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Airport Extreme Updated With Gigabit Ethernet

I mean, they should have built the first version with gigabit (yeah, I bought one 3 months ago that will now be exchanged), but if you are using a USB hard drive or using the wi-fi to connect to a hard drive, the gigabit ethernet is not going to do anything for you. Granted USB 2.0 is what, 250-350mbps a sec, theoretically, but not the huge difference you would see if you are using this router as your switch with a gigabit file server.

That being said, I should have just waited and mine is going back for an exchange due to "connectivity" issues.
 
Happy with Airport Extreme?

Are those of you with the current Airport Extreme happy with its performance, setup and range. I have D-Link wireless N router with gigabit. Performs decently but not the greatest range. What kind of distances are you getting with your routers. Thanks.
 
MattG said:
That's nice...how about while they're at it, they add AirTunes so it has all the features that the less expensive model has? I'd love to replace my Express with an Extreme, so I could have one unit that does EVERYTHING, as opposed to what I have now (an Express plugged into a Linksys box).
Click to expand...

Yes, come on Apple, how difficult can it be to add Airtunes? And a 2nd USB port wouldn't go amiss so I can attach a printer and a hard drive.

I hope Apple haven't decided to abandon AirTunes due to the AppleTV. I much prefer AirTunes for music than AppleTV.

SL
 
Mmm. Would be nice to have Gigabit on my main home extreme BS.

No update to the AppleTV ethernet... Glad I haven't bought one of them yet.
 
Firmware

Nicky G said:
If it's firmware, I wonder if it will cost $1.99 or whatever to upgrade to Gigabit... ;)
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I would be VERY happy to pay $10.99 even if it were just a formware update.
or heck I'd even pay a $20.00 upgrade fee if they'd let me swap.

but I can't think of why they would have crippled it in the beginning, if it were a matter of a firmware update I think we would have seen it by now.

Nuts and bolts, Nuts and bolts I feel screwed.... j/k maybe I'll just buy the new one and use my old one to bridge mine and some friends networks that live near by. We've been wanting to do it for a while now. (and they only have 54mb connection so a 10/100 port won't slow any data to/from them down any extra.)
 
Excuse me but I'm trying to understand the difference between this new router and the one that was shipping last week. Seems it's just an added GB connection. For those of us who don't have broadband +, or fiber optic lines that can handle GB connections, how it this faster speed going to help? I'm getting bursts from my ISP of upto 11MPS when the network isn't overloaded. This is a slow speed compared to a GB connection. Why do we need that extra big pipeline if we don't have data to fill it? I'm running an airport extreme wired directly to my MacPro. The bottle neck is from the ISP, not the router. If I had this new router, how is that going to make my life so much better?
 
THX1139 said:
Excuse me but I'm trying to understand the difference between this new router and the one that was shipping last week. Seems it's just an added GB connection. For those of us who don't have broadband +, or fiber optic lines that can handle GB connections, how it this faster speed going to help? I'm getting bursts from my ISP of upto 11MPS when the network isn't overloaded. This is a slow speed compared to a GB connection. Why do we need that extra big pipeline if we don't have data to fill it? I'm running an airport extreme wired directly to my MacPro. The bottle neck is from the ISP, not the router. If I had this new router, how is that going to make my life so much better?
Click to expand...

Wired and wireless products have exceeded the current capability of consumer internet connectivity, so of course it won't make your connection to the net faster. Most people don't have fiber or OC148s.

The real thing here is transferring between computers on your internal network. Having a internal gigabit network is quite wonderful. Even so, considering almost every Mac since the Gigabit G4 has had gigabit, it was foolish and laughable for them to leave it out.

Fact of the matter, you just got a whole lot more flexiblity for your home network as opposed to what was shipping yesterday. Before this, I was going to get a gigabit switch and then a wifi router. Now, this will take the place of both.

Just need to find a smaller cable modem that matches the footprint of the AEBS.
 
THX1139 said:
Excuse me but I'm trying to understand the difference between this new router and the one that was shipping last week. Seems it's just an added GB connection. For those of us who don't have broadband +, or fiber optic lines that can handle GB connections, how it this faster speed going to help? I'm getting bursts from my ISP of upto 11MPS when the network isn't overloaded. This is a slow speed compared to a GB connection. Why do we need that extra big pipeline if we don't have data to fill it? I'm running an airport extreme wired directly to my MacPro. The bottle neck is from the ISP, not the router. If I had this new router, how is that going to make my life so much better?
Click to expand...

It wouldn't be a big help with your Internet connection, but for "in house" file transfers is when it is nice. I am constantly transfering files artound.
and it just seemed odd that we would have a wireless connection that could in theory goto 300miB/s (err is that right ? I know it's more than 100) but LAN ports that would bottleneck file transfers to 100.
 
Sorry if I sound naive. But, am I going to notice a difference in speed with this? I currently have verizon Fios. I get 5mbps down. I have to use their wireless router which has 10/100 mbps hard wired ethernet port. does anyone get a faster connection than 100mbps? If I hook AE into the wired part of the wireless router, will I notice a difference with wireless n over wireless g?

-Chuck
 
I should have read the last couple of post. Those answered my question.

