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AppleFeller

Cancelled
Original poster
Oct 19, 2020
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My eero was being fussy so I actually decided to replace it with a used AirPort Express and wow. It’s magic WiFi just works now, no weird loading issues, videos stream without hiccups. Restarted every device and seeing no issues. Everything seems to be pulling ~70 down and I pay for 100 so I’m happy with that. Setup was a breeze via settings app. I hope this lasts till apple gets back in the networking game. Can’t beat this for $35
 
My eero was being fussy so I actually decided to replace it with a used AirPort Express and wow. It’s magic WiFi just works now, no weird loading issues, videos stream without hiccups. Restarted every device and seeing no issues. Everything seems to be pulling ~70 down and I pay for 100 so I’m happy with that. Setup was a breeze via settings app. I hope this lasts till apple gets back in the networking game. Can’t beat this for $35
For a little bit more money, you can get a 6th Generation Airport Extreme. These have even faster WiFi than the Airport Express. You'll get all the 100 you pay for.
 
For a little bit more money, you can get a 6th Generation Airport Extreme. These have even faster WiFi than the Airport Express. You'll get all the 100 you pay for.
I will keep that in mind for future, nothing I do needs the full 100 so I am not upset, also my network cabinet in my closet is like 2" deep cutout within the wall I like how the express fits without issue atop my ONT and nothing is out in the in the open.
 
Welcome to the club!

For a little bit more money, you can get a 6th Generation Airport Extreme. These have even faster WiFi than the Airport Express. You'll get all the 100 you pay for.
Somebody was selling a lot of 6 or 7 working 802.11ac AirPort Extreme units on eBay a few months ago for like CA$75 or so, or about US$53. I was so tempted to buy them, but I don't actually need them as I have a bazillion already. :cool:

Screenshot 2025-03-28 at 9.53.01 AM.png


I continue to use them because they are rock solid, and work so seamlessly with Apple devices, including even my recently released M4 devices.
 
Welcome to the club!


Somebody was selling a lot of 6 or 7 working 802.11ac AirPort Extreme units on eBay a few months ago for like CA$75 or so, or about US$53. I was so tempted to buy them, but I don't actually need them as I have a bazillion already. :cool:

View attachment 2496538

I continue to use them because they are rock solid, and work so seamlessly with Apple devices, including even my recently released M4 devices.
Yah I was shocked that magically my internet seemed way more stable and just worked vs eero even if clients technically are pulling less over WiFi. Video streaming at 4K and scrubbing a timeline isn’t broken anymore.
 
I had a mesh (gigabit ethernet backhaul) of 3 AirPort Extreme units (the tallboy 802.11ac versions) which worked quite well, but wanted something faster for my newer devices, and I had a couple of Logitech Circle cameras that for some reason didn't like to stay connected to the network (despite everything else consistently working). I also started to become worried about security since it's been years since the firmware had any updates.

Replaced them with an expensive Orbi 960 mesh system (same gigabit ethernet backhaul). What a disaster! Nothing wanted to stay connected consistently. iPads and iPhones would drop constantly. Smart home devices would bounce back and forth between satellites and disconnect themselves. Speeds were no faster than the decade old Airports and signal strength seemed worse. Had to add a fourth satellite just to reach my home's backyard. My list of reserved static IP addresses would reset/wipe itself every time the main unit rebooted or when certain settings changed. I had to micromanage that piece of garbage almost daily for nearly 6 months before I gave up and ripped it out, going back to the slow but reliable Airport Extremes.

Now using a TP-Link Deco wifi 7 (BE11000) that I picked up at Costco of all places for 1/4 the price of the Orbi system on the recommendation of a friend. It's like wifi nirvana now. Fast, consistent, solid and covers more space with three satellites than the Orbi did with four. Very Apple-like in that once it was set up, I haven't had to touch it or even think about it in months. Just works.
 
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