Drive. If anyone has any experience with this I would appreciate the advice.
Thanks!
Message was edited by: Mr. Macintosh693

Hi,
I have something like that working at the moment. My setup is based on a Mac Mini Core Duo [ OS 10.5.6 ] connected to a Time Capsule. I have configured iTunes to store all archived music on the Time Capsule. I use the Apple Lossless format for my CDs and approx 420 titles have taken approx 130Gb from my 1Tb Capsule. In general this setup works well [ especially the optical out of the Mac ] but be aware of the following potential pitfalls:-
1. The Time Capsule is a little on the noisy side and depending on the quality of your playback equipment, your choice of music, ambient noise and your values of "satisfactory" you may want to put your Capsule or HDD in another room. This seems OK for generic playback, but in my experience wireless is not a good way to go for streaming content.
2. iTunes v8.0.2 has a preferences capability to allow you to redirect it's archive to the Time Capsule. However, even if you leave the Capsule switched on it goes into a "sleep" mode. Rip a new CD and iTunes won't tell you this; instead it will silently reconfigure itself to store on your local hard drive and then you're left with the challenge of moving your collection piecemeal if you want it in one location, followed by manually updating iTunes to "point" it to the new location of the music.
One nice thing about the Capsule is that it does allow other connection types. I have mine networked to a PC running Ubuntu Linux and a music player called Amarok and I am able to stream the Mac-Ripped lossless files and play them over Linux perfectly... Works very well. Apparently you can do this with a Windows client and iTunes for Windows, but I don't run Windows as a matter of principle and can't validate that.
My 1Tb Time Capsule runs hot, too. Not dangerously so, but hot to the touch. There are no cooling fans, but you might want to think about placement; it needs plenty of fresh air circulating around it.
For what it's worth [ and I appreciate this is going beyond your question ] I also wanted my setup to be able to store and retrieve recorded TV. I have Elgato EyeTV and a USB Freeview decoder. I quickly learned that despite claims to the contrary the performance of the wireless connection just isn't up to streaming video content. So I went out and purchased a pair of Ethernet-over-mains adapters from Zyxel that are absolutely perfect for the job.
Yes, the Capsule is a little pricey for what is little more than a Hard Drive in a box, but it does work very well.
Beware the timeout disconnections and the silently re-configuring iTunes thought...

Airport Extreme username AND password for wifi connection...

How can I connect to a wireless network that requires both a password AND username with an Airport Extreme?
Some wifi areas in the UK such as BT Openzone homehubs require both a username and password to connect to the network, not just picking a network and add a password.
Can anyone help?
Thanks!

Thanks, this solved my problem. Network kept demanding username; I guess it's different from the computer ID I use. Whatever, it wasn't easy to find the network listed, but by trial and error, I found it, highlighted it, and pressed delete key. Now the network only asks for password, which I knew, and I'm on. Great advice. But why computer was configured to do that in the first place is why I prefer PC to my wife's inscrutable macbook pro.

Airport Extreme best practice configuration for Sleep Proxy, DHCP/NAT and PPPOE

Hi
I have recently bought a Airport Extreme and it is working well. One of the reasons I bought is to take advantage of the Bonjour Sleep Proxy on it so I can wake my MAC up remotely from my iPad using the REMOTE app to stream things like iTunes etc... I followed the set up instructions and basically let it configure itself. I have an ISP router / modem which currently is providing DHCP services, NAT and PPPOE.
The Airport detected all of this and set itself up as bridge only. The speed of the network outo to the internet is fine (more or less what it was before). However, in doing a bit of research, I have found out that if I want the Airport to act as a sleep proxy, I need it to "host" the network. I am not an expert in networking but from what I understand I need the Airport to be moved from "Bridge Only" to at least be providing DHCP to my internal network clients.
This has prompted me to ask what is "Best practice" when it comes to configuring the Airport given I want to have Sleep Proxy enabled. I think the two options I have are as follows but would really welcome feedback on which is the best option to go for or if there are other options I should be thinking of
(1) Have the Airport perform DHCP for my internal clients and leave the ISP router/modem doing NAT
(2) Have the Airport perform DHCP and NAT. I think to do this I need to turn the ISP router / modem into Bridge mode only. (I've looked and I seem to have this option on the device. It's an Irish ISP branded device but I think it is a Zyxel)
I have no reason to believe the ISP router / model is doing a bad job but given I understand the Airport Extreme is a reasonably high-end device (I think?) I am wondering if option 2 is the way to go.
In addition, during my research, I have also discovered that many people seem to have their Airport Extreme also handle PPPOE. This is currently being done by my ISP router/modem. I am inclined to leave it this way (following the mantra if it isn't broken, don't fix it) but if there was a good reason to have the Aiport do this, perhaps I should make the switch? Having said this, I have seen on this forum and others, some posts about problems with Internet connection drops when the Airport is handling PPPOE.
So, a bit of a long post, but if anyone has any information or perspective on this, I'd very much appreciate it.
Thanks
Dave

