Is the airport extreme just a replacment for your cable modem?

What exactly is the airport extreme? I been thinking about buying one but I want to know what does it exactly do. Is it a replacement for your cable modem that creates a wireless network?

No it is not a replacement for your cable modem. Airport Extreme allows you to access the Net wirelessly. Your cable modem gives you your broadband access to the Net, but you have to connect to it via an Ethernet cable (RJ45). If you own a Apple Laptop, like an MacBook you need a wireless connection. Apple’s Airport Extreme gives you this access. Also it comes with the latest wireless speed “n”, verses “g” and “b” before it. In fact it will do all three speeds.
I have a “b” speed desktop system that is connected via an Ethernet cable, and two laptops that use the new “n” speed and one laptop that is running under the “g” speed. The best part is that you can plug a printer or hard-drive via an USB cable and share it with other computers on you home network. Also it very easy to use. If you don’t have a Laptop there is not much use for this product.

Similar Messages

AirPort Extreme Plugged Into Router Connected to Cable Modem

If I plug my AirPort Extreme into an ethernet router that is connected to my cable modem, will this interfere with the AirPort Extreme's ability to operate? I ask because I thought I had read that the AirPort must be plugged directly into the signal source only in order to work. The ethernet router would not provide wireless access.
I am considering this configuration because I'm considering buying the new LG BD300 BluRay player that features streaming Netflix. The machine needs an ethernet connection to provide this feature.

It should be OK. I have a cable modem connected to a Linksys wired router: this feeds an iMac and and Airport Express, and then an iBook connects wirelessly to the Airport Express.
This all works fine for internet connection - both computers connect to the internet without problems: the only oddity arises with file sharing - the iBook can see the iMac, but the iMac can't see the iBook - possibly because it's effectively on a subnet. I haven't tried to sort this out because working one way is good enough for what I need.
But the basic connection, getting IP numbers etc, works fine.
Of course you could consider replacing the Express with an Extreme - it would be more expensive that a router, but would be a neater way of connecting: it has three outgoing ethernet ports in addition to the wireless and the subnet issue I mentioned wouldn't arise here.

Airport Extreme won't connect with my cable modem (Time Warner)

OK, I'm tired of staring at a blinking amber light. I'm reaching out to anyone out there who's had this problem. I've got everything connected right, the software loaded, the connections set on my laptop (Macbok Pro). But still my Airport Extreme won't connect to the Internet. I've tried different cables, rebooting both my modem and my Airport. For the record, I've had a Mac IT guy from my advertising agency come by my house and make sure that everything's installed and hooked up right. But it still keeps saying that my IP address is invalid, even though I can connect (wired) using the modem.
I suspect I'll just have to take it to the Genius Bar or something. But anybody got any ideas? I really want to join the 'n' generation....
-neil

atotheb, Welcome to the discussion area!
Did you power off the cable modem when switching the Ethernet connection from laptop to AirPort Extreme base station (AEBS)? This is usually required.

Airport Extreme Base Station not cooperating with Cable Modem

The non-specific issues are by far the most frustrating and I can't make any sense of this. To be fair, this might not be a AEBS issue as much as a ISP issue, but any suggestions are much appreciated.
History: My setup has worked great for about 6 months, but recently I've been having intermittent problems (described below) that have been getting progressively worse and more frequent. The issues have not changed in relationship to firmware/software updates for the AEBS and airport utility.
Setup: Cable Modem (Time Warner Kansas City is ISP) --> AEBS (A1143 on the latest firmware) --> periodic wireless connection to imac, macbook pro and 2 iphones. A Time Machine (hard drive) is also connected to the AEBS via USB.
Symptoms:
-Intermittent disconnects and slowdowns over wireless
-Wired connections are completely unaffected.
-Loss of wireless internet connectivity is consistent through all devices.
-Time machine is unavailable when the internet is not accessible.
-During disconnects sometimes the router doesn't even appear, sometimes I can connect but can't reach my time machine or the internet, sometimes it won't accept my password and sometimes it times-out.
Sounds like the wireless transmitter is going out on the AEBS or something, right? Well, Apple was kind enough to replace my AEBS under warranty to try to solve this problem, but it hasn't gone away.
Could this be an issue with my ISP not distributing IP address properly or something? I'm not really very savvy with the way all that works.
Thanks for your help with this mess.

