Is Apple Airport worth it?

My wife and I have a litany of Apple Products (two iPads, two iPhones, a Macbook and Apple TV). Currently I'm using my cable provider's modem but I feel like I could be getting better performance.
Is it worth it to purchase the AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme or should I look for a cheaper alternative from Netgear, etc.
Thanks for any guidance

I have used an Airport Extreme for over two years with no problems, until yesterday when it stopped holding its connection to the internet. After lengthy troubleshooting with my ISP's customer service and a call to Apple which cost $30 to ultimately have them tell me they didn't know why it wasn't working, and posting here with no solution or resolution, we broke down and bought a Netgear router last night.
Within seconds of finishing the set-up, all our devices were connected to the Internet again and going strong.
Even if the Netgear router breaks down in two years - heck, even in one - it would still be a far better deal than the Apple Airport Extreme, which cost us hundreds + $30 in Apple "customer service" fees and lasted a little over 24 months.

Similar Messages

Is Apple Airport worth the money

i just broke my linksys router and i was wondering which was better apple airport or linksys

UxP,Welcome to the discussion area!
Everyone is going to have their own opinion and posting on this site is certainly going to draw posts with a bias.
You need to determine what requirements you have and how the devices under consideration meet those requirements.
You can find details on the AirPort Express (AX) by looking at:
AirPort Extreme (802.11n) - Technical Specifications
http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/

About My New Apple Airport Express 802.11n Wi-Fi Router

Yesterday on Saturday after i finshed work I Went out & Bought a New Apple Airport Express 802.11n Wi-Fi Router for My Apple iMac Computer & for My Apple iPhone 5 & Apple TV & I Set it up & everything & everything worked out well so i had a question about it, that Green Solid New Light on Apple Airport Express is it suppose to always stay on even if my Apple iMac Computer is Sleeping like other Wi-Fi Routers??? cause i'm wondering cause it looks Very Nice & White & Shiny & New & i don't really want it to Fail on me cause i do like it & it does not take up a lot of space witch is a good thing so just had to ask???
how many years will My Apple Airport Express Wi-Fi Router will last for since it's as Big an an Apple TV, just was wondering if this thing is really strong & stuff to like hold out for years time maybe???
will My Apple Airport Express Wi-Fi Router Software ever get Outdated like my other Wi-Fi Router??? & they stopped making that Belkin Wireless n Router that i had & they stopped Updating it's Software & then The Software became not usable at all so I Had to go out & buy an Apple Airport Express 802.11n Wi-Fi Router.

Hi Byron,
on the first question: take a look at your manual; I have a different router, and on it the light stays on all the time, but I don't know if the Airport works the same way. On mine, it simply means that it is on and ready in case you need it. You should worry when there is no light, LOL.
Second question: with electronics, can't tell at all how long they will be good for. They are made to be compatible with a certain range of devices and software - and will be updated for a while when those devices and softwares are updated. After a while, too many new routers are available with too many new features that are compatible with new devices and softwares, so it's not worth updating the old ones. It's a question of money - they don't want to give you free updates forever, they want you to buy a new piece of equipment.
Third: yes, it will at some point. Everything technology/electronics related is outdated - some very quickly: you buy a new one and the next week you see an ad for a "new, improved" one. Same principle: they want you to buy again.

Creating my home network, Apple Airport Extreme & Sky

Hello all,
Hoping somebody can help, I’m attempting to set up a network in my home that works a bit like this.
Ok, we’ve had sky broadband for a few months now and have the new grey Sagem router to go with it. I also have the new Apple Airport Extreme station (and an Oldish BTHomehub v1.5, the white one… just kicking about incase its useful!)
What I want to achieve is use Time Machine on my Macbook Pro to wirelessly backup over the network to a Hard Drive plugged into the AE. I want the AE to be upstairs away from the sky router and I also want to be able to plug Ethernet devices into the AE to use the internet (somehow acquired from the router downstairs I assume) like an Xbox, laptop or anything else I might need really).
*Its important to me that the AE isn’t downstairs in the same room as the router, otherwise I would just connect it with a cable and create a wireless network from that.
On top of that (stay with me….) if the AE has the functionality to extend the wireless network further to hit the low signal spots that would help.
I’ve been reading around the internet and various support sites. I know a little about this stuff but I’m not an expert on networking, I know nothing about the different signals N, g, b etc or how IP assigning works. I read a little about WDS networking but I’m not sure which direction to head.
This is probably the closest thing I’ve found to what I’m talking about, If the bottom hub was the sky router and the top hub was the Apple AE.
http://www.jarviser.co.uk/jarviser/repeaterhubs.html
Appreciate any suggestions, thanks.

