Airport refresh any time soon?

[HiVolt]

Anyone have any idea if there might be an Airport Extreme/Time Capsule refresh soon? The last ones were refreshed in 2013 and I don't want to upgrade to what's a 3 year old model now...

Apple could always improve on the wireless range.

 

[satcomer]

I feel Apple only updates their routers when a new wireless standard hits the markets!

 

[zulkiflim]

Well hopefully it will be meshed network ...

 

[Fishrrman]

Both replies 2 and 3 above are interesting.

Just wondering, -is- there going to be a new standard for wifi introduced any time in the foreseeable future?

If so, what improvements might it incorporate?

That said, I'm wondering if Apple might introduce its own version of the "meshed network" paradigm, similar to "eero" and "luma" (sp?), but with Apple's own "touches"...

 

[davidg4781]

The only thing I can hope for is they move the Express to AC. I'd like to get an Airport Extreme but think an Express may be needed to get to some far areas of the house.

 

[kryten42]

The only thing I can hope for is they move the Express to AC. I'd like to get an Airport Extreme but think an Express may be needed to get to some far areas of the house.

I think this combined with a meshed network would be a fantastic update. Use an Extreme as the primary router/access point and then add expresses to build out a meshed network. I would buy several for my house if this happened without a second thought.

 

[o0OBillO0o]

I am just as curious as the next person. What are the (yours or anyone's) requirements?

1GB speeds (and AC Wifi to a point) are sufficient for streaming audio and video streams to an AppleTV. What are you trying to achieve?

 

[Nermal]

I'd love to see better IPv6 support, but that could potentially come with a software update. At the moment, there doesn't seem to be any support for IPv6 when using PPPoE.

 

[o0OBillO0o]

I'd love to see better IPv6 support, but that could potentially come with a software update. At the moment, there doesn't seem to be any support for IPv6 when using PPPoE.

I wonder why?

Could configuring a Mac Mini using macOS Server, as your gateway, and use the Apple Airport Extreme as access points in your network solve your PPPoE and IPv6 requirement? I know that the cost is increased.

 

[Nermal]

That might work, but I don't care about v6 that much

[Edit: Typo]

 

[o0OBillO0o]

The might work, but I don't care about v6 that much

Well, you have a point about the PPPoE and IPv6.

Back to the target use for the Apple AirPort Extreme; Schools, small business, and average people.

Unless there are new standards for data communication AND there is a potential for a large market; would you create/refresh a product that is generally fault free within its design spec?

 

[whsbuss]

I too want the Express to support 802.11ac. Until they do I will not go with their networking stuff. All my Apple stuff has AC so why would I use anything less.

 

[o0OBillO0o]

I too want the Express to support 802.11ac. Until they do I will not go with their networking stuff. All my Apple stuff has AC so why would I use anything less.

Some thoughts:

I understand the desire for the AC specification, what do you like about the Apple Airport Express and why do you need it to have AC?

Now, if you own Apple Stuff, that has AC, why not get the Apple Airport Extreme? http://www.apple.com/shop/product/ME918LL/A/airport-extreme?fnode=58


I think the design spec for the Apple Airport Express is targeted to a small and simple "WiFi" adaptor/server for a small and simple wireless network. AC is outside the scope of the designed cost and capabilities.

Still, the Apple Airport Express makes a great Airplay endpoint, wired or wireless, connecting to an audio system via analog or digital cables. Maybe hat's a feature the Apple Airport Extreme and Time Capsule should have in the future?

 

[whsbuss]

Some thoughts:

I understand the desire for the AC specification, what do you like about the Apple Airport Express and why do you need it to have AC?

Now, if you own Apple Stuff, that has AC, why not get the Apple Airport Extreme? http://www.apple.com/shop/product/ME918LL/A/airport-extreme?fnode=58


I think the design spec for the Apple Airport Express is targeted to a small and simple "WiFi" adaptor/server for a small and simple wireless network. AC is outside the scope of the designed cost and capabilities.

Still, the Apple Airport Express makes a great Airplay endpoint, wired or wireless, connecting to an audio system via analog or digital cables. Maybe hat's a feature the Apple Airport Extreme and Time Capsule should have in the future?

Well for me I have been using an Asus RT-AC68U for more than 2 years and its been great. I do use an extender b/c of dead spots. I did use the AE before the Asus and found that without external antennas I lost signal coverage. And why would I not want the Express to be AC compliant? All of my devices support it.