Its gotta be the surrounding interference issue. I found a macworld article that refers to testing the different channels in the 2.4gHz range and finding some completely unusable (as you mention). If I didn't have a couple iPhones that can't run 5gHz, I'd certainly bump up to that because apparently that's where the performance is!
Here's a link to the article, although it's mostly a review, though information within is pertinent to our issue.
http://www.macworld.com/article/59923/2007/09/airportextreme.html

I just bought the AIrport Extreme to replace an older Linksys wireless g router. But I am still getting a fairly low signal, not showing much improvement from the previous router. What gives?

I just bought the airport extreme router to replace my older linksys g router because of a poor signal. Now that I have the new router running, I'm not seeing much improvement from the previous router! What gives?

I too recently bought the Extreme to replace an old Linksys G and discoverd that the range of the new Extreme was surprising less than the Linksys.
Nothing had changed otherwise; both routers were installed in the same place (on floor, under a cabinet in the middle of my house).
I returned the Airport Extreme to Amazon and bought another (the latest version), and the same problem exists, i.e., I can't get a signal at the corners of my small home with the Airport, where I once could with the Linksys.
I'm puzzled, but think that difference must be that the Linksys has 2 large external antennas and the Extreme's antennas are mounted internally.
I've also noticed that Apple sells a wall mount for the Airport Extreme and am assuming this is to get the Airport up and out into the open in order to improve its 'send and receive' characteristics, no?
If your Extreme is hidden in a cabinet or under some piece of furniture, I suggest you move it into the open and see if this helps extend its range.
Hope this helps.
John

My airport Extreme just stopped assigning IP addresses to wired devices

I have an fairly large home network that is run by an Airport Extreme.
- Comcast Cable Modem for 3 public (not static) IP addresses
- small switch to be able to obtain three addresses
- Apple Airport Extreme connected to the switch and it receives an IP address and internet connectivity from Comcast
- Airport Extreme connected to a 16 port Cisco switch to handle the wired connections in the house. I have 54 ports of which 9 are currently in use.
all wired devices connected through the wall and a patch panel to the Cisco switch.
The issue is that after working flawlessly for about a month (just moved into this house) it stopped today. any device going through the hardwired Cisco Switch is no longer getting an IP address from the Airport Extreme.
I replaced the switch with a second one to see if that was the failure and it is not.
I unplugged the Cisco Switch from the Airport Extreme and plugged devices directly into the Airport Extreme 1 by 1 and they were able to obtain IP addresses.
I need more than the three ports available on the Airport extreme.
What changed and what do I do?

I unplugged the Cisco Switch from the Airport Extreme and plugged devices directly into the Airport Extreme 1 by 1 and they were able to obtain IP addresses.
This tells you that the AirPort Extreme is working correctly and the issue....whatever it is....is appearing after the AirPort Extreme on the network.
A few thoughts:
You have tested the ports on the AirPort Extreme and they are working, so the next step would be to disconnect the Ethernet cable that runs from the AirPort Extreme to the switch at the switch, and then connect a laptop to the Ethernet cable to check to make sure that you are getting a good IP address that way.
If you cannot, then you have a bad Ethernet cable between the AirPort Extreme and switch that will need to be replaced.
If the laptop is getting a good IP address when you run this "test", then you know that the AirPort Extreme and Ethernet cable are working correctly and the troubleshooting focus must now move to the switch.
Check to make sure that you have an unmanaged switch. Or, if it is managed design, that it has been configured to operate as an unmanaged switch.
Next, connect the Ethernet cable from the AirPort Extreme to the switch and disconnect all of the other Ethernet cables that are connected to the switch and test each port one by one with your laptop and a spare Ethernet cable to make sure that each port is working correctly.
If you cannot get a good IP address on your first test with the laptop connected to the switch, then you know that you have a misconfigured or defective switch.
If the switch checks out OK when you test each port, then the next step is to connect one of the Ethernet cables that runs to another area, and connect your laptop to the Ethernet cable to make sure that the cable is working correctly. Continue to test each Ethernet cable the same way.
About 95% of the time in issues like you are having, the problem is bad wiring somewhere on the network, even though the "tech" said that he tested everything. The trick is to find it....when there are no shortuts.

