Apple Officially Discontinues AirPort Wireless Router Lineup [Updated]

[cmaier]

Wonder what kind of solution they use to pull that off, because for instance, you cannot use Time Machine with an SMB share from Windows. Seems crazy outdated to me because even if one does not primarily use Windows, there are a lot of Windows shares out there from servers and desktops.

Dunno.

https://www.synology.com/en-us/know...es_from_Mac_to_Synology_NAS_with_Time_Machine

“

1. 
   Note:
   • Time Machine supports both SMB and AFP. For macOS Sierra and later, Time Machine uses SMB, instead of AFP, as the default protocol.
   • If you want to back up your files via SMB, please go to the SMB section on the same tab, and check the Enable SMB service box.

 

[bsbeamer]

For those upgrading their WiFi routers from an AirPort that used USB hard drives for Time Machine backups, the easiest fix right now is to continue using the AirPort as a Time Machine "server" and turn off all WiFi router functionality within the AirPort. Reconfiguring the AirPort under "Wireless > Network Mode > Join a wireless network" will allow the AirPort connect to your new network (as a device) and continue sharing Time Machine via USB.

Tested several new routers and was not able to get reliable Time Machine backups via SMB on any of the test models. Settled on the Linksys WRT3200ACM and download speeds are about 4x faster than AirPort and almost 2x faster than a TP-Link I was running in conjunction with the AirPort previously. The app and web interface are easy to use. If you're looking for MU-MIMO, worth taking a look at it.

 

[andrepfortier]

Apple has officially ended development on its AirPort line of products, which includes the AirPort Express ($99), the AirPort Extreme ($199), and the AirPort Time Capsule ($299).

"We're discontinuing the Apple AirPort base station products. They will be available through Apple.com, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers while supplies last," an Apple spokesperson told iMore.

Apple has not updated its AirPort products since 2012 (Express) and 2013 (Extreme and Time Capsule), and in late 2016, Bloomberg said that Apple had stopped development on the AirPort lineup with the AirPort engineers reassigned to other products.

Apple reportedly began shutting down its AirPort unit in early 2016, in an effort to "sharpen" its focus on the "consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue."

Following news that Apple had shuttered the AirPort unit, the company began selling third-party routers in January of 2018 when it offered the Linksys Velop Mesh Wi-Fi System.

Apple's AirPort base stations provided unique benefits that are not available through third-party options like built-in Time Machine backup support in the Time Capsule and AirPlay functionality for the AirPort Express.

While the AirPort line is being discontinued, Apple will be providing service and parts for current generation AirPort Base Stations for the next five years. iMore says Apple also plans to share some knowledge-base articles in the coming weeks to assist customers who are transitioning away from the AirPort Express, Extreme, and Time Capsule.

Apple plans to continue to sell the three AirPort products online and in its retail stores until available supplies are exhausted. No price drops have been implemented at this time.

Update: Apple has shared a new support document offering tips on choosing a Wi-Fi router to use with Apple devices. The company recommends a router that offerrs 802.11ac, dual-band support, WPA2 Personal encryption, and MIMO or MU-MIMO.

Article Link: Apple Officially Discontinues AirPort Wireless Router Lineup [Updated]

[doublepost=1525125458][/doublepost]I have two Timecapsules and 2 Airport Express in different rooms and attached speakers to each of the Airport Express, the audio from iTunes could be sent to any of the Airport Express using Airplay. If I replace the Timecapsule with the Linksys Velop, my airport Express will no longer work as they do now with Airplay. Is there any way of doing a simliar setup with satellite speakers in different rooms and having the ability to send audio from iTunes to any of the rooms?

 

[stanwalters]

They kill this, one of their better products, but continue to sell hot garbage like Mac Mini, Homepod, Watch and the outdated, overpriced and unupgradeable Mac Pro?

But don't worry, there will be some great new emoji coming to make everything better. Oh, and all that stuff that's broken in MacOS will still be broken, but you'll get more iOS features (that nobody asked for) on your desktop and some great new graphics to display on your silly 1920 x 48 touchbar display to take your mind off of it.

Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but it seems like the beginning of the end when my friend's Dell laptop is running Adobe AE better than my MBP, when it cost about the same as the pile of adapters I had to buy just to use my new MBP with the other gear I already own.

For years you could say "It just works". Now you're lucky if it can be made to work at all (See 'iTunes')

Sad to watch the empire in decline,
Stan

 

[andrepfortier]

[doublepost=1525125458][/doublepost]I have two Timecapsules and 2 Airport Express in different rooms and attached speakers to each of the Airport Express, the audio from iTunes could be sent to any of the Airport Express using Airplay. If I replace the Timecapsule with the Linksys Velop, my airport Express will no longer work as they do now with Airplay. Is there any way of doing a simliar setup with satellite speakers in different rooms and having the ability to send audio from iTunes to any of the rooms?

Put another way, how can I have a wireless setup to enable playing iTunes music over airplay in a different room if I remove the Timecapsule & Airport Express setup with a Linksys router?

