AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule Out of Stock at U.S. Apple Stores [Updated]

[Oliverhay]

What about Bluetooth support?
Many smart home devices are preferring to connect via bluetooth to synchronise data and commands, this might require more of an operating system on the device though.

The smart home base station is ripe for the taking if apple jumped at it!

 

[john.burn]

I've deployed probably 70+ of them....

And there are definitely configuration options lacking—for example, I'd really like to be able to block 802.11b/a/g clients.

You can easily block those bands... You hold down command, option or alt - can't remember which off the top of my head in wifi / wireless options and set n only.

 

[jkozlow3]

You can easily block those bands... You hold down command, option or alt - can't remember which off the top of my head in wifi / wireless options and set n only.

That only works in REALLY old versions of the Airport Utility software - not newer ones.

 

[jonnysods]

I suppose I should feel fortunate. My 2008 Time Capsule is still limping along. I've been thinking of upgrading for a while but with so many better routers out there I've been expecting Apple to announce a significant upgrade soon. Wave 2 802.11AC, USB3, and a (much) faster CPU capable of speeding up time capsule backups and gigabit internet speeds, please Apple.

I know right. I picked Apple again because of the time machine integration only. It certainly wasn't for tech.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

No, it's really not. Time Machine backups are PAINFULLY slow over 802.11n.



For many years the Airport Extreme (and Time Capsule) were one of the leading routers available, but not anymore. They've been substantially eclipsed over the past year+ by models from Dlink, Netgear, Linksys, Asus, and more. Cnet and PC Mag recently published separate articles on the top 2016 routers, and Apple was left off both lists for the first time in years. It's time for Apple to deliver an upgrade.

Well it seems to be for me. I don't use TM for backups. I use CCC and connect my drive directly to my Mac.

As for other routers being faster and whatnot. Maybe so but they are damn ugly. Just about everyone of them has antennas sticking out all around it. Looks like some weird spaceship things. I like the look of the AE and have always been happy with the speed and reliability. Just wish they were a bit cheaper.

 

[SGinAZ]

Not sure if this is related but I ordered a refurb AE on Wed and it was supposed to be delivered on Fri. Tracking shows it arrived at the local facility Fri morning but I received an email from Apple that my delivery would be delayed. I've not received any updates and delivery tracking hasn't changed. I wonder if they've halted shipments in transit as part of this issue...

 

[Ener Ji]

As for other routers being faster and whatnot. Maybe so but they are damn ugly. Just about everyone of them has antennas sticking out all around it. Looks like some weird spaceship things. I like the look of the AE and have always been happy with the speed and reliability. Just wish they were a bit cheaper.

Unfortunately, WiFi standards have evolved to require multiple antennas and space between the antennas in order to deliver maximum performance. This could be one of the reasons Apple hasn't delivered an upgrade yet - it's got to be darn difficult to design a Wave 2 router that performs well AND looks good.

 

[mikecorp]

Most useless gadget from Apple I've ever bought. I bought express, extreme and TC since it came out. But every time they upgraded firmware it went from great to ****. In a way that express was not supported with new OS upgrade. On this matter I learned. Do not buy gadgets like this from Apple. Never upgrade firmware and OS, keep your old computer and buy new one instead.

 

[bigpoppamac31]

Unfortunately, WiFi standards have evolved to require multiple antennas and space between the antennas in order to deliver maximum performance. This could be one of the reasons Apple hasn't delivered an upgrade yet - it's got to be darn difficult to design a Wave 2 router that performs well AND looks good.

Well I guess for now I'll be sticking with my AE. I also find those other routers too complicated to set up. Mainly cause they're made by people/companies who mainly use Windows. MS doesn't know how to make things simple and easy to use.

 

[LarryJW]

Thanks for MacRumors for posting the FCC guidelines. Really, there is not very much in the guidelines except requiring companies to document how the software on their 'routers' support FCC tech security requirements.

With the recent, and surprising firmware upgrade to Apple routers, and the fact that they are available online, my uninformed guess is that items pulled from store shelves were pulled so Apple could upgrade the firmware of these items before restocking them. And, the firmware upgrade was required to align Apple router capabilities with Apple's FCC submission.

 

[APEuroHis]

Antennas are popular with consumers. They want Apple to sell something like this....

Hello. Actually I purchased the Quickertek.com, modified extreme w/ antenna. It works well for my house configuration.
[doublepost=1464533197][/doublepost]quickertek.com makes antenna modifications for the extreme and airport. With my house's configurations, it helps. The owner/support team are easy to talk to (real people). He even offers instructions on how to modify the extreme/express, if you wish to.

 

[justperry]

Hello. Actually I purchased the Quickertek.com, modified extreme w/ antenna. It works well for my house configuration.
Quickertek.com makes antenna modifications for the extreme and airport. With my house's configurations, it helps. The owner/support team are easy to talk to (real people). He even offers instructions on how to modify the extreme/express, if you wish to.

They should have used white antennas instead, it's fugly the way they upgrade them with white antennas.

Thanks for MacRumors for posting the FCC guidelines.

They posted them only after MRUsers pointed out those FCC guidelines!

 

[NotTellinYou]

One thing I would love to see is iCloud caching with Time Capsule.

Or you could just buy OS X Server for $29 and run it on an old Mac, with ample storage, and get that plus Apple Update Caching which is also a HUGE savings when you have more than a few Apple devices in the house. Throw in the rest of the features and it's pretty cool!

