How about the Belkin G router I am replacing? Can it be used in an all Airport network?
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Airport Extreme, now or wait?
- Thread starter Midgetinabikini
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How about the Belkin G router I am replacing? Can it be used in an all Airport network?
Yes. Airport products are intended to work as access points, that's their main feature. And an Airport device can wirelessly extend another Airport device.
Your old router can still be used for extending your network but it won't do it wirelessly. You would have to do it using Ethernet cable. The old Belkin G router is past it's prime
IMO. if it's not too much I get an Express along with the Extreme if you really need to extend your network. It just easier to setup and manage, you don't have to create multiple wireless network, your network will be running at N or better speeds.Which one(s) would that be, BTW?
Netgear Nighthawk AC1900, Nighthawk X4, Nighthawk X6
Asus AC87U, AC68U
Both are much better than the airport extreme in terms of speed (~500mbps on the above routers vs 293mbps on the airport extreme), stability and features.
Reviews:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...7-ac1900-router-retest-redux?showall=&start=1
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...ort-extreme-80211ac-reviewed?showall=&start=3
http://www.trustedreviews.com/apple-airport-extreme-2013_Peripheral_review
"These speeds make the Extreme the slowest wireless AC router we have tested at 2m. It improves dramatically by holding its speed at distance, but it still trails every wireless AC router we've tested this year"
Asus for now. Apple takes waaaaaaaay tooooooo looooooooong to update their Airport extreme series.
http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/22/asus-rt-ac87-wifi-router/
http://www.engadget.com/2014/07/22/asus-rt-ac87-wifi-router/
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The AirPort Express is good for the AirPlay functionality, or for extending the range of an Extreme, but the 2x2 802.11n antenna array inside the router makes it not a very good 802.11n router.
So, between Airport Extreme and non-airport AC routers, which one is better for use as the primary router. If a non-Airport AC is chosen as a primary because of its cheaper price, then could an Airport Express be used as a range extender? Are they compatible?
The AirPort Express can only be used as an Access Point in a Roaming Network with a 3rd party central router. This means the Express must be connected via Ethernet to the main router.
How about the Extreme? Can it be the main router connected via Ethernet to the modem? Can an Express serve both as Access Point and Range Extender?
Yes. Airport products are intended to work as access points, that's their main feature. And an Airport device can wirelessly extend another Airport device.
Your old router can still be used for extending your network but it won't do it wirelessly. You would have to do it using Ethernet cable. The old Belkin G router is past it's prime
I am in a 2700+ sf house with two stories plus a full basement. The modem is located in the basement and all other devices are in the first and second floors. With the G router now, I have to restart the router several times a day. So with an Extreme replacing the G router, the restart problem should be minimized if not totally eliminated. Any thought? Maybe all I need is an Extreme as the main router and if, there is a need for extending the range, I should get an Express.
The AirPorts are really stable and the range will probably be quite an improvement.
That would be a good start. Install the extreme first and check if your coverage is good throughout the house. If not, the express at the upper floor would do the trick
That would be a good start. Install the extreme first and check if your coverage is good throughout the house. If not, the express at the upper floor would do the trick
Actually, you would want the Express where it can get good signal and therefore repeat a speedy reliable signal.
Do you mean that the Express should be at the basement where it can get good signal from the Extreme? If so, should I use wired or wireless connection between the Express and the Extreme?
No. Placing it in the basement with the extreme would not give you an effective extension. You want to place it approximately at the outer most region of the extreme's "good signal" zone. Most likely somewhere on the first floor so that it can receive a good signal and repeat it up to the second floor.
Considering the express only has a 100Mbs Ethernet port, connecting it via Ethernet cable you'd really gain little over wireless extension, or may actually lose some in throughput, depending on your environment.