 

[bladerunner2000]

But don't worry, there will be some great new emoji coming to make everything better. Oh, and all that stuff that's broken in MacOS will still be broken, but you'll get more iOS features (that nobody asked for) on your desktop and some great new graphics to display on your silly 1920 x 48 touchbar display to take your mind off of it.

Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but it seems like the beginning of the end when my friend's Dell laptop is running Adobe AE better than my MBP, when it cost about the same as the pile of adapters I had to buy just to use my new MBP with the other gear I already own.

For years you could say "It just works". Now you're lucky if it can be made to work at all (See 'iTunes')

Sad to watch the empire in decline,
Stan

God damn... that hurt to read. I started off with a MDD PowerMac. Loved it. Bought the first gen Mac Pro. Loved it too. Then a Mac Pro 3,1. A MacBook 2010, 2011 and 2012. Loved all those... haven't bought anything since from Apple as it's turned to soldered trash.

It was a nice run... but it's over.

 

[Buran]

Ordered an Airport Extreme while still available with the intent of setting it up to provide coverage to the back of my house, but I looked further into mesh networking and realized that it's perfect for what I need.

Bought an eero system today and installed it. The new APE goes back to the local Apple Store without even being opened, and my existing AP Extreme and Express will be recycled once the eero has been running for a week or two. I have a new eero beacon coming as well (the local Micro Center only carries starter kits) and that'll give me coverage while in the backyard hammock.

I wouldn't be surprised if in the future Apple bought eero as the software and hardware design are very Apple-like.

The AirPort router was great for us for a long time, but now that we have a bigger house, it's time to move on to something that's designed for whole-house coverage and which is still actively being developed and supported, not just being maintained for existing users.

 

[MrGuder]

Here's the article Apple published on April 26, 2018 about how to choose your next wireless router. I think with Apple publishing something like this proves they are getting out of the router business for good. While it's nice there telling us what to do, I still think it's terrible to have abandoned a product that so many Apple customers use daily and fine it just works.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208753

 

[Abazigal]

Here's the article Apple published on April 26, 2018 about how to choose your next wireless router. I think with Apple publishing something like this proves they are getting out of the router business for good. While it's nice there telling us what to do, I still think it's terrible to have abandoned a product that so many Apple customers use daily and fine it just works.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208753

Given Apple's size, even the most niche Apple product will easily have a sizeable number of users in an absolute sense.

I believe time will show that dropping the airport router was the right move moving forward.

 

[69650]

Doesn’t cook realise that in order to maintain a closed Apple ecosystem, you need Apple products like routers.

 

[Rojaaemon]

I wonder what the Apple executives use instead of this once innovative product which was touted as a typically superior solution to our Apple system needs.

 

[cmaier]

I wonder what the Apple executives use instead of this once innovative product which was touted as a typically superior solution to our Apple system needs.

Cisco industrial setups. Because they are rich and have giant mansions.

 

[PKoz]

Setup was a breeze. Very Apple-like. There’s a great app for managing the network from an iPhone.

Thanks. I think I will go to this once the updates and support for the Airport ends.

 

[Melbourne Park]

"I have two Timecapsules and 2 Airport Express in different rooms and attached speakers to each of the Airport Express, the audio from iTunes could be sent to any of the Airport Express using Airplay. If I replace the Timecapsule with the Linksys Velop, my airport Express will no longer work as they do now with Airplay. Is there any way of doing a simliar setup with satellite speakers in different rooms and having the ability to send audio from iTunes to any of the rooms?

Put another way, how can I have a wireless setup to enable playing iTunes music over airplay in a different room if I remove the Timecapsule & Airport Express setup with a Linksys router?"

I am no expert, but you can run the new WiFi router, and plug the and Airport preferably with one with an ethernet connection, into that router. Then, you'll have two WiFi networks - one from the Apple hardware - operating. When you want to play iTunes music, switch from the new router to the Apple one.

 

[zapmymac]

my 2nd gen Extreme is still going strong [10+ years], along with a 2nd gen Express (extend mode), I really ought to go pick up one for later use.

 

[JGRE]

But don't worry, there will be some great new emoji coming to make everything better. Oh, and all that stuff that's broken in MacOS will still be broken, but you'll get more iOS features (that nobody asked for) on your desktop and some great new graphics to display on your silly 1920 x 48 touchbar display to take your mind off of it.

Sorry if I sound pessimistic, but it seems like the beginning of the end when my friend's Dell laptop is running Adobe AE better than my MBP, when it cost about the same as the pile of adapters I had to buy just to use my new MBP with the other gear I already own.

For years you could say "It just works". Now you're lucky if it can be made to work at all (See 'iTunes')

Sad to watch the empire in decline,
Stan

Yes, the 'screw you' emoji, thank you Apple.

