Apple Announces New Airport Base Station and Time Capsule with Faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi

[silvetti]

I think his last paragraph says what you said. He points out that higher wifi speeds do benefit the end user on the wifi side, meaning locally, with improved LAN transfer rates and possibly range. So, it kinda does look like he has a clue.

People do all the time think that they have to get the latest wifi N version to speed up their internet over their 3mbps DSL lines. I get questions all the time when I recommend WRT54G wifi routers. Why not N?? But the N is faster. I want a wifi N! When they tell me they are moving files locally or streaming from a PC locally, then I say bump up the WiFi speed.

Yes so lets call morons to people who buy ac routers... Cause that's what he did...

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Does anyone know if 802.11 AC has increased range next to more speed?

Probably, because the new modulation (256-QAM) provides better error correction possibilities in a shorter time. Especially IP-based traffic should be faster.

 

[akbarali.ch]

USB 2 is kinda odd

Not odd, wireless transmission would probably never even reach the speed of usb 2.0, no point putting 3.0 connector for external HD.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

For those of you wishing for a USB 3 port: Why in the WORLD would there be a USB 3 port when the "Over the Air" AC data transfer speed is not even at USB 2 speeds?

802.11ac access points (AP) support up to 867 Mbit/s per antenna, and USB 2.0 supports only 480 MBit/s over one USB 2.0 cable.

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Not odd, wireless transmission would probably never even reach the speed of usb 2.0, no point putting 3.0 connector for external HD.

Nonsense!

 

[azentropy]

Wait. Were you actually hoping for USB 3 speeds over wireless? Even real-world USB 3 speeds? Over real-world wireless? Even 802.11ac real-world wireless?

For those of you wishing for a USB 3 port


Why in the WORLD would there be a USB 3 port when the "Over the Air" AC data transfer speed is not even at USB 2 speeds???????????

Yikes!

Wait. Were you actually hoping for USB 3 speeds over wireless? Even real-world USB 3 speeds? Over real-world wireless? Even 802.11ac real-world wireless?

You realize that they also have Gigabit Ethernet, right?

 

[street.cory]

You realize that they also have Gigabit Ethernet, right?

I was thinking the same thing. Although, for my uses I wouldn't see the benefit of a USB 3 port without having the wireless be able to take advantage of the speeds. Mainly because I'm rarely/never connected to a Ethernet while at home, and If I would be, I'd most likely have a dedicated Thunderbolt/Firewire disk setup with my iMac or new Mac Pro

 

[silvetti]

I disagree. Your wireless network is typically most limited by its connection to the outside world (the WAN connection to the Internet).

"However, I'm sure Apple is counting on many ignorant people to buy new base stations...

This is my problem with your post, so apparently Apple (because no one else sells routers like N900 type...) makes these products because ignorants will buy them.

Apple is counting on providing the latest technology (not always), but it amazes me as to how this becomes a problem to some people on these forums...

Apple adopts Thunderbolt... the reign of lament topics flourish on Macrumors...

Apple adopts 802.11ac... we have again the same type of posts...

Use your G-rated router and leave other people alone... and stop calling other people ignorant because it only makes you look ignorant.

 

[weckart]

should have USB 3 or Thunderbolt

Thunderbolt would add at least $50 to the retail price for no obvious benefit. There are better and cheaper NASes available (hello, HP Microserver).

If you really wanted to make use of TB's bus speed you would need to beef up the I/O processor somewhat. Just how much are you prepared to spend on a consumer router?

 

[shurcooL]

So you can plug in an external hard-drive (via USB 2, argh ) and share that on the network, right?

What about Time Capsule. Can its internal hard-drive be shared on the network, or is only for Time Machine backups?

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Not odd, wireless transmission would probably never even reach the speed of usb 2.0, no point putting 3.0 connector for external HD.

What about gigabit Ethernet?

 

[curmudgeon32]

AirPort Extreme is $199 time capsule starts at $299


Ordered a 2tb time capsule

What the hell did you do to your fonts?

 

[leman]

For those of you wishing for a USB 3 port


Why in the WORLD would there be a USB 3 port when the "Over the Air" AC data transfer speed is not even at USB 2 speeds???????????

Yikes!

Not odd, wireless transmission would probably never even reach the speed of usb 2.0, no point putting 3.0 connector for external HD.

Benchmarks of routers I have seen have been routinely reaching speeds of over 400Mb/s over wireless (TCP protocol). This is the actual benchmark. The fastest USB2 drives out there reach 30MB/s or 240MB/s. Compare the numbers

 

[vmachiel]

Probably, because the new modulation (256-QAM) provides better error correction possibilities in a shorter time. Especially IP-based traffic should be faster.

Awesome thanks for the reply

 

[TDPHunter]

Less Cables

I for one like that this version has one less cable. In the previous Airport Extreme you had the router connected to a power brick that then had another cord that plugged the power brick to the outlet. Obviously, the size is different in this one because they made that power brick a part of the router itself...

