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January 9, 2007 11:55 AM PST
New AirPort Extreme Base station announced: Shared disk access, 802.11n, enabler for 802.11n hardware in some Macs
Apple has announced a new edition of its AirPort Extreme Base station that takes some styling cues from the Apple TV and includes 802.11n networking. The unit will ship in February for US$179.
Among the salient new features:
- Connectivity for up to 50 Macs or PCs
- AirPort Disk turns almost any external USB hard drive into a shared drive.
- Access control feature -- lets you set which users can access network and during what time periods
- Built-in firewall
- 802.11a/b/g, draft 802.11n2 support
- Three RJ-45 10/100BASE-T Ethernet LAN ports for connecting computers or network devices
UPDATE: The AirPort Extreme also includes 802.11n Enabler for Core 2 Duo and Xeon-based Macintosh computers (except 17-inch 1.83GHz iMac). This will, of course, enable the built-in 802.11n-capable hardware on these Macs.
For further information, see http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/.
Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.
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Is there an antenna port on the new AEBS?
Most people and small businesses don't use or a pressing need for gigabit ethernet yet. In fact, for SOHO file sharing and printer sharing, 802.11g works adequately, and actual throughput is way below 100BT (fast ethernet).
If you have a gigabit network, you probably have a gigabit switch, and if you connect the new Airport Extreme base station to it via one of its WAN ports, transfers between the gigabit capable computers will still be at the higher speeds, and internet traffic going through the AEn base will not even tax the 100BT, as it's very likely well under 10 Mbit/sec.
The only thing which will fall short of expectations will be file transfers between 802.11n connected clients and gigabit clients connected to the switch... because 802.11n has typical data rates of 200 Mbit/sec, the speeds will be limited by the slower ports.
It is puzzling to comprehend why Apple did this, however, it's not a deal breaker, and I still think the AEn is a great product at a killer price point (at least compared to earlier AE base stations).
While I don't have a gigbit switch yet, I am ready to get one. My only desire for it right now is to speed up backups across the network (backups go to an iMac with a firewire attached disk). My only wireless clients are laptops, so they can always plug into the switch for backups instead of doing it wirelessly.
I think that new disk sharing feature on the AEn is just begging for a gigabit connection though :)
"I think that new disk sharing feature on the AEn is just begging for a gigabit connection though"
I totally agree. Absence of Gigabit kills AEBS for me. Setting up a Time Machine volume attached to AEBS is not appealing over 100baseT. A HD video server over 100baseT is equally unappealing.
Call this just another Apple 'near miss.' I think I'll be getting that 5 port D-Link Gigabit router instead. I've been waiting for 7-8 port Gigabit routers to come down in price, but I'm not sure that's going to happen anytime soon.
"I think that new disk sharing feature on the AEn is just begging for a gigabit connection though :)"
Excellent point - especially since I just read you can attach a hub to the port and attach multiple drives.
And if you get one of them new Epson Gigabit Printers, you can print at super high speeds! No... that part was made up. A guy can dream...
You might be able to hook up Apple's USB modem to it. :)
The new box has no antenna ports that I can see nor are any in the tech specs.
Unless Apple took a major lesson in delivering a better antenna, this beast is a wash in any but the most optimum type of locations save for inelegant and warranty-breaking hackage.
How can this be? Somethingis seriously wrong with Apple if that's the case.
You are insane. You are being critical of Apple because they are not going to be able to somehow change your old computer to be able to run a wireless spec that has not been released yet?
If you show me some advertising that showed that your MacBook Pro was capable of 802.11n when you bought it in 2006, you would actually have a leg to stand on.
Guess what - my 12" PowerBook, with an Apple-supplied Airport Extreme card is not going to be able to run 802.11n either. Think I should complain about that?
- by tonydickinson January 10, 2007 4:39 PM PST
- Hi this is interesting as I have a new 24ins iMac and use a Linksys WRT350N router which is a wireless "N" device. Does this mean that I will not have access to the "N" capability on the iMac unless I purchase the new Apple unit?
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(15 Comments)regards Tony