 

[andrepfortier]

Here's the article Apple published on April 26, 2018 about how to choose your next wireless router. I think with Apple publishing something like this proves they are getting out of the router business for good. While it's nice there telling us what to do, I still think it's terrible to have abandoned a product that so many Apple customers use daily and fine it just works.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208753

Totally agree, it just works for me, granted maybe it needed some upgrading although it works well for a variety of situations such as adding remote speakers in different rooms and using airplay to control where the audio from iTunes is sent. Also, I support my parents network and computers remotely, they're 500 miles away and also some friends that are 2,000 miles. Once the basic network is setup, using Teamviewer and launching Airport Utility, I can see what's going on with the router, configure it etc..., upgrade software, do basic configuration Can't do remote support like that using any other wifi router as far as I know.

 

[Abazigal]

Sad to watch the empire in decline,
Stan

Here, I find myself standing witness to Apple’s ascent. All the way to the top. And as history as shown, you can’t usher in a new world order without first doing away with the current one.

Time will tell as to which one of us is watching the right movie.

 

[gctwnl]

I've been using UniFi for a while next to Apple's Airport Extreme/Express (and these are good), but the Airport Express still fills a function I've not found a replacement for: Airplay. I've three Airport Express units either doubling as access point and airplay or just as airplay client. How do I replace the Airplay functionality so I can stream from the Mac or iPhone?

 

[cmaier]

I've been using UniFi for a while next to Apple's Airport Extreme/Express (and these are good), but the Airport Express still fills a function I've not found a replacement for: Airplay. I've three Airport Express units either doubling as access point and airplay or just as airplay client. How do I replace the Airplay functionality so I can stream from the Mac or iPhone?

The good news is you can keep using the airport expresses until they die. After that, other than some hacks involving raspberry pi’s, I haven’t seen much in the way of a solution.

 

[bsbeamer]

I am no expert, but you can run the new WiFi router, and plug the and Airport preferably with one with an ethernet connection, into that router. Then, you'll have two WiFi networks - one from the Apple hardware - operating. When you want to play iTunes music, switch from the new router to the Apple one.

Depending on your ISP, modem, and router config, this may not work exactly as you'd expect.

Changing the mode of the AirPort to bridge would allow the AirPort to connect to your new router without juggling multiple networks and could continue sharing devices connected to the AirPort on your new network. In AirPort Utility, go to Wireless > Network Mode > set to OFF and in Network > Router Mode > set to OFF (BRIDGE MODE). Setting a Static IP is suggested and reserve that address in your new router (many are under DHCP reservations).

Or else would suggest changing the mode of the AirPort to extender to re-broadcast the router's network. That would allow you to setup two networks without the conflicts of just plugging your AirPort into another router.

You might want to hard reset your AirPort and start from scratch vs. just reconfiguring.

 

[Melbourne Park]

Depending on your ISP, modem, and router config, this may not work exactly as you'd expect.

Changing the mode of the AirPort to bridge would allow the AirPort to connect to your new router without juggling multiple networks and could continue sharing devices connected to the AirPort on your new network. In AirPort Utility, go to Wireless > Network Mode > set to OFF and in Network > Router Mode > set to OFF (BRIDGE MODE). Setting a Static IP is suggested and reserve that address in your new router (many are under DHCP reservations).

Or else would suggest changing the mode of the AirPort to extender to re-broadcast the router's network. That would allow you to setup two networks without the conflicts of just plugging your AirPort into another router.

You might want to hard reset your AirPort and start from scratch vs. just reconfiguring.

Great, I'll set mine up that way. Thanks.

 

[jasnw]

I have a wired house (CAT5e throughout, lucky me) and have been using an Extreme (as wireless only, no routing) and a Base running in a bridged setup. Basically, these are acting as access points (AP). The only equipment using the wireless part of my home network are mobile devices and the occasional laptop, all rarely doing anything much more than web browsing. I'm looking to replace these Apple units (when they eventually fail) with something like the TP-Link EAP226 AP. Anyone had any experience with a setup like this, using two EAP226 APs to provide wireless for a two-story 2400 sqft house? It got a pretty good review over at the SmallNetBuilder site:

https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wir...-access-point-roundup-part-2?showall=&start=7

 

[twssas]

This announcement from Apple has got me now planning for life after the Time Capsule/Airport Express.

Have been looking and reading about several of the mesh systems, and I like the Eero product. However, I have read a few reviews from some that have done research, that Eero's privacy policy is quite intrusive regarding the data they seem to collect, and possibly pass on. My question, is their privacy policy and actions, really any different than any other mesh system manufacturer, e.g. , Google, Linksys, etc. ?

Just a lot of "fine print" out there, and just trying to understand the safest way to proceed.

Thanks

 

[cmaier]

This announcement from Apple has got me now planning for life after the Time Capsule/Airport Express.

Have been looking and reading about several of the mesh systems, and I like the Eero product. However, I have read a few reviews from some that have done research, that Eero's privacy policy is quite intrusive regarding the data they seem to collect, and possibly pass on. My question, is their privacy policy and actions, really any different than any other mesh system manufacturer, e.g. , Google, Linksys, etc. ?

Just a lot of "fine print" out there, and just trying to understand the safest way to proceed.

Thanks

I was leaning toward synology because their products are always great and their interface is very powerful. Now I'm leaning toward Amplifi - good company, good products, and their "teleport" option which lets you connect to wifi outside your home as if you are at home is very compelling to me.