 

[o0OBillO0o]

I know your asking for AC inside the Express, Why not get a currently available product that has AC?

Anyways, it sounds like you want an AC extender/accesspoint, why not run some cable from your Asus RT-AC68U to another AC accesspoint?

Here is a solution, buy two Apple Airport extremes. Set one as "Create a network" and the other as "Extend a network"

Its all covered here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202056

 

[whsbuss]

I know your asking for AC inside the Express, Why not get a currently available product that has AC?

Anyways, it sounds like you want an AC extender/accesspoint, why not run some cable from your Asus RT-AC68U to another AC accesspoint?

Here is a solution, buy two Apple Airport extremes. Set one as "Create a network" and the other as "Extend a network"

Its all covered here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202056

I have an extender that's AC capable. I wish I could run cat6 but that is not possible.

 

[o0OBillO0o]

I have an extender that's AC capable. I wish I could run cat6 but that is not possible.

Awe..

 

[davidg4781]

I wonder if they've kept the Express at N because they might not be able to do beamforming. With it being so small there may not be room for multiple antennas.

If you add an Express as a wireless extender does it slow your network down to N speeds?

 

[o0OBillO0o]

If you add an Express as a wireless extender does it slow your network down to N speeds?

Yes, if you enable wifi on the same SSID. Turn off wifi- no effect.

 

[Cougarcat]

When they do update the Express I'd like for them to revisit the previous design. Maybe not exactly, but I loved how you could just plug it into the wall. I'm sure there's a technical reason why the new design is better, but I'll still miss the old one.

 

[satcomer]

Both replies 2 and 3 above are interesting.

Just wondering, -is- there going to be a new standard for wifi introduced any time in the foreseeable future?

If so, what improvements might it incorporate?...

Look at the 802.11 specs. I feel once the 802.11 AX come down the line with chips in Apple devices we will see new Apple routers!

 

[Weaselboy]

Look at the 802.11 specs. I feel once the 802.11 AX come down the line with chips in Apple devices we will see new Apple routers!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-user_MIMO

MU-MIMO is in the current spec, and Apple could update to support that I suppose. Thing is Apple currently has no MU-MIMO client devices, so I think we are in a bit of chicken-egg deal here. If we see MU-MIMO in the new, rumored MacBook lines that would be a big clue... but I'm not convinced we will see it.

 

[NT1440]

Both replies 2 and 3 above are interesting.

Just wondering, -is- there going to be a new standard for wifi introduced any time in the foreseeable future?

If so, what improvements might it incorporate?

That said, I'm wondering if Apple might introduce its own version of the "meshed network" paradigm, similar to "eero" and "luma" (sp?), but with Apple's own "touches"...

802.11ad may be in the works soon, Apple was one of the first (not the first) for their Extreme line to support the 802.11ac standard, but curiously the Express only supports N (likely because most of the benefits of AC requires the numerous antennas that the Extreme has).

I'm personally wondering if their routers will become the wireless power hubs sometime in the future.

 

[kryten42]

I think this combined with a meshed network would be a fantastic update. Use an Extreme as the primary router/access point and then add expresses to build out a meshed network. I would buy several for my house if this happened without a second thought.

So Google just announced Google WiFi which is a mesh network device for home use (https://madeby.google.com/wifi/). This is exactly the sort of thing Apple needs to release. I put my name on the waitlist for the Google devices, will see what they are like when they are released, they are $129 each and I would probably need 3. They are AC1200 and GigE. I would probably replace my Airport Extreme AC and N versions with these, keep my expresses as wireless bridge clients for the few hardwire only devices I have in remote locations if needed.

 

[Cougarcat]

So Google just announced Google WiFi which is a mesh network device for home use (https://madeby.google.com/wifi/). This is exactly the sort of thing Apple needs to release. I put my name on the waitlist for the Google devices, will see what they are like when they are released, they are $129 each and I would probably need 3. They are AC1200 and GigE. I would probably replace my Airport Extreme AC and N versions with these, keep my expresses as wireless bridge clients for the few hardwire only devices I have in remote locations if needed.

...and you can get three for $299. Expensive, but cheaper than the current mesh network competition.

It looks nice but I kind of wish they made a model with more Ethernet ports. I've got one spot with a wired PC, Ethernet printer, My Cloud drive, and cable modem. But I guess the idea is with more than one of these things, you have ethernet ports sprinkled around the house.