Teardown of Apple's New AirPort Extreme Reveals Hard Drive Slot, but No Connectors

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

USB 2 has a bandwidth well below the 1gbps wireless connection. The thing is, I don't have anything that uses USB 3.

Funny, I just bought a new backup drive. The only connector it has is a SuperSpeed (peripheral end) USB 3.0 connector.

I've never seen an HP printer with lan/w-lan that actually works over the network without connecting to a Mac or AirPort with USB. It works sometimes or maybe just the first 10 times... And they're always a nightmare to set up.

Good point. Same with lots of low-end printers. They may have a LAN connection, but, sometimes it doesn't work right, and sometimes the mfr doesn't maintain/upgrade firmware. Sometimes I end up plugging the printer directly into the host USB port for just that reason.

If Apple had asked me, which they didn't, I would have said it needed 2 USB 3.0 ports.

 

[donutbagel]

Same with a NAS box, right? Answer to both: So, put a couple more GigE ports on, then.

Right. 3 is not enough. Luckily, I had to connect my old router to my AirPort anyway to provide coax support for FiOS anyway, so I put the cables that were in the old router and wouldn't fit on the AirPort on the old router's LAN ports, and it works.

 

[Cisco_Kid]

No USB 3.0, No sale...

The USB 2.0 bottleneck will mean the AirPort Extreme is pretty useless as a NAS.

Well seems it's not being marketed as a NAS, you point is moot.

 

[donutbagel]

Well seems it's not being marketed as a NAS, you point is moot.

But he wants an NAS, and it could have been one. Really, I don't care if it has to use USB 2 because it's fast enough for Time Machine.

 

[johnmcboston]

One USB 2.0 port? LOL @ Apple. They just couldn't resist gimping an otherwise great product.

I think I'm th eonly one unhappy there are only 3 ethernet ports. If something is stationary (imac, DVD player), a cabled connection will always be faster and more reliable.

 

[minik]

Currently I have my 2nd gen Time Capsule (1TB) sits next to my telly alongside with a DSL modem. Although I don't have any 802.11ac device, I think going from a 4-year old Time Capsule to this generation is reasonable. Most of my Mac at home are 2012 models, so the WLAN speed should improve I believe.

How easy is moving the Time Machine back up from one to another?

 

[Simplicated]

Has anyone who complained about its design actually seen the real device in person? I've seen it, and it's much better to see it in person than in pictures.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

funny, ive had my current Extreme for many years of service. never found it obsolete until now. ill likewise feel the same about the new Extreme.

mdelvecchio, I meant the lack of USB 3 or Thunderbolt on the device. Hardly could care less about them using the same plastic form.

I too have had my time capsule and Airports be useful for year. no biggie. but to me it is kind of sad to use USB 2, over wifi doing data backups to attached storage will just take longer.

 

[jnpy!$4g3cwk]

I think I'm th eonly one unhappy there are only 3 ethernet ports. If something is stationary (imac, DVD player), a cabled connection will always be faster and more reliable.

I think it should have had 5 GigE ports. There are very inexpensive fully-functional switch chips for up to 5 ports.

 

[jamezr]

OK....just a very quick trawl though the specs of three similar(ish) devices from other manufacturers...


R6300 WiFi Router
802.11ac Dual Band Gigabit

Two (2) USB 2.0 ports


Asus RT-AC66U:-
802.11ac: up to 1300Mbps
USB 2.0 x 2



D-Link Wireless AC1200:-
IEEE 802.11ac (draft)
USB 2.0

Do we notice any odd similarities...?

Gosh...no USB3.0


I'm sure somewhere there exists a USB3 wi-fi router...can't be bothered to look any further right now.

Welcome to MacMoaners.com

Wow the D-Link router looks awesome

http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-Smartbeam-App-Enabled-Dual-Band-DIR-860L/dp/B00CCIL9NU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371061185&sr=8-1&keywords=dlink+wireless+router+1200

 

[JAT]

I've lost count of how many devices I've had that died because some $0.50 fan quit after a year or two. I can't believe that a router needs a fan.

I've maxed out all the ethernet jacks on my current AEBS. For me to buy this one, I'd still have to keep the old AEBS (or another router) around to give me all the ports I need.

I think routers need a fan. That's part of the problem with cheap routers and modems that fail all the time, too much heat.

Also, switches are far cheaper than routers. While I'm not overjoyed that Apple has 3 ports instead of the more standard 4, I also just purchased a 2nd 8-port switch for my house. So the 4-port options aren't going to solve that.

 

[MrCubes]

If you were getting that slow of speeds before then you had other issues. Most likely misconfigured. Properly configured the older Extremes could see speeds of 200MBit/sec but it did require some playing with of the settings as they didn't always auto switch in most cases. Stuff like NAT can slow things down when going at those speeds.

This is from working for Time Warner Cable and Comcast in their NOC and headend.

I did try to paint the picture that even the best location did not have line-of-sight. I'd certainly been through all the settings carefully.
I'd previously tried several other highly recommended routers and been disappointed - both by the range and the frequency I had to reboot them (daily, on average). My previous AE (not the last gen but the gen before) was a noticeable improvement on both fronts (especially the reboots - which are now more like a monthly thing - or less). But the walls of my house were still an issue - until now.