Can I use the AirPort Extreme as a wireless extender to my Time Capsule ?

Can I use AirPort Extreme as a wireless extender ? I own a Time Capsule and want to extend my wireless network using the AirPort Extreme just because both have wifi AC. Also, does the AirPort Extreme need to be hook up via Ethernet if I extend

The problem with extending using a wireless connection between the Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme is this.......
The extender can only "extend" the speed of signal that it receives. The signal starts to lose speed as soon as it leaves the Time Capsule, and the signal will lose quite a bit of speed as it passes through the ceiling due to the thick construction. The ceiling presents what is known as "interference" to the wireless signal.
So, the signal has slowed somewhat by the time that it reaches an AirPort Extreme that would be installed on the main floor. That AirPort Extreme acting as an extender can make the signal that it receives go further, but it cannot make it go faster. A better term than "extender" really might be "repeater".
If you install an AirPort Extreme on the main floor, the signal upstairs will be stronger than it is now, and depending on how many obstructions there are between the AirPort Extreme and the upstairs area, the signal may be noticeably faster upstairs than it is now as well.
With wireless connections between devices, there are always so many compromises and variables involved that it is just not possible to predict what the actual performance might be in your home until you try things out in your home. For that reason, it is always a good idea to understand the store's return policy in advance in case a new item does not deliver the performance that you are hoping to achieve.
Now, let's say that you are able to pull an Ethernet cable from the Time Capsule to the main floor, and the AirPort Extreme is connected there in a nice, central location. Then, you could expect to receive about the same performance on the main floor that you receive in the basement, since the AirPort Extreme is receiving a full speed signal over the Ethernet cable from the Time Capsule. You can run an Ethernet cable about 330 feet, or about 100 meters with virtually no signal loss.
The performance upstairs will improve as well, since the AirPort Extreme has a full speed signal to broadcast....not the slower speed signal that would receive from the Time Capsule if it connects using wireless.
If you want to achieve the same type of performance upstairs that you have in the basement and main floor, then you will need to pull an additional Ethernet cable up to the upstairs floor and add another AirPort there.
That would probably be the "best" wireless network system that you could install if you are looking at all the options. Few of us are lucky enough to be able to install the "best" network, but those that are receive remarkable wireless performance in return for their investment.

How can i enable the airport extreme that is built-in on my mac mini model 2010

I need some help in how can I enable the airport extreme that is built-in my mac mini 2010 model ? I tried and download the airport extreme 802.11n enabler for mac and it tells me Your computer does not meet the hardware requirements for this update. please help me

Wireless is already enabled. Just turn it on using the Finder's menubar icon or using Network preferences.

How can I open the ports with the Airport Extreme?

I have an Airport Extreme Base Station connected to a cable modem and I want to open the ports for the two Playstation 3's I connected to the Airport Extreme via Cat 6 ethernet cable. The first Playstation 3 will be used to play Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and the other Playstation 3 will be used to watch streaming movie from Netflix. Does anyone know if this can be done?

It is documented on Page 54 of Apple's "Designing
AirPort Networks Using AirPort Utility Mac OS X v10.5 + Windows" (direct PDF download link).
The public port and private port would be set the same value.

How do I install Enabler from the Airport Extreme disk?

Recently I purchased an new Airport Extreme. One of my 3 computers is a 2 GHz Intel Core Duo iMac with 20 inch display (iMac4,1). It is running 802.11g. I wish to enable it for 802.11n. I am confused by a statement about the enabler, which is found at the following link for the AirPort Extreme 802.11n* Enabler for Mac (http://store.apple.com/us/product/D4141ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOA&mco=MTA4MjgwNzI). The statement is, "Important note: The Enabler is included free with the new AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n. If you purchase a new AirPort Extreme Base Station, you do not need to purchase the Enabler separately." On my iMac, the Network Utility indicates the iMac is not enabled for 802.11n. I have kept the software on the iMac up to date. Thus I assume that somewhere on the disk that came with the Airport Extreme, there is an enabler file I need to access. Where do I find this, and how do I enable the iMac for 802.11n? Thank you.
Sincerely,
Wilson