I forgot to thank you, John Galt. Yap, it solve my problem by restoring back the original firmware to 7.6.1. My unit is Airport Extreme 2012. I am still using double NAT because I cannot figure it out on how to set DHCP only in the Network tab.
My goal it to use the airport extreme to the internet and to share the internet to all my devices in the house. Just like my previous Accesspoints. Before I use AP+router Linksy$ WRT54G and D-l!nk DIR-655 without activating the NAT to share my internet connection and they work.
My problem is that when I set it to DHCP in the internet tab and DHCP in the Network tab in Airport Utility inorder to solve the double NAT situation, only one of all my devices (wired or wireless) can connect to the internet. Each time I connect the other device(s) to the internet my subscriber will verify my subscription (web browser based verification) in which I have to manually enter my account number, etc to validate my subscription.
So I stick to double NAT so that I can share the internet
Our broadband provider uses DHCP to link us to the internet. If I change the settings to Static in the Internet Tab, my broadband provider will not let me connect to the internet. In the Airport Utility if I set to static in the Internet Tab inorder to set it to solve the double NAT, a message box appear informing me that I have invalid beginning IP address in the DCHP range in the Network Tab when it appears that only the last 3 digits of the DHCP range is editable.
Is there any way of configuring the Airport Utility's Internet TAB to DHCP and Network TAB to DHCP to connect to the internet with all my devices without the double NAT and without the aid of another device such as AP or router or switch connected to the Airport or vice versa?

Express vs. Extreme: which has the longer range?

Just discovered that by hanging an Airport Extreme base station (802.11n, 10/100 Ethernet model) outside my 36th floor apartment, I can connect to the home network from the park, coffee shop, shopping mall and other areas downstairs. In fact, according to GoogleEarth, I was 554 meters (.34 miles) from my apartment this morning and was still able to download web pages to my iPod touch. Great! I can now take the MacBook Pro outside and work when the weather is good.
But I can't keep the Airport Extreme hanging on the exterior wall all the time. Too big, too heavy, to difficult to weatherproof and keep permanently attached to the wall. And I don't want to have to set it up every time I go out and then take it down when I come home. I'm thinking, however, that an Airport Express might be the perfect solution...small, light, and easy to weatherproof and leave hanging semi-permanently on the exterior wall.
So the question is, does the Express have the same range as the Extreme? Both have an output power rating of 20 dbm, but I've no idea how, or even if, this translates into an effective range. Anyone know?
Thanks!

So the question is, does the Express have the same range as the Extreme? Both have an output power rating of 20 dbm, but I've no idea how, or even if, this translates into an effective range. Anyone know?
Yes, the new 802.11n AirPort Express Base Station (AXn) should have the same range as the 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station (AEBSn). The 802.11g versions had an advertised range of 50' for 802.11g and 150' for 802.11b. The newer 802.11n versions have an advertised range of up to "twice the range of 802.11g wireless networks."

Airport Extreme - best wireless option for connecting a Windows XP PC?