 

[burnout8488]

Does MacRumors have a promotional deal with iFixit? I don't WANT to DIY my way into a time capsule. They said RIGHT ON STAGE that there's a slot for a hard drive in this new design to accommodate hard drives in the time capsule product line. I'm not interested in using iFixit to service my machines (I buy Applecare for a reason) and I see no point in posting their opinion on EVERY product that Apple puts out so that they can complain about how hard it is to sell their stupid repair service.

What? Some of us like seeing the insides of these new products to see how they work.

Macrumors isn't just posting their opinion, they're posting loads of sexy parts pictures as well.

 

[brentsg]

It amazes me to see all of the complaining about USB. I've never found USB to be all that useful on a wireless access point.

Ethernet though.. yeah.. it would be great to have 5 ports.

 

[JAT]

I think I'm th eonly one unhappy there are only 3 ethernet ports. If something is stationary (imac, DVD player), a cabled connection will always be faster and more reliable.

I just moved to an AE this winter and was unhappy because I had use for a 4th port. But I just let the Roku nearby be wireless and it has been fine. Wireless for 2 feet...whatever.

 

[burnout8488]

Still, where is the audio port on it? Why doesn't this thing have AirPlay like the AirPort Express?

Airport Extremes have never had audio ports on them. Typically, they'd be in a network closet environment, not next to an audio system.

I'd guess the amount of people with their cable modem and router setup next to their audio system is probably a very small number, maybe Apple did some research.

 

[AppleFan360]

Have any of you guys actually seen one of these yet? I just picked up the Time Capsule and it's still very small and will fit easily where my old Time Capsule was. The footprint is smaller and the height is really a non-issue.

 

[xcodeaddict]

Do none of you know how to use solder paste and hot air reflow stations? Surely a SATA connector can be added, if the additional components which are required, are populated.

It's really, really easy - so long as the SATA controller is there

 

[clayj]

Well, not really a benchmark, but my personal experience has been very promising.

I just picked one up yesterday (a 2TB Time Capsule) and replaced my older Airport Extreme (generation before last) last night.

Now I know that the last gen AEs made a big thing about improved range and coverage too, so this may not be a fair comparison. But it's all I've got.

Previously, from my living room - which has almost line-of-sight to the router - I was getting about 50Mb/s from my internet connection (I haven't benchmarked the LAN speed - but I have a 100Mb internet connection so I was a long way short of that).

From my bedroom I would typically get only 10-20Mb/s.

With the new device I'm now seeing 101Mb/s from my bedroom!

This is from my rMBP, which has only 802.11n, so I seem to be getting full capacity from a historically awkward location - and, I believe, I'm not even taking advantage of beamforming (IIRC that's an ac feature?).

A single datapoint - but a happy one for me

I'm thinking of picking up a new 3 TB Time Capsule to replace my previous-gen AirPort Extreme. A question for you: Did you simply export your configuration from the old one before disconnecting it, and then import the configuration into the new one once it was hooked up?

 

[brentsg]

I just moved to an AE this winter and was unhappy because I had use for a 4th port. But I just let the Roku nearby be wireless and it has been fine. Wireless for 2 feet...whatever.

I've got 3 AE's in my home and in each location I'm short on Ethernet ports and wind up doing what you mentioned. I understand that a lot of people simply use them for wireless, but bridging to wired devices is pretty common as well.

 

[MacSawdust]

It's gonna be hot

Um, what engineering decisions for the form factor? The have a fan inside pushing heat downward; going against the understanding that the Mac Pro was designed for. Heat likes to go up right, so why push it down? I don't see any vents on the top of this AirPort Extreme or worse off the Time Capsule.

I think if I do get one of these, it'll have an SSD for the TC to replace stock HDD just for speed and longevity.

I have a TC now and it runs very hot. I don't see an improvement here. Venting the hot air on the new version right where you draw in the cool air will just recirc the hot air. The cooling would be so much better if they vented the hot air on the top, like the new Mac Pro.

 

[brentsg]

Airport Extremes have never had audio ports on them. Typically, they'd be in a network closet environment, not next to an audio system.

I'd guess the amount of people with their cable modem and router setup next to their audio system is probably a very small number, maybe Apple did some research.

Many people will locate am extra AE with their TV/home audio equipment to provide network access. Sure, many devices have built-in wireless but I've found that using a bridge device and wiring them provides much more reliable service.

 

[JGRE]

Agreed.

I've got the current shape Extreme and it's classy, yet unobtrusive.

This design is perplexing.

Hmm, I actually like it. Something new, different, just as the Mac Pro.

 

[MrCubes]

I'm thinking of picking up a new 3 TB Time Capsule to replace my previous-gen AirPort Extreme. A question for you: Did you simply export your configuration from the old one before disconnecting it, and then import the configuration into the new one once it was hooked up?

I set the new one up fresh. I've left most settings at their defaults anyway - and it seems to be performing just fine. I don't have any special requirements these days.

 

[ziwi]

Definitely Pick one up once I have a device that supports ac. In the future, they should definitely include usb3 and more ports... even if it's mostly used for backup over wifi, why limit the speed to usb2. More ports would also be useful as well. For now, it has enough to fit my home setup so let's go iphone with ac!

The reason they limit it to USB2 vs USB3 is so folks will buy the time capsule instead of the extreme alone. I do not understand the limit on ports unless they believe everyone just needs wireless.