I am still a bit confused, because the information at the link I gave seems to indicate that a person with my model of computer should be able to use the AirPort Extreme 802.11n* Enabler for Mac.
1. My computer is not a 17 inch 1.83 GHZ. It is a 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo iMac with a 20 inch display (measured diagonally).
2. The web page (http://store.apple.com/us/product/D4141ZM/A?fnode=MTY1NDAzOA&mco=MTA4MjgwNzI) says check "Before purchasing the 802.11n Enabler software, please check to make sure that your Mac does not already have the 802.11n enabler already installed."
3. It then shows how to use the Network Utility to see whether or not the enabler is installed ("If the section "Model: Wireless Network Adapter," if it says (802.11a/b/g/n), you already have the 802.11n enabler installed. If it says (802.11a/b/g), you do not have the 802.11n enabler installed." My computer lists "802.11a/b/g".
3. Thus I assume that all now I need to do is to install the enabler, which one then can purchase, which one then can do through the Apple Store web page.
4. My issue is that the same web page says I do not need to purchase the enabler if I have already purchased the Airport Extreme base station. ("Important note: The Enabler is included free with the new AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11n. If you purchase a new AirPort Extreme Base Station, you do not need to purchase the Enabler separately.")
What have I missed?

HT201250 Time machine back up using a external hard drive connected to the Airport extreme

How can I setup a time machine back up using a external hard drive connected to the Airport extreme? Even better for time managment purposes I want to use the Eithernet Thunderbolt connection for the first back up and then through the wifi there after for daily routine Time Machine back ups.

You can attach a hard drive, but Time Machine backups to a drive at the USB port at the AirPort Extreme are not supported by Apple, so it's not possible to say what your actual results might be.
If you decide to try this, it would be wise to have a secondary backup plan in place as well.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.6/en/15139.html

Does the Airport Extreme support HP cp1025? There are two versions of the printer the cp1025 and cp1025nw. I have the cp1025, and can't set it up. Is there a list of AE/bonjour supported printers?

Does the Airport Extreme support HP cp1025? There are two versions of the printer the cp1025 and cp1025nw. I have the cp1025, and can't set it up.
Is there a list of AE/bonjour supported printers?

Bonjour is a transport protocol. It also provides a means of advertising a printer on a network.
Any list that shows printers that support Bonjour is generally an indication that the printer itself supports this protocol, meaning that when it is connected to the network, you can see it in your default Add Printer browser. In the case of the Airport, it also supports the Bonjour protocol and will advertise any printer that is connected to its USB port. The printer itself does not have to support Bonjour. The Airport performs this function. And like many lists, they are not kept up to date because each vendor releases several new models every quarter or half year.
There are definitely printers that don't work when connected to the USB port of the Airport. And this is more that the printer driver does not support this type of connection, mainly due to the port not supporting bidirectional communications which some printer drivers require. The Canon UFR2 and CAPT drivers are a good example of this limitation. But this is only the Mac drivers. The Windows equivalent drivers work fine when the printer is connected to the USB port.
So with you having an issue with the Windows drivers then I don't think it is a case of them not supporting Bonjour but more to do with some other component not functioning when the printer is shared by the Airport. The error message appears to have more to do with local user rights which is probably driver related. I've seen some printers that you cannot use the Windows Add Printer wizard to add them. Instead you have to use the vendors utility because of some proprietary protocol being used. Maybe this is one of those?
Now that you seen how it should work based on when you used the C3188, if you still get that error message at point 6 of adding the C1025 then it would suggest a driver compatibility issue with the Airport - which is not necessarily a Bonjour compatibility issue. So unless there was another model of HP printer driver that you could use to this C1025 and that was also compatible with the USB port of the Airport Extreme, then I would suggest your best action is to replace the printer with a model that does work. Maybe even one that has builtin wireless so you don't have to use the USB port of the Airport.

Is it possible to use the AirPort Extreme wirelessly (without Ethernet cable)

Instead of plugging it directly into my Modem, can I set it up wirelessly?

