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Airport Extreme - Which model to buy?

AppleMacFinder

AppleMacFinder

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Dec 7, 2009
796
152
(Sorry, there's no special place on this forum to speak about this awesome device :eek:)

I was going to buy an Airport Extreme Base Station when suddenly saw that thing:

Channels
Channels 1-11, 36-48, and 149-165 approved for use in the United States and Canada
Channels 1-13, 36-64, and 100-140 approved for use in Japan
Channels 1-13, 36-64, 100-112, and 132-140 approved for use in Europe
Channels 1-13, 36-64, and 149-165 approved for use in Australia, Hong Kong, and New Zealand
Click to expand...

The higher the number of the open ports, the better.
So, will I be able to *unlock* some of the *unapproved for use* ports?
 
I don't think you can unlock the other frequencies (illegal by the way). Just get the one that suits your location the best.
 
These are not ports; these are frequencies. And it isn't likely going to help by hacking this anyway.

Consider you bought your device in the US. It won't work on those other frequencies anyway, so why bother?
 
So, if it is impossible (or very hard) should I buy the AirMac Extreme (the Japan version)
because it has the highest number of the open channels (nearly two times more than US version) ?
 
Those are channels, not ports.
The channels are using different radio frequencies, thus many frequencies need approval by the country the radio device gets sold in, as many frequencies are taken.

And there is a Mac Peripherals sub-forum.


AppleMacFinder said:
So, if it is impossible (or very hard) should I buy the AirMac Extreme (the Japan version)
because it has the highest number of the open ports (nearly two times more than US version) ?
Click to expand...

Ports ≠ Channels.

Get the AirPort Extreme Base Station in the country you live in, to make sure the radio frequencies are approved upon, thus proper working is guaranteed and no interference with other devices can be caused.

Repeat: Ports ≠ Channels.

That means, you can chat and torrent with any of these AEBSs.
 
AppleMacFinder said:
So, if it is impossible (or very hard) should I buy the AirMac Extreme (the Japan version)
because it has the highest number of the open channels (nearly two times more than US version) ?
Click to expand...

Those extra channels won't work with a device sold in the US, so they are useless.
 
Sorry, I was talking about channels (and mistyped).

Should I buy AirMac because it has the highest number of the approved channels?
(and also Japan Macbook Pro because it supports these channels too)
 
AppleMacFinder said:
Sorry, I was talking about channels (and mistyped).

Should I buy AirMac because it has the highest number of the approved channels?
(and also Japan Macbook Pro because it supports these channels too)
Click to expand...

No, because those channels are also approved on the client devices. In other words, a US device won't use the Japanese frequencies.

Also, consider it is illegal to buy both Japanese units and use them in the US, as neither has been approved for US use (obviously).
 
AppleMacFinder said:
Sorry, I was talking about channels (and mistyped).

Should I buy AirMac because it has the highest number of the approved channels?
(and Japan Macbook Pro to support these channels too)
Click to expand...

What is AirMac?

And as belvdr already wrote, you can't use those extra channels in the country you reside in, if the frequencies are not approved. Unless you plan to move to Japan at some time in the next year, then get the Japanese AEBS.

Anyway, why do you want to use a device with unapproved channels? Something to hide or interfere? There is a legal reason, why some frequencies are not open for the public, you might get into trouble using those.
 
AirMac = Japan Airport
(it was renamed because this name was already taken in Japan)

What if I will buy both Japan AirMac and Japan Macbook Pro
to enjoy the double amount of open channels (which is only available for Japan devices)
 
AppleMacFinder said:
No. I'm just tired of wi-fi lags, and hope that if I'll get Japan devices
my wi-fi network will be more reliable.
Click to expand...

Do you have a lot of wifi networks were you live?

I currently have 9, sometimes up to 15 or so, and my AEBS is still working without problems by using the approved, non-Japanese channels.

What will be the average distance between the AEBS and MBP? And if you really intend to buy the Japanese version, then make sure, that using those channels in your country will not get you in any trouble.
 
Do you have a lot of wifi networks were you live?

I currently have 9, sometimes up to 15 or so, and my AEBS is still working without problems by using the approved, non-Japanese channels.

What will be the average distance between the AEBS and MBP? And if you really intend to buy the Japanese version, then make sure, that using those channels in your country will not get you in any trouble.
Click to expand...

The average distance is about 15~20 meters,
but there're a lot of wi-fi networks (sometimes I see more than 30 :eek:)
and I want to get some unused clean channels to make my home network reliable and get rid of the lags.
 
AppleMacFinder said:
The average distance is about 15~20 meters,
but there're a lot of wi-fi networks (sometimes I see more than 30 :eek:)
and I want to get some unused clean channels to make my home network reliable and get rid of the lags.
Click to expand...

And, again, that would be illegal. You can try to do this, but consider that if you're caught, the fine is hefty (think it starts around $7,500 in the US).
 
belvdr said:
And, again, that would be illegal. You can try to do this, but consider that if you're caught, the fine is hefty (think it starts around $7,500 in the US).
Click to expand...

Not only that, but other non-WiFi approved devices can cause lots of interference with the unapproved WiFi channels and vise versa.
 
AppleMacFinder said:
Code: 
Do you have a lot of wifi networks were you live?

I currently have 9, sometimes up to 15 or so, and my AEBS is still working without problems by using the approved, non-Japanese channels.

What will be the average distance between the AEBS and MBP? And if you really intend to buy the Japanese version, then make sure, that using those channels in your country will not get you in any trouble.

The average distance is about 15~20 meters,
but there're a lot of wi-fi networks (sometimes I see more than 30 :eek:)
and I want to get some unused clean channels to make my home network reliable and get rid of the lags.
Click to expand...

Maybe try iStumbler to scan your neighbourhood for free or lowly used channels. I for example use channel 36 without hiccups, though I don't have such a distance to overcome.
 
Intell said:
Not only that, but other non-WiFi approved devices can cause lots of interference with the unapproved WiFi channels and vise versa.
Click to expand...

What are the non-WiFi devices that can cause the interference with wifi networks?
 
And the last question:

Why there's no any rumors about Airport Express/Extreme/TimeCapsule,
and why there's no info about these devices at the buyers guide?

Does it mean that Airport is unpopular and/or bad in comparison with other wi-fi routers (such as D-Link) ?
 
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