So yes, it is Taller... but I have one less cable I have to worry about and it takes up less space on my desk.

 

[smalls]

New AE vs version 2

I have the version2 airport extreme, just wondering if the new airport has better coverage, stronger (non ac clients). My v2 works great, just want more coverage in the other parts of the house.

 

[swordfish5736]

What the hell did you do to your fonts?

Lol it's jailbroken.



My TC left china last night, suppose to be here Monday

 

[scross28]

No VPN server or QoS

I really wanted to get the airport extreme but no VPN server or QoS is pushing me to get an Asus RT-AC66U. I really like the way Apple manages the settings and software on their routers but loosing QoS (my current router has this) just isn't an option for my ISP's pathetic upload speeds.

 

[locoboi187]

Serious question. Is there a real need for time capsule? The only benefit I see from this is the new "ac" standard and wireless automatic time machine back ups. Is there anything else? Or will I just be fine with my current router that works just fine and use an external HDD plugged to my macbook for time machine?

 

[GSPice]

You realize that they also have Gigabit Ethernet, right?

You realize that Real-world GigE speed tops out around 70 MB/s, right?

And that there's gotta be a pretty fast drive (drives, if we're honest) reading AND writing over this network?

And that Real-world USB3 speeds can get up to 400 MB/s?

If people are whining about wanting USB3 so they can read/write at about 20% of the protocol's real-world capability, then I'd have to back out of this debate.

 

[unobtainium]

I disagree. Your wireless network is typically most limited by its connection to the outside world (the WAN connection to the Internet).

I'm sure Apple is counting on many ignorant people to buy new base stations...to attach to their much slower Internet connections. Unless they're pushing lots of data through on the wireless side (Mac to PC, for example), or unless they can benefit from improvements (if any) in 802.11ac range, a base station upgrade is a waste of money.

I think this is an outdated notion. Many people back up wirelessly, stream HD movies to an Apple TV, or have other uses for fast transfer speeds within their home network. Of course AC wireless is unlikely to boost anyone's internet speed, but that doesn't mean it's useless.

The new devices also have other improvements, such as faster read/write speeds. For anyone who backs up to Time Capsule regularly, it would probably be a modest but welcome improvement.

 

[yiswitched]

Wow, it looks like a kitchen counter top water filter. A black Trash Can and A water Filter....

 

[designs216]

This is an obtrusive, awkward shape that's won't tuck away like the current TC.

 

[bloggerblog]

I have to say, the Airport router is the best and easiest router I've ever owned as a home user. But I always expected new software updates to allow standard printers to work on iOS devices. The same way turned standard USB printers into network printers for the PC, they should be able to turn them into an iOS print server as well. But apparently it ain't hapnin and it's mak'n me mad!

 

[MattG]

Let n = number of ports on the AEBS
Let x = number of additional ports you wanted on the AEBS
Let s = number of additional ports someone else wants after Apple releases an AEBS with n+x ports.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

Still, the industry standard on a home router is usually at least 4. 3 is kind of pitiful. Go to the store and find me another router that only has 3 usable ports.

 

[mdelvecchio]

I disagree. Your wireless network is typically most limited by its connection to the outside world (the WAN connection to the Internet).
...
I'm sure Apple is counting on many ignorant people to buy new base stations...to attach to their much slower Internet connections.

right, its all a conspiracy. you got 'em.

er, no. if you have .ac devices, such as the brand new hot notebooks, then this will be a fine upgrade, regardless of ISP speeds. increased connectivity & reliability to devices within your wifi network. dunno about you, but i have trouble w/ plain old web browsing in parts of the house, the backyard, etc. that has nothing to do w/ large file transfers.

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Straight back at you Mr I know it all!

The fastest and most reliable form of connection, regardless of what is on the network is and always will be wired. If your serious about networking your house/devices forget wireless in any flavour......

that statement (on wired networking) doesnt alter the valid crit he had of the other absurd post, which was ignoring & criticizing the benefits of improved non-internet wireless network infrastructure.

 

[oneMadRssn]

Still, the industry standard on a home router is usually at least 4. 3 is kind of pitiful. Go to the store and find me another router that only has 3 usable ports.

Why choose your router based on built-in ethernet ports at all? Seems like the least important spec. It's a router, it's primary function is to connect to and manage a modem, and to run a DHCP and NAT server. Most "home routers" also have built-in wifi access point because thats what most home-users use these days.

If you want more ports, Ethernet switches are pretty cheap and come in all sorts of sizes to fit anyones needs.

Here you go, 8 more ports: http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...=10521&cs_id=1052104&p_id=7857&seq=1&format=2

If I were to design a router, it would have one WAN port and one LAN port. The user would be expected to bring a switch if they needed more LAN ports.