The new firmware is 7.5. I'm having a problem with a Time Machine backup to an AirDrive -- not sure if it was due to the move to the new AEBS or more of the same 7.4.2 bugginess that seemed to randomly corrupt backup sparsebundles on my old unit.
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Is the antenna the only upgrade on the new AEBS/TC
- Thread starter rgarjr
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Upgrade from 1st Gen. to 3rd Gen. Extreme Worth It For Me!
I ended up improving my overall wireless network by wirelessly extending the "G" portion of my network by using the old 1st Gen. Extreme (feeding off of the new Extreme).
So far this is working great. I don't know why I'm not seeing a performance hit on the extended "G", but maybe having a stronger signal in the areas of the house that I use "G" overall compensates for the anticipated performance hit? Wireless networks have been springing up at my neighbors for several months. For now I'm winning the neighborhood WiFi Cold War
This is my first experience with WDS and it took several tries (and a call to Applecare Support) to get this working. The cost of the new Extreme, and the call to Applecare Support was well worth it.
I ended up improving my overall wireless network by wirelessly extending the "G" portion of my network by using the old 1st Gen. Extreme (feeding off of the new Extreme).
So far this is working great. I don't know why I'm not seeing a performance hit on the extended "G", but maybe having a stronger signal in the areas of the house that I use "G" overall compensates for the anticipated performance hit? Wireless networks have been springing up at my neighbors for several months. For now I'm winning the neighborhood WiFi Cold War
This is my first experience with WDS and it took several tries (and a call to Applecare Support) to get this working. The cost of the new Extreme, and the call to Applecare Support was well worth it.
Does 450mbps link speed require new network card?
Given the comments on the link speed / throughput by crellion:
It seems there's no advantage for anyone with a current Mac and AEBS to update from a 2nd gen AEBS to the newest one because the computer would not contain the necessary network card to support a 450mbps link speed. Is it true that you would have to update the network card (to Intel 5300 or similar) in the computer (in addition to getting the new AEBS router) to get 450mbps link speed. Is this correct, or am I missing something?
Thanks!
Given the comments on the link speed / throughput by crellion:
It seems there's no advantage for anyone with a current Mac and AEBS to update from a 2nd gen AEBS to the newest one because the computer would not contain the necessary network card to support a 450mbps link speed. Is it true that you would have to update the network card (to Intel 5300 or similar) in the computer (in addition to getting the new AEBS router) to get 450mbps link speed. Is this correct, or am I missing something?
Thanks!
No there is no advantage. But why would someone upgrade from the previous gen anyway?
Alas - you have struck a hard-chord among Apple fans... Why upgrade to latest and greatest of any Apple gear when the old-gen one works fine? (Works fine, but it's old-gen...)
According to another poster 450Mbps is possible, but right now only between the new AEBS and TC.
Where did you get that information? If that's true - this new AEBS and TC is a HUGE update (450mbps 3-Stream chipset support!)
Just picked up a new AEBS from the Apple Store at Crabtree Valley Mall here in Raleigh NC. They had quite a few sitting on the shelves. This is my first AEBS so I don't have any comparisons against the previous versions. However, I did recently try the Netgear WNDR3700 which I replaced with the AEBS. A few points I've noticed:
1. Wireless performance was a hair faster on the WNDR3700. About 1.4mbit/sec faster.
2. Real world performance, in my environment, seems to top out about 9.5MB/sec, about 76megabits/sec. Client is about 10 - 15 feet from the AEBS. Verified using Activity Monitor and also the interface statistics on my Cisco 2960G switch.
3. I'm using this only as an access point. I was wondering if I could do this and there's an option in the Airport Utility to set it to bridged mode which turns the WAN port into a 4th gigabit LAN port. Glad to see this option.
4. I get better signal strength with the unit turned up on its side. Anywhere from -5 to -10dbM stronger signal when the unit is on its side. I've since stuck it down with some 3M Hook pads I had laying around. This should also help to keep it cool.
