Well, considering that TP-Link Routers may be banned by the Federal Government in 2025 (for being Chinese hacker friendly), maybe this would be a good time for Apple to get back into this game citing the need for more security that only they can provide.
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Apple 'Not' Working on New AirPort, But Apple TV and HomePod Provide Glimmer of Hope
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Wouldn't a NAS solution fill the void? With the added benefit that you don't need to replace it whenever you want to upgrade wifi generations.
I wish I knew about this hack, when I added two or more Airports it would cap the speed at 100mb which was a determining factor to get something else. How does the hack work?
Ubiquiti stuff seems to be the standard for prosumer to commercial. Start small and expand.
My Time Capsule and airport extreme fans started running constantly, so I preemptively upgraded to a full Unifi setup (gateway, nvr, switches, WiFi access points, cameras, doorbell). Everything integrates seemlessly and their management software is excellent. You can tell they have their roots in Apple.
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We had multiple generations of Airports, loved them! Easy to set up, but performant. We use an Ubiquity Gateway (Max) now. We probably wouldn't go back if Apple made AirPorts again. Ubiquiti has much of the same ease-of-use, but also offers more advanced features like VLANs, firewall rules, IDS/IPS, etc.
I would highly recommend Ubiquiti’s UniFi system. I went through a lot of WiFi routers before I landed on this. While the initial setup is not cheap, the system is completely modular so as WiFi standards change you can just upgrade individual access points as desired. And the amount of options/features/configurability is impressive.
I live in a very challenging environment for WiFi. A steel and concrete building with high density and surrounded by other equally dense residential buildings. Three previous routers always had connectivity issues. Zero issues since switching to UniFi.
“Well-connected journalist”? Are you kidding me? Couldn’t even get the date of the iPhone event correct, he took a guess and got it wrong. Honestly don’t understand why you’re taking anything Bloomberg “reports” seriously. Hoe about using some common sense? If anyone at Apple was leaking future product info they would be sacked by Cook who would see they never work in the industry again.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
With pricing going towards $1500-$2000 for even 2-3 piece mesh units from good brands, I’m surprised Apple hasn’t come back to this kind of product. Where tech margins are fat- and legal- I expect modern Apple to run. 💰💰💰
I presume that they just can’t logically make these recurring purchases fast enough for their taste. The last crack at it did seem to last for many years. And when the HDD conked, a third party “bargain” purchase could give it fresh legs again: probably what dampened Apple’s enthusiasm for the business.
However, now that they have proprietary “magical” storage at 3X-5X market, it seems they could use those for the storage to drive repair revenue- and profit- after a few years. 💰💰💰
I presume that they just can’t logically make these recurring purchases fast enough for their taste. The last crack at it did seem to last for many years. And when the HDD conked, a third party “bargain” purchase could give it fresh legs again: probably what dampened Apple’s enthusiasm for the business.
However, now that they have proprietary “magical” storage at 3X-5X market, it seems they could use those for the storage to drive repair revenue- and profit- after a few years. 💰💰💰
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Apple regularly issued firmware updates for its AirPort routers to keep up to date with security holes that are uncovered from time to time. Apple last updated firmware for the 5th generation (the last generation, featuring 802.11ac; introduced 2013, discontinued 2018) AirPort Time Capsule / AirPort Extreme in May of 2019.
I wouldn't doubt that the AP routers are still functional because they were very solid to begin with, but they haven't had any security updates for ~5.5 years now. Do you think it's safe operating those?
For those that don't know, Ubiquiti was formed by some of the team that created the original Apple networking products (AirPorts). They work amazing well (most of the time), are simple to use, and are also created with the mindset that "They just work".
Icloud isnt a backup, but timemachine is. So i dont see the conflict
Can you expand on this? What is so good about Ubiquiti's products? I assume you don't mean their Amplifi routers, which haven't been updated since 2020.
Does Ubiquiti offer anything approximately equivalent to Apple's old (and excellent) AirPort Extreme / Time Capsule routers in terms of performance, functionality, reliability, ease of setup, and ease of administration? Lately I've been using Linksys Velop 6E routers but their reliability and functionality have been so-so.
UniFi Express = successor to AirPort Express, WiFi 6
UniFi Dream Router = successor to AirPort Extreme, WiFi 6
Then it gets complicated...
UniFi Gateway Max/Ultra = prosumer/small business wired router that looks like an AirPort Base Station, no built-in WiFi, brains for any additional UnFi access points or UnFi security products
Tons of access point choices from wall mount, ceiling mount, mesh, etc.