 

[You are the One]

Just create an encrypted sparseimage on the attached disk, and store your data there.

Thanks, I'll try that.

 

[willmtaylor]

Most useless gadget from Apple I've ever bought. I bought express, extreme and TC since it came out. But every time they upgraded firmware it went from great to ****. In a way that express was not supported with new OS upgrade. On this matter I learned. Do not buy gadgets like this from Apple. Never upgrade firmware and OS, keep your old computer and buy new one instead.

I've had Macs since 2001 and a TC since 2009 without issue. Doesn't mean ther aren't issues, but I've never encountered any.

That being said, your experience isn't any less anecdotal than mine.

 

[Goldenbear]

I completely agree with these comments. For most home users, the Airport Extreme is probably the best and most reliable router on the market and does what 99% of users need it to do. I'm pretty technically savvy and have tried MANY other routers over the years (usually after reading a great review of the latest/greatest router on the market) and always end up returning them...

I recall reading a few years ago that many home automation companies were using AE or TC because of the reliability.

I started with the original spaceship Airport, switched to SMC (was only OK - not reliable), then used Zyxel for several years, before going back to AE/TC. The Zyxel had many more configuration options, as well as diagnostic features than AE/TC, but it simply wasn't as stable. I had to reboot every so often (once per month?).

There is nothing wrong with the Time Capsule part, the problem is the Wireless...

I must disagree. There definitely IS something wrong with the Time Capsule part. It's slowwwwwwwwww... to the point of being insulting considering the price we pay to buy it. I tried copying various size files from one computer to another over wireless and compared the times to copying the same files to a TC. It wasn't even close. For example, a 1GB file took 1min to copy between two devices, but copying the file TO the TC took over 2 min.

I've been using a Synology NAS for several years now and can't imagine going back to TC. Now, if only Time Machine would stop corrupting the backups 1-2x per year.

Edit:
I want to add that I also tried copying files to an external HD connected to the TC usb port. Those times were also almost 2X as fast as copying to the TC internal drive. Pathetic!!!

 

[curmudgeonette]

I must disagree. There definitely IS something wrong with the Time Capsule part. It's slowwwwwwwwww... to the point of being insulting considering the price we pay to buy it. I tried copying various size files from one computer to another over wireless and compared the times to copying the same files to a TC. It wasn't even close. For example, a 1GB file took 1min to copy between two devices, but copying the file TO the TC took over 2 min.

I recently initiated a one-pass erase of a 2TB Time Capsule drive. The erase (and format) operation was very obviously fully controlled by the TC itself. Thus, neither LAN speed nor host speed was a factor. The erase took way longer* than the drive manufacturer's spec for continuous sustainable write speed! My theory is that the TC was actually reading back (verifying) the sectors. If that is really the case, I'd say that's a nice feature in what's meant as a backup device.

* WD's spec for the installed drive is 100MB/s sustained. 2TB ÷ 100MB/s is about five and a half hours. Actual time was eight to nine hours.

FYI, according to the thread in the Mac Blog area (https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-and-7-7-7-for-airport-base-stations.1974212/), the recent Airport software update seems to have IPv6 related changes. Perhaps the recall of retail stock is to push these changes into all available product.

 

[MH01]

WWDC this year is going to be extreme!

Prepare for major disappointment, it's going to be software and a few hardware minor pumps. Maybe one new product....

 

[arobert3434]

Jony wants a thinner version.

Actually that would be good. ;-) That tall thing is impossible to put in many places. When it was time for us to upgrade I actually had to give up and find an older one used.

 

[teflonthadon]

Antennas are popular with consumers. They want Apple to sell something like this....

Looks like that thing should have a heart beat

 

[mikecorp]

I've had Macs since 2001 and a TC since 2009 without issue. Doesn't mean ther aren't issues, but I've never encountered any.

That being said, your experience isn't any less anecdotal than mine.

depends how you look at it. if you use old mac or new. It just sucks that you update your software and you find out your device is not supported and cannot be reverted back

 

[satcomer]

Most useless gadget from Apple I've ever bought. I bought express, extreme and TC since it came out. But every time they upgraded firmware it went from great to ****. In a way that express was not supported with new OS upgrade. On this matter I learned. Do not buy gadgets like this from Apple. Never upgrade firmware and OS, keep your old computer and buy new one instead.

You must be the only unlucky person to own an Extreme etc! Everyone I have known have had almost no problem updating their Extremes or Time Capsules!

 

[tbrinkma]

Bad post, please delete.

 

[Le Big Mac]

You must be the only unlucky person to own an Extreme etc! Everyone I have known have had almost no problem updating their Extremes or Time Capsules!

My original TC had the capacitor failure, but the free replacement is still going strong (6 years maybe)?

Biggest frustration is the dumbing of the airport utility - fortunately someone created a script to allow the old one to run and provide access to the larger feature set.
[doublepost=1464709448][/doublepost]

I. USB-C would also be handy.

Especially if there were more than one USB-C port.

 

[Peter Lacis]

A nasty little secret I just learned the hard way with the current gen AirPort Extreme is that while it has gigabit enabled ethernet ports on the WAN and LAN side, its WAN to LAN throughput it around 340MBps. If you have a gigabit ethernet connection, you will never realize that speed through the AirPort Extreme, even if directly connected via ethernet CAT6 cable.