EDIT: This worked well when within 10ft of the AP on the 5ghz band. Upright actually lowered signal strength when about 25-30ft away using 2.4ghz. I've put it back to horizontal for now.
5. Airdisk uses SMB / CIFS. Dude, seriously? Why not AFP? Does the drive have to be a certain format for AFP?
EDIT: Reformatted another USB drive for HFS+ and now AFP is being used, so that clears that up.
1. Wireless performance was a hair faster on the WNDR3700. About 1.4mbit/sec faster.
2. Real world performance, in my environment, seems to top out about 9.5MB/sec, about 76megabits/sec. Client is about 10 - 15 feet from the AEBS. Verified using Activity Monitor and also the interface statistics on my Cisco 2960G switch.
3. I'm using this only as an access point. I was wondering if I could do this and there's an option in the Airport Utility to set it to bridged mode which turns the WAN port into a 4th gigabit LAN port. Glad to see this option.
4. I get better signal strength with the unit turned up on its side. Anywhere from -5 to -10dbM stronger signal when the unit is on its side. I've since stuck it down with some 3M Hook pads I had laying around. This should also help to keep it cool.
EDIT: This worked well when within 10ft of the AP on the 5ghz band. Upright actually lowered signal strength when about 25-30ft away using 2.4ghz. I've put it back to horizontal for now.
5. Airdisk uses SMB / CIFS. Dude, seriously? Why not AFP? Does the drive have to be a certain format for AFP?
EDIT: Reformatted another USB drive for HFS+ and now AFP is being used, so that clears that up.
Hey guys...
I wonder about the new updated iMacs, Mac Minis, and MacBook that came out this week. Maybe they would connect at 450 ?
I wonder about the new updated iMacs, Mac Minis, and MacBook that came out this week. Maybe they would connect at 450 ?
HI,
I wonder if I could swap old antenna in my TC (500Gb DualBand - last model before update) with the new model antenna (improved design)?
I don't like I get most 4,6Mb/s (is it ok ?) transfer in 5Ghz N network, no nets collide, 300Mbit/s net is set (checked in NetMonitor).
Anybody tried that ?
I wonder if I could swap old antenna in my TC (500Gb DualBand - last model before update) with the new model antenna (improved design)?
I don't like I get most 4,6Mb/s (is it ok ?) transfer in 5Ghz N network, no nets collide, 300Mbit/s net is set (checked in NetMonitor).
Anybody tried that ?
If the 50% faster speed was achievable without having to update equipment other than the router, it may be a significant enough reason to consider upgrading -- 300mbps to 450mbps is a substantial improvement. It seems getting that 450mbps link speed is not as simple as replacing your AEBS though...
Correct - as I said before and I'll say it again... You need a 3x3:3 stream router paired with a 3x3:3 stream adapter (or bridge) to achieve 450mbps... While I'm still not sure if this new AEBS even supports 450mbps (450 and 600 mbps speed capabilities have to be enabled on the router's chipset itself) - 450mbps is a significant speed boost over 300 Mbps - which I know for a fact is the max top speed (300 mbps) the past-gen AEBS are capable of...
guys you were just misinformed,
the 450 Mbps, just came from this site as suggested by a poster,
http://wifinetnews.com/archives/2009/10/apple_slipstreams_3x3_into_wi-fi_base_stations.html
Take note that the author revised / updated his article rescinding his previous claim.
Meaning its only streaming 300 Mbps and NOT 450 Mbps. It has an extra internal antennae for redundancy and thus give better signal
the 450 Mbps, just came from this site as suggested by a poster,
http://wifinetnews.com/archives/2009/10/apple_slipstreams_3x3_into_wi-fi_base_stations.html
Take note that the author revised / updated his article rescinding his previous claim.
Meaning its only streaming 300 Mbps and NOT 450 Mbps. It has an extra internal antennae for redundancy and thus give better signal