UniFi Dream Router = successor to AirPort Extreme, WiFi 6
Then it gets complicated...
UniFi Gateway Max/Ultra = prosumer/small business wired router that looks like an AirPort Base Station, no built-in WiFi, brains for any additional UnFi access points or UnFi security products
Tons of access point choices from wall mount, ceiling mount, mesh, etc.
I very much doubt apple would sell one product when they can sell two.
I have the Ubiquiti Amplifi Alien. And it has been great. But do miss the AirPorts.
I still use an AirPort Time Capsule (2TB) to this day as the apartment’s only router (it’s enough because it’s a small modest cheap place).
Would totally get whatever has been mentioned here: a new router or an Apple TV or HomePod with the same functionality.
Please let it work as a TimeMachine backup option too.
Would totally get whatever has been mentioned here: a new router or an Apple TV or HomePod with the same functionality.
Please let it work as a TimeMachine backup option too.
Did Apple do something to recent macOS that keeps you from setting up your own local TM backups now? That's been a thing for years. All you need is your own NAS and an SMB share to point it to.
Due to the construction layout of the walls at my home, the square footage suggested two Netgear Mesh 960 (WiFi 6E) network devices would work.But to actually work required four even with ethernet back feed wire on three of them. The home has 2002/2003 vintage ethernet cabling throughout which can not be upgraded but at least there is no signal loss from the walls. Signal speed to the televisions is adequate for the newer TV sets.
My backups are over a 10Gb ethernet hub connecting my M1 Ultra, M2 Pro mini as a file server with attached 4 drive Raid and my NAS. I use one of the Apple store's 2.5Gb ethernet adapter for our M4 Max MacBook Pros and M4 iPad along with a 10Gb USB-C to 10Gb ethernet adapter. The "iDevices" are backed up to my iCloud subscription.
Netgear has WiFi v7 "970" devices, but our current "960s" are only a year or so old for my location.
Since the mid 70s, my networking experience has changed from sneaker net to today's hub and spoke topology. One learns tricks to solve issues over the 50 years and how to solve issues cheaply or throw the bank at the issue.
My backups are over a 10Gb ethernet hub connecting my M1 Ultra, M2 Pro mini as a file server with attached 4 drive Raid and my NAS. I use one of the Apple store's 2.5Gb ethernet adapter for our M4 Max MacBook Pros and M4 iPad along with a 10Gb USB-C to 10Gb ethernet adapter. The "iDevices" are backed up to my iCloud subscription.
Netgear has WiFi v7 "970" devices, but our current "960s" are only a year or so old for my location.
Since the mid 70s, my networking experience has changed from sneaker net to today's hub and spoke topology. One learns tricks to solve issues over the 50 years and how to solve issues cheaply or throw the bank at the issue.
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Generally still works fine. I do exactly this to Synology NAS as one kind of backup.
However, latest macOS has bugs and there are a couple of threads of TM not working right. I cling to last generation macOS until about the .5 update or approx WWDC.
Apple basically fumbled their chance to keep selling me AirPort base stations. I had bought two AirPorts over the years and when it came time to upgrade my last one, they had already discontinued them, so I got an Asus RT-AX68U.
I've been wonderfully happy with the Asus. Performance is much better than the old AirPort, I can manage it with a web browser instead of needing an app, and I can really drill down and tweak all my settings to be exactly how I want them.
Apple could have kept selling me AirPorts and I would have never discovered how good Asus routers are. I bet this applies for many of us here with our favorite brand. But they let us down, and we ended up finding a better alternative.
I've been wonderfully happy with the Asus. Performance is much better than the old AirPort, I can manage it with a web browser instead of needing an app, and I can really drill down and tweak all my settings to be exactly how I want them.
Apple could have kept selling me AirPorts and I would have never discovered how good Asus routers are. I bet this applies for many of us here with our favorite brand. But they let us down, and we ended up finding a better alternative.
Apple basically already makes networking hardware. It's called Ubiquiti Unifi. The team that made the original Apple Airports. They broke off and started their own company. It's as Apple as it gets, but frankly, even better. At this point, Apple could make a novelty Wifi access point, what this article describes, but a fully fledged ecosystem is already built in the most Apple-esque style possible, Unifi.
I cannot recommend it enough. It took my HomeKit setup from a nightmare to flawless, and I have 250+ devices, 200+ automations, etc. It runs perfectly with Unifi.
I cannot recommend it enough. It took my HomeKit setup from a nightmare to flawless, and I have 250+ devices, 200+ automations, etc. It runs perfectly with Unifi.