AirPort Extreme
The AirPort Extreme is a residential gateway combining the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point and NAS as well as varied other functions, and one of Apple's former AirPort products. The latest model, the 6th generation, supports 802.11ac networking in addition to older standards. Versions of the same system with a built-in network-accessible hard drive are known as the AirPort Time Capsule.
The name "AirPort Extreme" originally referred to any one of Apple's AirPort products that implemented the newly introduced 802.11g Wi-Fi standard, differentiating it from earlier devices that ran the slower 802.11a and b standards. At that time the gateway part of this lineup was known as the AirPort Extreme Base Station. With the addition of the even faster Draft-N standards in early 2009 this naming was dropped, and from then on only the gateway has been known as the AirPort Extreme. Several minor upgrades followed, mostly to change antenna and power in the Wi-Fi. In 2013, a major upgrade added 802.11ac support and more internal antennas.
The AirPort Extreme has gone through three distinct physical forms. The earliest models were packaged similar to the original AirPort Base Station, in a round housing known as the "flying saucer". From 2007 to 2013 the Extreme was packaged in a rounded-rectangle white plastic housing, similar in layout and size to the Mac mini or earlier Apple TVs. The 2013 802.11ac model was re-packaged into a more vertical case, taller than it is square.
According to a Bloomberg report on November 21, 2016, "Apple Inc. has disbanded its division that develops wireless routers, another move to try to sharpen the company’s focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue, according to people familiar with the matter."
In an April 2018 statement to 9to5Mac, Apple announced the discontinuation of its AirPort line, effectively leaving the consumer router market. Apple will continue supporting the AirPort Extreme, however the company now provides a list of recommended features when consumers are searching for a new wireless router.
Features
Overview
- Fully featured 802.11ac Wi-Fi base station
- Sleep Proxy Service
- 4 Ethernet ports — all ports are gigabit Ethernet on newer versions
- USB 2.0 interface for disk and printer sharing
- Built-in file server
- Runs VxWorks Operating System by WindRiver or a customized version of NetBSD.
AirPort Disk
AirPort Extreme models by generation
Original generation
The original AirPort Extreme Base Station was so named because of its support for the 802.11g standard of the day, as well as for its ability to serve up to 50 Macs or PCs simultaneously. One feature found in most models of this generation was an internal 56K dial-up modem, allowing homes that lacked a broadband connection to enjoy wireless connectivity, albeit at dial-up speeds. It was the last generation to retain the "flying saucer" form factor. Later generations would adopt the short, rounded-square form factor that would be seen until 2013.1st generation
On January 9, 2007 the AirPort Extreme began shipping, with support for 802.11n draft specification, and built-in wireless print and storage server.2nd generation
On March 19, 2008, Apple released a firmware update for both models of the AirPort Extreme that, according to third-party reports, allowed AirPort Disks to be used in conjunction with Time Machine, similar to the functionality provided by AirPort Time Capsule.3rd generation
On March 3, 2009, Apple unveiled a new AirPort Extreme with simultaneous dual-band 802.11 Draft-N radios. This allowed full 802.11 Draft-N 2x2 communication in both 802.11 Draft-N bands at the same time.4th generation
On October 20, 2009, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme with antenna improvements.5th generation
On June 21, 2011, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme, referred to as AirPort Extreme 802.11n .The detailed table of output power comparison between the 4th generation model MC340LL/A and the 5th generation model MD031LL/A can be seen below:
Note: 3dB more equals a doubling of power output
6th generation
On June 10, 2013, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme, referred to as AirPort Extreme 802.11ac . The 6th generation AirPort Extreme features three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3Gbit/s, which is nearly three times faster than 802.11n. Time Machine is now supported using an external USB hard drive connected to AirPort Extreme.Comparison chart
| Approx. release date | Consumer nickname | AirPort Extreme | Model | Wireless standard | Gigabit Ethernet | Guest network | Radio type | MIMO | IPv6 router mode*** | Time-Machine Backup**** |
| January 7, 2003 | Original/round | M8799LL/A | A1034 | 802.11b/g | Single band 2.4 GHz | |||||
| January 9, 2007 | 1st generation | A1143 | 802.11a/b/g/n* | Dual band 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz | 3×3:2 | |||||
| August 7, 2007 | 2nd generation | A1143 | 802.11a/b/g/n* | Dual band 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz | 3×3:2 | |||||
| March 3, 2009 | 3rd generation | A1301 | 802.11a/b/g/n* | Dual band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz | 2×2:2 | |||||
| October 20, 2009 | 4th generation | A1354 | 802.11a/b/g/n | Dual band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz | 3×3:3 | , but not over PPPoE | , with latest software | |||
| June 21, 2011 | 5th generation | A1408 | 802.11a/b/g/n | Dual band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz | 3×3:3 | , but not over PPPoE | , with latest software | |||
| June 10, 2013 | 6th generation | A1521 | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac** | Dual band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz | 3×3:3 | , but not over PPPoE |