The best way by far is to run ethernet as a kind of backbone between the two stories.. on one storey setup the AE and the other you setup the TC.
I have no idea if one is the main router or not.. or both are bridged.. that doesn't really matter.. the principle is.. one router per network. So whichever is not the main router change to bridge mode.
Both should create a wireless network. You can use roaming setup, where both use identical names and identical security. See http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4260

How to connect sony bravia tv wirelessly to internet using apple airport

Hi. I cannot connect my Sony Bravia smart TV wirelessly to internet via my Apple Airport Extreme wireless setup. The TV status is network connection OK, but fails to connect to internet. Apple Laptop connects OK via wireless Can anyone help please.

Hello chowpotluri, thank you for your message. Welcome to SONY Community!
Follow these steps to access the YUPPTV app from the Internet Video menu:
1. Using the supplied remote, press the Home button.
2. Select Internet Video.
NOTE: If the Internet Video option is missing, Select Refresh Internet Content from the Network section of the menu and repeat step one.
3. Select YuppTV.
NOTE: YuppTV requires a device registration. Follow the steps on the screen to register the account. Visit the YuppTVwebsite for account information and answers to usage questions.
Hopefully this post helps you.

SETTING UP HP 8600 TO APPLE AIRPORT EXTREME

I recently purchased an Apple Airport Extreme Base Station. Everything setup perfectly until I took on the task of connecting my HP 8600 All in One printer. I am hopelessly lost especially when it asked for a WEP or WPA key. Can anyone help or send me to the right place.

Will you be connecting this printer to the AirPort Extreme's USB port or via a wireless connection? I am assuming the latter since you ran aground on the WEP or WPA key question. These are types of wireless security passwords. These would be the same that you would use to connect a wireless computer to your network.
Typically, you would use the printer's front-panel interface to connect the printer to your Wi-Fi network. You want to use the default setting of the printer being a DHCP client so that it gets its appropriate IP addresses from your AirPort router. You should just need to enter the Wi-Fi network name and password into the panel settings in order for the printer to connect.

How to use my 3g dongle on my Apple Airport Express?

I have a 3g hspa dongle.I want to know that my dongle can be used with Apple Airport Express utility.I want to connect my dongle into Apple Airport Express utility and share the internet with my ipad,ipod and iphone.I want to know how to do this?

Hi Bob, just wondering if i use a Ethernet USB adapter, connect USB end to the 3G dongle and the ethernet end, with a small ethernet cable to the WAN port of the airport express, is it still possible to use the internet in the dongle through airport express?
Regards,
Vikas

My Apple Airport express loses connection

We have a 3-4 months old Apple airport express. When it works, it works really well.
We use it for streaming shows etc on the television via Apple tv and obviously to go on the internet.
We have 1 iphone 5s and 1 iphone 6, 2 iPad Air, 1 MB Air and 1 MB pro Retina so all our devices are pretty much Apple.
The express router is connected straight to the internet cable from the wall, so there is no router in between or anything. I can always connect with the router, but internet is not always pooring through. In other words, im always logged on the wifi, but it seems as something is often blocking the internet. It definitely has something to do with the router because I can be on the internet via the router on the macbook air while both iPads won't work.
I often solve the problem by opening network preference - assist me - continue - log on the net again - type in my password for the computer and then it works again. But this is obviously not a sustainable solution. And this is also not an option on the iPads, so when it doesnt work on the iPads it just doenst work... :-/
What is the issue?

No one?

