Can anybody compare the 4th and 5th gen. AEBS range using iStumbler in a MacBook?, if the 5th gen. has really better range no doubt I'll sell my 4th gen. and buy the new model 
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Totally unscientific test of new Airport Extreme 5
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Can anybody compare the 4th and 5th gen. AEBS range using iStumbler in a MacBook?, if the 5th gen. has really better range no doubt I'll sell my 4th gen. and buy the new model
I actually started another thread regarding the stability issue I noticed of my new Gen-5 router vs my previous Gen-4 router.
However, after I disabled the wireless adapter culprit, everything seems rock solid to me. As for the range - yes I do notice an increased G, 2.4 N, and 5 N range.
However be careful to monitor the various third-party adapters you use as it seems some cheap 3rd party adapters that worked with the Gen-4 perfectly might have issues with the Gen-5, I am assuming due the newer routers reworked antennas that might cause disruption to cheaper adapters that use flaky-N implementations. Just FYI, my culprit adapter was an Airlink101 Golden draft-2.0 N 300mbps mini-USB dongle...
I surmise the channel selecting or MTU or something of this adapter is incompatible with the Gen-5, thus knocking it out if you connect with it. (Very similar to another thread I read about regarding the Asus Ralink drivers knocking out the AEBS as well.) Not sure if Apple can fix this in a future firmware though...
I am thinking of getting a better brand adapter to replace this Airlink101 one...
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so if I understand, absolutely no need to buy the 5th gen if all your stuff is in the same room ?
Thanks for that info.
The mini-dongle im using on the MacBook is a Wireless Micro USB Sitecom 300N X2 (http://www.sitecom.com/wireless-micro-usb-adapter-300n-x2/wl-352/p/771), the problem is that despite it supports 802.11n, apparently it doesn't detect the 5Ghz band of my AEBS... only the 2.4Ghz one. Very strange... maybe with the new AEBS can I solve this?
No overheating at all. They seem pretty close in temp to my old 2007 Gig-E AEBS units.
FYI, just read it and it is an awesome thread.
Anyone with multiple AEBS that want to extend their network owe it to themselves to check this discussion out.
Thanks again.
Thanks for the feedback.
Well it sounds as if the 5th gen is not much of an update from the 4th except for range. As I live in a 1000sq condo, it sounds as if I'm fine keeping my 4th gen although 5ghz range is abysmal.
Hey guys, I've the chance to sell my AEBS and buy a Time Capsule with 1TB for about 160-170€ on another forum. These Capsules are much hotter and noisier than the AEBS?, having a 7.2K RPM HDD inside I suppose that they make some little noise and produce more heat... anyone can confirm this?
In your case it may not matter but in my case it was greatly increased range and speed. I've had all 5 models of AE Extreme and the leap in speed and range of this one is pretty amazing. You could always try one and return it if it doesn't make a difference for you.
Shannon's Limit Disproved??
This might make you think a little differently about Shannon's Limit:
http://onlivespot.blogspot.com/2011/06/steve-perlman-unveils-amazing-new.html
Here is some more reading on the new wireless tech:
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/06/perlman-holy-grail-wireless/
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/DIDO-MIMO-OnLive-Steve-Perlman-Shannon-s-Law,news-11752.html
http://www.wikipatents.com/US-Paten...distributed-input-distributed-output-wireless
Let me know what you think. Many people think it's a bunch of BS, but certain aspects of Shannon-Hartley Theorem have actually been disproved with the advent of the most recent multiple-input-multiple-output systems.
This might make you think a little differently about Shannon's Limit:
http://onlivespot.blogspot.com/2011/06/steve-perlman-unveils-amazing-new.html
Here is some more reading on the new wireless tech:
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/06/perlman-holy-grail-wireless/
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/DIDO-MIMO-OnLive-Steve-Perlman-Shannon-s-Law,news-11752.html
http://www.wikipatents.com/US-Paten...distributed-input-distributed-output-wireless
Let me know what you think. Many people think it's a bunch of BS, but certain aspects of Shannon-Hartley Theorem have actually been disproved with the advent of the most recent multiple-input-multiple-output systems.
It's not that strange. Just because a device supports 802.11n, doesn't mean it has to support the 5 GHz band. See e.g. the iPhone 4. That page indicates the dongle supports b/g/n, but not a, which would lead me to speculate that it probably doesn't support 5 GHz.
