Questions & Answers for AirPort Extreme Base Station
1713 Questions from the Community
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Answer
The Ethernet cable from the cable box connects to the single Ethernet WAN port of the Extreme.
Connect the two desktops to two of the three Ethernet LAN ports.
Connect the three lap tops wirelessly to the Extreme's wireless network.
All five computers will then be connected to the network, and therefore, to each other, as well as to anything else that connects to the network, such as printers and hard drives, an Apple TV, iPhones and iPod Touches, Windows computers, various gaming devices, internet-enabled TVs, etc., etc. Each connected wired or wireless device is a network user, and the Extreme can accommodate a total of 50 users at the same time.- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Feb 4, 2011
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Does the Airport Extreme allow automatic backup using Time Machine when an external hard drive is connected?
- Asked by Cody M from Warren
- Dec 6, 2010
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Best Answer
Yes, but this is not supported by Apple, who supports Time Capsule for Time Machine use.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Dec 7, 2010
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Do I need to install software for the Airport Extreme?
- Asked by Eric W from Helena
- Feb 25, 2010
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Best Answer
Yes, the software is included on the CD in the box. If you don't install it, you will be unable to setup, manage, or use the base station.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Feb 26, 2010
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Can the ipad access an external drive connected to the airport extreme?
For example to access a 1TB external drive containing music. I can access this with my MacBook, will it work the same way with the iPad?
- Asked by Michael A from Edmonton
- Jan 17, 2011
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Best Answer
Yes. Use an application called File Browser
- Answered by Vrishab K from Austin
- Feb 11, 2012
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I have a sprint wireless broadband usb connection to the internet. Will this work with that?
- Asked by Paul K from St. Clair
- Dec 21, 2012
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Will the floor interfere with my connection?
I have my desktop upstairs and my laptop a floor below in the basement.
- Asked by Melissa W from Chambersburg
- Dec 28, 2009
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Answer
Yes, the floor will add interference. The routers are pretty good about things like this, but you may find signal issues. 2.4GHz isn't an amazingly strong signal and you'll have issues with interference from cordless phones, dark surfaces, etc. . . If you have your airport near the staircase. Reflections from the walls of the stairwell will help your signal because its acting as more of a line of sight connection.
- Answered by Doug H from Portland
- Dec 29, 2009
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Can I connect two Airport Extreme base stations?
Airport Extreme is connected to Cable Modem downstairs. I have a separate upstairs office with hard drives, printers and second imac. Can I connect my second Airport Extreme to the Network wirelessly?
- Asked by Laura R from Columbia
- Mar 22, 2010
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Best Answer
Yes, when open AirPort Utility to setup the second Extreme, select the second Extreme after you see it show up on the left side of the panel, continue, and then choose to have it join your wireless network.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Mar 23, 2010
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Can Airport Extreme extend the range of a Time Capsule?
I have a Time Capsule connected to my DSL modem. My WiFi is already extended with an Airport Express. I would like to add an Airport Extreme to extend to a different part of the house and also because i need 2 or 3 wired internet connections there. Will this work and is it necessary to turn off router functions in the Airport Extreme if the TC is already my router?
- Asked by Steven S from Encino
- Jan 6, 2012
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Answer
I am preparing to do the same thing as you. I already have Time Capsule, and Airport Express, and will be purchasing an Airport Extreme for a different part of the house for hard-wire connections.
From what I understand, any of these devices can act as the primary router, and any of these devices can extend that range. By default, all of them are configured to be the primary router (if you change nothing), but if you plug it into your existing router (for initial setup purposes), and turn on your Mac, it will automatically walk you through the steps. I think the first question it asks if you want to extend your existing network. Once you select Yes, it does the rest for you, and you can safely unplug it and move it to its new location where it will extend your network.- Answered by Steven C from Cocoa
- Jan 18, 2013
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Does apple make a device that I can use to connect my stereo amplifier to my laptop PC wirelessly?
I want to use my PC (or iPad 1) to play my music library through my amplifier using iTunes. At the moment I have a Logitech Squeezebox streaming radio which is Ok but unreliable.
I have an apple TV which works over my existing (BT Home hub ) network and want to add my amplifier to the wireless net.