I have a BT home Hub 3 with standard BT broadband(no infinity), how do I set up an Apple AirPort Extreme without a stand alone modem? Can I use my current Home Hub

I want to use an Apple AirPort Extreme as my home router but at present I have standard BT broadband using the BT Home hub 3. Can I connect them in some way so I don't need to buy a stand alone modem.
IS THIS POSSIBLE???
1. Would Apple AirPort Express be better and easier?
2. What modem would be suitable if I can't do it any other way?
I AM CURRENTLY USING MY INTERNET WITH PS3,WINDOWS 7 LAPTOP, IPAD AND IPHONE!!!
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
John smith

You said that you wanted the layout to look like this:
AT&T 2WIRE Router (wireless off) ---> AirPort Extreme ---> NetGear 16-Port Gigabit Desktop Switch ---> ethernet cabling to ports in most rooms --->
So, we took that at face value....,.but it could look like this if things are more convenient this way, if you prefer:
AT&T 2WIRE > Ethernet Switch > AirPort Extreme and other devices.
- If we include an AirPort Extreme in the overall network setup, are there any potential issues with the 2WIRE router and the AirPort Extreme router "competing" with one another?
No, if you leave the wireless function off on the 2WIRE. If you do want the utilize the wireless on the 2WIRE and the AirPort Extreme, then you want to keep them physically separated by 6-8 feet, or a few meters.
- Do I really need an AirPort Extreme in the final setup?
No, if the AirPort Express will provide enough range for the network.
Or if I just want an extra WAP, can I operate two AirPort Express units (with the same SSID) downstream of a 2WIRE router?
Yes, if both of them are configured to operate in Bridge Mode. If you are using the "wizard" setup utility in AirPort Utility 6.x, the wizard will do this for you automatically.
That is to say, could we have a setup that looks just like the image above, but with an extra AirPort Express tacked on to one of the unused ethernet ports?
You can have as many AirPort Express devices (or AirPort Extreme devices) as you want, as long as each has an Ethernet connection back to the switch.

Is it possible to create a hot spot with Apple Airport Express 2nd Generation Dual Band Wireless Router, usefull in a hotel with ethernet wall sucket.

is it possible to create a hot spot with apple Airport express 2 generation and use it i a hotel with ethernet wall socket and use it with my Ipad 2?

HenrikAppleJespersen wrote:
is it possible to create a hot spot with apple Airport express 2 generation and use it i a hotel with ethernet wall socket and use it with my Ipad 2?
Yes, it is one of the things AirPort Express was specifically designed for.

Erro 3256 using Apple Airport Express with Windows XP Pro SP2

I am running Windows XP Pro SP2 and am trying to stream my music to the Livng room from my PC in my office. I use an Apple Airport Express. I am running iTunes 8.0.1.11 on the computer that isn't getting the signal through. Now please read the entire message before you decide it is the version of iTunes that I am using.
It was getting through just fine on my Denon 3300 but since I switched to a Denon 3802 the signal is not geting through from my main computer. It works fine from the computer sittng adjacent to it.
I also have music on a 2nd computer and am running iTunes 7.6.2.9 on it. The music gets to the living room stereo just fine using the same Apple Airport Express. The signal strength on the computer that is successful in streaming the music to the Apple Airport Express is "excellent". On the computer that is not successful, the signal strenth is "low". Now these computers are adjacent to each other and the signal has to go through the same wall and
exactly the same distance over the same network.
How can it be "excellent" on one and "low" on the other? Is it just a matter of signal strength? How do I fix that?
I keep getting "unknown error occurred 3256"
Help please. Do I have to do something to the network? or???
Remember I am a Windows user, not a Mac user. I do not have a "Configure IPv6" setting anywhere in my preferences. That must be a Mac thing.

Got the error message 3256 after downloaded latest itunes version 8.xx.
After days of reading logs and bullentin boards, uninstalling, hard resets,firewalls experiments, etc, I found solution for me. Following firmware upgrade to airport express solved. When you go to Apple download center and search for airport revisions only the MAc version pops up. However they do have this one for windows. Give it a try. Good luck.
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/firmware_hardware/airportexpressfirm wareupdate63forwindows.html

I am using SURPLUSMETER :) I am also using Apple Airport Time Capsule as my Router that is connected to my Satellite dish Internet Modem ... Now on the Surplusmeter I have the option for PPP Modem . Ethernet Port , Airport , Network Card ,

I am using SURPLUSMETER I am also using Apple Airport Time Capsule as my Router that is connected to my Satellite dish Internet Modem ... Now on the Surplusmeter I have the option for PPP Modem . Ethernet Port , Airport , Network Card , & Adaptor .
Which one can I use properly to monitor all the wireless Devices in my hous

Actually, none of the options will do what you are looking for it to do. That is because, this application only monitors the traffic from the device it is hosted on. That would also mean that you would have to run a copy on each computer that will access the Internet on your network; note their individual usages, and then, combine them to get an idea of the total usage.
However, if you are only interested in the amount of Wi-Fi traffic that only your computer is seeing, then the "AirPort Network Card" option would be the correct choice.