The AirPort Extreme always needs to connect to a modem using a wired Ethernet connection....as the Setup Guide illustrates.

Airport Extreme 6th generation and Time Warner, Arris modem - no internet on mac

After installing a new Time Warner Arris modem we have encountered the following issues:
Light is green on the airport and everything appears normal
Wifi only works on iPhones, roku, and windows laptops.
Ethernet from airport extreme is also working (xbox one works fine).
Wifi internet does NOT work on Mac computers (we have two in the house both running Yosemite). The light on the airport is green and the macs can connect to wifi but cannot connect to the internet (DNS issue?).
The wifi on my mac yosemite laptop does work on my office wireless and anywhere else but home.
Backstory:
So a few months ago I purchased a brand new 6th generation Airport Extreme 802.11ac. It worked fine with our old generic Time Warner cable modem until we forced to upgrade to a new Arris modem/router combination this weekend to upgrade our internet speeds (I don't recall the model I can get this later). We told TWC that we did not need a router and would prefer to use the Apple router but they said it would work just as before by just plugging it into the ethernet port.
Initially we had network errors and I had to change from NAT to Bridge mode on the airport extreme and this worked for about a day. The next morning I could only get internet and wifi on my iPhone or a windows machine elsewhere in the house.
What I tried (none of these worked):
resetting the router and modem worked briefly but the problem repeated itself a few hours later or after connecting to a different wireless network.
deleting network config files (http://osxdaily.com/2014/10/25/fix-wi-fi-problems-os-x-yosemite/).
deleting the wireless network from saved networks and connecting again.
Again this is a problem with mac laptops ONLY. I have no machines running an older version of OS X so I can't test that easily (I can borrow one from a friend to rule that out). We have 2 Mac computers both running yosemite and both have the same problem. Every other wireless device in the house works like a charm. Any ideas?

(using a White, new Surfboard 6141 and Time Warner as provider)
This is a simple cable modem, that will deliver only one IP address to the AirPort Extreme.
My apple extreme in set in Bridge,(by default it is a 2007 model. Has never been a problem when I used Verizon.
Bridge Mode is not the correct setting for the AirPort Extreme. It needs to be in a Router Mode of DHCP and NAT.
Bridge Mode would have been the correct setting with a Verizon modem/router......but the SB6141 is not a router....it is a simple modem.
You can try to make the settings change to see if that will work, but in most cases when you are making a modem change on a network, it is recommended to first reset the AirPort Extreme back to factory default settings (to wipe older and possibly conflicting settings), and then configure the AirPort to work with the new modem.

I have an Airport Extreme, I want to replace it with a Time Capsule. I swapped my cables to the new TC, unplugged both Cox Cable modem and Airport Extreme. Started up by plugging A/C power for Cox Cable modem, then power to TC. Result is blinking amber

I tried unplugging again and restarting the TC first, still gets blinking amber light. I even reset the TC because I was using it for backups only in the network, I just want to move it to the primary position. I don't even get the option of starting a new network.
I need help.

Blinking amber light is not the issue.. that will involve lots of issues due to your reset.
Make sure you have a computer plugged into the TC by ethernet.. do not do setups over wireless.
Even if you need to do the setup in complete isolation that doesn't matter.. it will work when you return it to the network.
Do a full factory reset.. I am not sure what resets you have done up to now.. full factory means you hold in reset before applying power.. and keep holding in reset until the front led flashes rapidly. About 10sec.
The TC must be in router mode if your cable modem is only a modem.. but I don't know if your cable modem is pure modem or modem router.. if the later then the TC should be in router bridged mode.
Once you have that right.. plug it back into the modem if you had to remove it..
Power cycle again if you need to. It can take 15min or more of modem off to reset the cable setting for MAC address.
Then you can setup wireless, although you can also do it whilst connected by ethernet which is usually better.
What airport utility are you using.. the latest one is too automatic.. stop any attempt to automate the setup and do it manually if you get stuck.
Even use the old utility is sometimes better.. 5.6 can be loaded even on Mountain Lion with a bit of a fiddle.

Is the airport extreme just a replacment for your cable modem?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for