First post on this board - forgive the long-windedness.
Relatively new to MAC, not to UNIX / IT in general and, sadly, Windows.
As well as the MAC mini, my wife has a black MACBook, running Tiger and Parallels. We have acquired an Airport Extreme to replace the old 802.11b WAP. This works well with the MACBook, but I have had a few problems finding a suitable wireless client / adapter for the younger son's Windows XP PC, an HP Pavilion with USB2.0 ports. I started with a Linksys WUSB54G, with the latest drivers downloaded from Linksys. This worked well for a couple of weeks, using Windows Zero Config, after which it dropped out and refused to reconnect to any network, even the unsecure old 802.11b WAP.
The replacement began well, but then required reinstall of the drivers after every reboot of the PC, which allowed it to work. Eventually, this remedy failed; although other networks remained visible, the Airport one did not.
I will be taking the second one back! But I need an alternative.
Is there an issue with Linksys / Airport connections in general?
A colleague has suggested that an internal PCI card might be a better option than an USB based adapter, but he has no MAC experience.
Can anyone recommend a suitable card or an alternative USB solution?
TYIA
Robin

robinm0 wrote:
First post on this board - forgive the long-windedness.
Welcome to the discussions.
Is there an issue with Linksys / Airport connections in general?
Generally no.
Problems connecting an XP PC to an Airport Base Station
http://tech.ifelix.net/2002.html
A colleague has suggested that an internal PCI card might be a better option than an USB based adapter, but he has no MAC experience.
Yes generally they are better choice, another option would be an ethernet wireless bridge such as the WET54G which would require NO installation of software or drivers on the PC - it can be configured via a web browser.
Regards
iFelix
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Airport Extreme - what is it for?

My Belkin wireless modem/router was dropping its internet (ADSL)connection quite a lot, so like many others I bought an AE. Whoops - went back to the store to buy a D-Link 320-T modem.
Many hours later my Belkin is back in service. I found the AE impossible to set up - green lights all the way but no internet connection. Further, all my machines worked wirelessly with the Belkin, whether or not the G5 (main machine)was active, and I did not need a cable to the G5 either.
I am a confirmed Apple convert after many years of Windows. Most things do what they say on the box and work straight out of the box, so why is AE different?

On http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/performance.html it states:All Mac computers with Intel Core 2 Duo and Intel Xeon processors except the 17-inch iMac with 1.83GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor support the 802.11n technology in AirPort Extreme. These 802.11n-compatible Mac systems require enabler software that is included on the AirPort Extreme CD.
1) Which Airport Extremes will be able to use these downloads? I have one that is about 3 years old.
There is no download. The patch is for the 'n' capable Macs.
2) Is the download available now?
3) Where do you get the download?
Apple has not announced any download.
4) How do you install it?
More than likely the CD that comes with the new square AEBS will tell you.
5) After installing it, will the Airport Extreme still work with older Macs that have non "N" type cards in them?
The patch has nothing to do with the AEBS. It is for the 'n' capable Macs. The new square AEBS will work with older non-'n' capable Macs at their normal 802.11b/g speeds.

How to get Airport Extreme to Provide DNS for Static DHCP

I set up some static DHCP entries on my Airport Extreme 802.11n. How do I make it provide DNS resolution for these devices?
For example, I defined a device which I named "tvpc". With my old router, once I added a static DHCP reservation and provided it with a name, I could "ping tvpc" from any device on my network, and my old router would provide the DNS resolution, because it provided DNS service for all DHCP entries.
I suspect that the answer is, "Apple routers don't do this." If that is the case, how do other people get name resolution for the non-Apple devices you set up with static DHCP? Do you use /etc/hosts files?

I set up some static DHCP entries on my Airport Extreme 802.11n. How do I make it provide DNS resolution for these devices?
"Apple routers don't do this."
how do other people get name resolution for the non-Apple devices you set up with static DHCP?
They don't.
Suggest that you use another router with the capabilities that you need.

Airport Extreme as wireless station for my network

I want to make my new Airport Extreme (1-month old) run as a wireless device which connects my wireless devices to my DHCP server running on uBuntu for my network. So it is passing through the request for IP - not using its DHCP server and not using an IP itself.
I cannot seem to set it up using the latest utility of 5.6.
Any asssistance would be greatly appreciated.

DHCP and NAT are turned off when an AirPort router is configured to operate in Bridge Mode, which is what it sounds like you want. The AirPort Extreme will function as a wireless access point in this type of configuration, passing through network information to connected devices.
Using AirPort Utility 5.6, select the AirPort Extreme and click Manual Setup
Click the Internet icon, then click the Internet Connection tab
Adjust the Connection Sharing setting to read "Off (Bridge Mode)"
Click Update and allow 25-30 seconds for the AirPort Extreme to restart

AirPort Express versus AirPort Extreme - which is right for me?

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