Multiple duplicate prints via apple airport and bonjour printer driver on HP Color Laserjet 1600

Please advise if this request will incur any costs as I have exhausted all self-help resources and articles in your knowledge base. Nothing applies to my issue. I used to be able to use this printer via USB or wireless network using apple airport base station and bonjour printer driver. When my company ugraded to Windows 7, USB seems to work ok and wireless under same setup works too, but each page prints out many duplicates >40 duplicates when in wireless state. I am also trying to print from my IPAD and this does not seem to work at all. If you tell me this printer will not perform, please just be honest and let me know. I don't mind buying another printer if needed but don't want to incur more high level cartridge costs (bought many due to duplicate issue) and could afford the new printer instead. Deciding between brother or hp depending on usable feedback here. Using Lenovo T410 for all that matters...Thank you, Marc

Unfortunately, without knowing the model of the printer I wont be able to let you know too much information on the issue or how to resolve it. Also, when you upgrade your OS you often have to update the programs you are using, I would recommend uninstalling the printer and using the software available on http://goo.gl/7R6HT.
Let me know Marc!

E1200 - Could not get it to work with Apple Airport

Could not get it to install and gave up after tearing out my hair in frustration
What's great about it: Still wondering
What's not so great: Everything else
About me...
Internet phone user
Business Professional
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
I use it in...:Small home

Before I suggest you any troubleshooting steps, I would like to ask few questions. Like – in what manner you were trying to connect Airport Express with the Linksys/Cisco router E1200?
Basically, you can think of Airport Express as a wireless extension cord for replacing an Ethernet cable, a USB cable, and an audio speaker cable. So, it suppose to work wirelessly with the router. So, in this case you have to use the Linksys/ Cisco router E1200 as a Base Station, with the Apple AirPort as the repeater/secondary access point. (The protocol for this is called WDS. Apple's routers support it; the Linksys does as well.
Here are the steps to configure;
Configure your Linksys router (open a web browser to http://192.168.1.1):
Assign a wireless channel. You will have to set the same channel on the Airport Express.
Write down the MAC address for the wireless interface (under the Status tab).
Provide the security level which can match with the Apple Airport.
Configure your Airport Express (using Airport Utility):
Under Airport -> Wireless, set the Wireless Mode to "Participate in a WDS Network", and set the network name, security, password, and channel to match that on the E1200.
Now you'll have a new tab: under WDS, set the WDS Mode to "WDS remote” and the WDS Main to the MAC address you wrote down above. Also make sure to that "Allow wireless clients" is checked!
Under the Internet tab, set Connection Sharing to "Off (Bridge Mode)".
Click Update. Wait for the Airport Express to restart.
Check it:
Once the Airport Express is restarted, reconnect to your wireless network (if you've been disconnected). Make sure you can see both your main Linksys router (in a web browser) and the Airport Express (in Airport Utility). If you can only see one, it didn't work. Try disabling security on both.

Connecting Apple TV, Smart TV (Panasonic) to Apple Airport Express

Hi,
I just want to make sure i have got most of this correct. I want to connect from my router (via hard wire ethernet) to my Apple Airport Express which will then serve to my stereo (change settings in airport utility and also extend my wireless) Cable goes into the WAN port. Then an ethernet cable from the Airport Express (LAN port) to my Apple TV which connects to the TV via HDMI.
All i then need to do is find a way of connecting my smart TV via ethernet, how can i do this?
For information the Apple TV, Express, Stereo and Panasonic TV are all about 4m away from the router and my iMAC. I can only run one ethernet cable to my entertainment collection under the edge of the carpet. I want to connect all my kit via ethernet hard wire as i know its faster and i have been having issues with the signal becoming interupted from other sources.
My printer is already wireless but is located next to my iMAC so will prob hard wire this
Thanks

You will need a small switch. Or you will need to use wireless on the ATV or the TV .. as long as the express is close that will work fine. Especially if you connect to the 5ghz.
But go into any computer store and buy a 5 port or 8 port 10/100 switch.. but you could also buy a faster one, gigabit which is more useful into the future.
Wire it without using both ports in the express.. connect everything to the switch rather than express and that will be fine.. especially if the main router is gigabit.
The switches will be $20 for the slower 100mbit and perhaps $50 for the gigabit..

Is Apple Airport worth it?

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