It is only really valuable in networking. BUT, if you have 2 macs with wireless n built in, then you wouldn't need the new AE to get high transfer speeds?
-Chuck
 
RedTomato said:
...most of these include ADSL modems (the most common internet connection in the UK), which the AEBS doesn't. Means I'd have to keep my old wireless router modem plugged in for the ADSL modem part. Bit of a shame.
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I'm in the same boat as you really. I love having the AEBSg, but i would prefer if it had an ADSL modem in it. I want a n-BS but the powerbook would clock it down to g, so... would be a waste to get it... bah!
 
I'm definitely going to pick one of these up when I can fit it in my budget now. I do a lot of large media file transfers between all my machines and in the process of phasing out my old media server (filled with old PATA drives) for always on network attached storage. Before I was looking at paying a bit more for the LaCie drives that had gigE ports, but now the AE would make it more worthwhile to invest in the cheaper USB drives since the 100Mb port would no longer be the bottleneck.

Before, when I was doing large file transfers, it was worth the effort for me to hardwire my MB to my 8 port gigabit switch since it was much faster than the wireless (My current BS is only b/g). Now if I'm lazing on the couch, the transfer over 802.11n would be able to bridge with all my other comps that much better.

Well, I still might go with the LaCie gigE drives, but at least the wireless n to gigbit would no longer be throttled by the 100Mb connection.
 
Peace said:
come on!! I admitted I was thinking of firewire..
Click to expand...

I was just funnin' ... and actually it wasn't so much with you as with the other person (who'd "corrected" you).

I've made equivalent sorts of mistakes many times - and on the 'net they never go away... (heck I just did it a week or so ago over on one of my Flickr groups)

hulugu said:
And a spoiler. ;)
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Yes, but the spoiler is rather low-profile so most people don't notice it. :p
 
Whats the difference between 10/100/1000 and Gigabit Ethernet?


what is the real world difference in speed? ie to a computer connected to a cable modem and one laptop. all in same area?

I have 2 old airport extreme's darn... or is it not that big a deal?

let me know
 
mdntcallr said:
Whats the difference between 10/100/1000 and Gigabit Ethernet?

what is the real world difference in speed? ie to a computer connected to a cable modem and one laptop. all in same area?

I have 2 old airport extreme's darn... or is it not that big a deal?
Click to expand...

In terms of connecting to the outside world - it doesn't matter one bit. Your local area network is much faster than your connection to the internet.

The only time it's a real advantage is if you are transferring files between two computers on your local network, and both are using wired connections. If they both have gigabit (10/100/1000) ports, and are on a gigabit switch, you'll get significantly faster transfer rates than if one computer, or the switch, can only handle 100Mbps speed (although it's unlikely the speed difference is 10x - the real world tests I've seen show between 3x and 6x speed differences).
 
I was just going to buy on on Sunday but something told me just wait a week. I'm picking one up Thursday...Since I'm off then and I'll get to play with it. How exciting!
 
SiliconAddict said:
So they added a feature that should have been there in the first place...got it. :rolleyes:
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Well, back when they released the N-specced AE, I wasn't seeing N-spec AP's with gigabit ethernet from other manufacturers either. They all shipped with 100MB ethernet.
 
dabless said:
Um no...pretty sure they are the same 8-pin connector...Good try though.
Click to expand...

They are for the most part the same 8 pin RJ-45 port. However for gigabit there is an additional shield added to it you'll notice the extra metal instead of plastic around the port.
 
jamespa66 said:
They are for the most part the same 8 pin RJ-45 port. However for gigabit there is an additional shield added to it you'll notice the extra metal instead of plastic around the port.
Click to expand...

Does a gigabit network require different cables? I'm not sure of the differences between cat5, cat5e, and cat6 cables. Will a gigabit port work just as well with any type, or would it require replacing exisiting cables?
 
hauntedcity said:
Does a gigabit network require different cables? I'm not sure of the differences between cat5, cat5e, and cat6 cables. Will a gigabit port work just as well with any type, or would it require replacing exisiting cables?
Click to expand...

Cat5 might work, but Cat5e or Cat6 is preferrable.
 
spaceballl said:
And yes, for all that were wondering, I do feel screwed for buying the one without the gigabit ethernet a couple months ago...
Click to expand...

Same. I can live with 100 MB as most ISP connections dont come close....

If only Apple would properly stealth the Extreme and ping bucket. Oh and some SPI would be nice.

hauntedcity said:
Does a gigabit network require different cables? I'm not sure of the differences between cat5, cat5e, and cat6 cables. Will a gigabit port work just as well with any type, or would it require replacing exisiting cables?
Click to expand...

Depends very much on the distance, and I'd suggest that unless you're making runs outside of your house, you will be fine. Cat 5 twists are fine for GB with runs less than 25 feet.

chukronos said:
I should have read the last couple of post. Those answered my question.

It is only really valuable in networking. BUT, if you have 2 macs with wireless n built in, then you wouldn't need the new AE to get high transfer speeds?
-Chuck
Click to expand...

...and seriously....who's time is so damn precious that a transfer taking minutes instead of seconds is going to kill them. If same subnet transfers were that important they would be running a switch separate to a router anyway.
 
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