Are newer AirPorts faster?

[Nermal]

I have a fairly old AirPort Extreme. I'm not sure exactly what model it is, but it's one of the old 'flat' 802.11n ones (might be 4th gen but don't quote me on that). It's set up as my main router (doing a PPPoE connection) and seems to be limited to around 300 Mb/s over Ethernet. If I bypass the AirPort and set up the PPPoE connection directly on my Mac then the speed jumps to around 700 Mb/s.

My question is whether the newer 'tower' AirPorts can handle faster Ethernet connections. I know that they're discontinued, but my last experience with another brand was... painful so I'd prefer to stick with an AirPort for now.

So, does anyone know whether a newer AirPort can handle 700+ Mb/s?

 

[Stephen.R]

When you have the Airport doing PPPoE, are you connecting from the mac to it via ethernet or wifi?

Airport's have had gigabit wan ports for a while - and the next step down from that is 100Mbit anyway.

At this point getting a "tower" AE will be difficult anyway as they don't make them any more.

 

[Juicy Box]

So, does anyone know whether a newer AirPort can handle 700+ Mb/s?

Are you testing it from one device to another in your network? Or just Internet?

 

[Nermal]

To the Internet. If I have my Mac connected to the AirPort, and a PPPoE connection from the Airport to the ONT (all using Ethernet) then speed tests max out at about 300 Mb/s. If I bypass the AirPort and run an Ethernet cable directly from my Mac to the ONT, then I get around 700 Mb/s.

It seems that this old AirPort can't handle modern Internet speeds, so I'm just wondering whether the newer ones can.

 

[Fishrrman]

The Airport is a discontinued, "getting old" device.
If you want "latest, fastest" speeds, get something new.

One of the 3rd-party "mesh-style" systems would be a good replacement.
Preferably one that has THREE radio bands, with a separate band that is used exclusively for "backhaul". Even Apple is selling these now.

They'll have fast ethernet, too.

 

[satcomer]

To the Internet. If I have my Mac connected to the AirPort, and a PPPoE connection from the Airport to the ONT (all using Ethernet) then speed tests max out at about 300 Mb/s. If I bypass the AirPort and run an Ethernet cable directly from my Mac to the ONT, then I get around 700 Mb/s.

It seems that this old AirPort can't handle modern Internet speeds, so I'm just wondering whether the newer ones can.

I urge you to get the newer Synology RT2600ac because it has the latest standards that you can individually control and it can configured as a Time Maching Server or a full blown NAS!