I'll have a look when I get a minute, I agree it sounds pretty too good to be true. As for the MIMO thing, they're creating multiple channels, so it's more a matter of working around the assumptions than violating the theorem itself.
In any case, my original point was just that jacking up power on old hardware doesn't necessarily mean it will perform better - all the components in the transmit chain have to be designed to handle it, or else there'll be distortion and error rates will go up (and data rates will go down). And also that it's perfectly possible to write standards that contain a richness of encodings that current consumer-level hardware is not capable of decoding in real-time, so full implementation of 802.11n will take time (which is a good thing - we don't need to wait for a new standard to get better hardware in the interim).
I'm convinced the 5G version has internal storage and downloads updates unattended ready for install on your computer later.
I have Lion installed on two machines (iMac and MacBook).
Both showed a 600mb update for Aperture in the Mac App Store after a wake from sleep. Both downloaded the 600mb in less than 5 secs, which is simply impossible on my 20mbps cable Internet connection.
It can only be that the update had been downloaded by the AE when it was released and then the computers saw it and got it locally when I woke them.
I have Lion installed on two machines (iMac and MacBook).
Both showed a 600mb update for Aperture in the Mac App Store after a wake from sleep. Both downloaded the 600mb in less than 5 secs, which is simply impossible on my 20mbps cable Internet connection.
It can only be that the update had been downloaded by the AE when it was released and then the computers saw it and got it locally when I woke them.
Are you sure that the Macs didnt download those updates in the background for you? There is a setting in the Software Update to let you download updates in the background.
As I said in my original post, both Macs were either recently turned on (MacBook) or woke up from sleep. Neither had the opportunity to download the software in the background. Plus the setting you refer to relates to Software Update and NOT the Mac App Store which is where the downloads were available.
When I clicked on the Install button the App clearly downloaded in the Mac App Store, it just did it very quickly.
On the MacBook I did have other updates to do via Software Update, that was running at the same time on the MacBook and the downloads for iPhoto, iMovie, etc in Software Update took the usual amount of time and speed.
As soon as I had started the MacBook I opened the Mac App Store which did not yet show the Aperture update. I clicked on Updates and the Aperture update appeared as available. I immediately clicked on install and the 600MB download took less than 5 seconds to complete, then install then started.
I do know that downloads can take place in the background for Software Update, but I have that turned off, and have never used it. there is no such option in the Mac App Store. Plus you are notified of them being available if they have downloaded in the background, that did not take place.
This is clearly something different and may not have been announced yet as it is part of Lion.
Others reported it as 600mb, I saw 600mb download and as the machine was restarted just before I could see the amount of data transferred in a tracker for data usage.
Is it possible that the output power is limited in certain countries?
I've just replaced my AEBS 4th gen with a new 5th gen and I cannot find any difference (apart from the model number and the fact it says 5th gen in Airport Utility).
At the opposite end of my house I get 2/3 signal, and on my driveway (about 5 metres from the AEBS through a brick wall) my iPhone 4 doesn't see it at all (but see's about 4 of our neighbours wifi networks).
This is exactly the same as with the 4th Gen model in the same location, same settings etc.
Just wondering if there is any way of checking what the output power is? I know that in the past speeds were limited in the UK, though I gather that restriction was later removed.
Has anyone else upgraded from 4th to 5th Gen in the UK and seen a difference?
I've just replaced my AEBS 4th gen with a new 5th gen and I cannot find any difference (apart from the model number and the fact it says 5th gen in Airport Utility).
At the opposite end of my house I get 2/3 signal, and on my driveway (about 5 metres from the AEBS through a brick wall) my iPhone 4 doesn't see it at all (but see's about 4 of our neighbours wifi networks).
This is exactly the same as with the 4th Gen model in the same location, same settings etc.
Just wondering if there is any way of checking what the output power is? I know that in the past speeds were limited in the UK, though I gather that restriction was later removed.
Has anyone else upgraded from 4th to 5th Gen in the UK and seen a difference?
The article does not support your contention. In fact it is all about power, range and antenna sensitivity. The problem with the original analysis is that it was someone with an analogue background providing an explanation in a digital world.