Buy Airport Extreme or other router?

[amorya]

I currently have an old 802.11g Airport Extreme. Lately it's been dropping offline every so often: the network still shows in the list but no device can join it. This is solved by a reset (by pulling the power cord), but it suggests it's time to upgrade. I could also use the extra speed and range of an N device.

Would you guys recommend the new Airport Extreme with 802.11n, or is there a third party router that is cheaper and/or better?

At the moment I'm sharing a cable internet connection via both wifi and ethernet, with the cable modem plugged directly into the Airport. I may switch to FTTC VDSL soon, but I believe that most companies offering that will give me a modem that does PPPoE, which would connect to an Airport base station fine.

Amorya

 

[S.B.G]

The Airport Extreme Base Station is a fine router, I use it and never have any problems. It is more expensive than other comparable routers.

 

[87vert]

Go with the airport extreme, I recently replaced my Netgear G router that was doing the same.

Added a 1TB usb drive to the extreme for Time machine. I picked up the previous model Extreme for $50 on ebay. (The one without the gigabit ethernet ports)

 

[Scippy]

There are quite a lot of third-party routers out there that are cheaper, but I still would recommend going with an airport extreme. Unlike my other routers, I've never had any problems with my airport extremes and the interface is far superior.

 

[miles01110]

I like the WNDR3700.

 

[John T]

Would you guys recommend the new Airport Extreme with 802.11n, or is there a third party router that is cheaper and/or better?

There are plenty of cheaper routers out there.However, I'd seriously doubt if they are better - in fact, quite the contrary! One of the main advantages of the Airport Extreme is that it is so easy to set up and in my personal experience, it performs faultlessly.

 

[deeddawg]

I went with a WNR3500 a while back, Staples had it for $80 and I used a $25 off $75 coupon from ebay so my net cost was a little under $60 plus tax. It's been very solid and I've not missed the lack of dual-band.

If you choose to go with a AEBS, consider buying a refurb current-generation model from the Apple online store to save some money, $130 instead of $180: http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC340LL/A

My understanding at the time, and I may be incorrect, is that the AEBS requires client software to configure it rather than having a web interface for configuration. I've been down that road before and prefer having a clientless configuration/management option, which is the case for most other routers.

 

[AMDGAMER]

i had a linksys that worked fine for years, just changed to apple router and happy with it, seems more solid.

 

[joleel7]

Any idea how is the signal range like? I plan to place the router in the basement.. Can this router act as gateway.? thx

 

[jsilas]

I replaced a Cisco/Linksys WRT310N Gigabit/Wireless-N router with the newest Airport Extreme Base Station.

My wireless throughput improved more than 6x, range is much better, and everything is working perfectly.

I was hesitant to buy it due to it's price tag ($179), but now I'm so glad I did. My advice: GET IT.

 

[Xian Zhu Xuande]

The Airport Extreme Base Station is a fine router, I use it and never have any problems. It is more expensive than other comparable routers.

Not necessarily. It is actually cheaper than a number of N routers.
It is one of the finest consumer routers I can think of, even if there's no Macs on the network in question.

 

[Wiggum]

While others on this forum may disagree, I think that a revised AirPort is coming out soon. I am in the same position as you, but I'm going to wait out until the announcement of the iPad 2 in hopes that it will be released at the same time. With Apple really focusing on streaming video and audio for FaceTime and AirPlay, I can't imagine they are going to go very long without a QOS router.

 

[mstrze]

I'd recommend to the OP to do a Factory Reset. This will often fix a lot of Airport issues....returns your Extreme to 'fresh from the box' condition...downfall is you'll have to do some software/firmware updating and you will need to re-create your network and security and the like, but the whole procedure should take less than 20 minutes and at the end you will likely have a more problem-free unit.

Does a much better job of fixing things that just a cycling of the power, which you have been doing.



Procedures for various types of resetting.

 

[nivekr11]

While others on this forum may disagree, I think that a revised AirPort is coming out soon. I am in the same position as you, but I'm going to wait out until the announcement of the iPad 2 in hopes that it will be released at the same time. With Apple really focusing on streaming video and audio for FaceTime and AirPlay, I can't imagine they are going to go very long without a QOS router.

I bought one last weekend and love it. I went back to Best Buy yesterday to pick up something else where they keep them. They had no more in stock. They may be pulling inventory and getting ready for a new model. I hope they let me return it in the 30 day window if a new one comes out.