What hardware would I need?- Asked by Keith D
- Jan 1, 2013
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Answer
Yes. It's the Airport Express. Buy it and tell it to join your existing wireless network or connect to your existing network using Ethernet, just as you do with the Apple TV. The nstream to it.
- Answered by Sabahattin G
- Jan 6, 2013
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Does the Airport Extreme base station work with mobile internet?
I have a Huawei mobile broadband conection with a cellular carrier in Colombia.
- Asked by Daniel C from Miami
- Jan 18, 2011
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Answer
Only if you have a modem or other gateway device to which the Extreme can connect with your Ethernet cable.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Jan 20, 2011
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Hi , I have question on the airport extreme
Will the airport extreme work for a samsung smart tv , by wire or wireless
- Asked by Lee S from Soquel
- Dec 23, 2012
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Answer
I have a Samsung TV and it works with my Airport Extreme wireless network. I have an older AE that is B and G but am upgrading to a new model N Airport Extreme tomorrow. I currently stream VUDU HD movies and Pandora music to my TV and the AE wireless network works pretty well.
- Answered by James S from Bettendorf
- Dec 27, 2012
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Best Answer
You can do this two ways. 1 - You can buy an airport express and set it up to "extend" the network. It picks up signals form the airport extreme wirelessly and re-broadcasts them to extend the range. 2 - You can use an airport express or an airport extreme that is connected to the initial airport extreme through an ethernet network (my house is wired for this with a LAN jack in every room). This provides the best result but you have to setup the 2nd airport extreme or express exactly the same as the first (same network name (SSID), same network password, same "create a network" option) except in bridge mode. The documentation for this is terrible but the result is very good. Apple tech support can help. It was such a hassle to figure out but in the end it was simple to setup. I should post something to save others the pain of it all but again apple tech support can help. For most option 1 is probably fine and frankly most people won't ever even need that. I hope that helps
- Answered by Scott S from Winnetka
- Nov 3, 2009
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Can I use AirPort Extreme without a.dedicated computer
On system requirements is says mac or PC so does it mean AirPort Extreme does not work without one computer being permanently connected
- Asked by Stephen C
- Oct 16, 2012
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Best Answer
Yes, you can use Airport Extreme without a dedicated computer connected to it, however you'll need some type of device to set it up initially such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, etc. Once the Airport Extreme is setup, then it will work stand alone. There is an Airport Utility App for iphone/ipad and the Airport Utility is included on any Mac and can be downloaded to a PC. You'll need the Airport Utility to setup the Airport Extreme to give it a name, password, etc.
- Answered by Donald S from Newport Beach
- Oct 29, 2012
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Does airport Extreme works with 3g usb modem??
i just wan't to know if Ariport will work if i connect my 3g usb modem internet to AEBS's hub?
- Asked by Manuel R from Ciudad Guatemala
- Nov 7, 2009
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Best Answer
You cannot use the usb port to connect to the internet. You can only share volumes and printers through it. The router has no driver for 3g modems.
- Answered by George K from Granville
- Jul 15, 2010
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what is the difference between the express and the extreme?
We have an I-Mac and PC laptops with wireless printer. We want to replace our existing router due to unreliable service between both computers and are considering adding a future Macbook Pro. What base station will work for us best?
- Asked by Mike M from Stony Plain
- Oct 24, 2012
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Best Answer
The Express is physically smaller and has two Ethernet ports (10/100 Megabit) for devices (one for the WAN) while the Extreme has 4 (1 Gigabit) ports (one for the WAN, 3 for other devices)
The Express can share a printer while the Extreme can share USB printers or USB hard drives.
The Express natively supports AirPlay (stream music to wireless speakers) and has an analog/optical audio jack on it.
THe Express has an internal power supply while the Extreme uses an external power "brick"
The Extreme supports advanced features like RADIUS authentication
Oh, and there's the matter of about $80, too :)- Answered by Doug B from Mesa
- Nov 5, 2012
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Would updating my airport extreme improve performance, mine is 6 years old?
- Asked by David L from North Saanich
- Nov 15, 2012
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Answer
I would say yes as wireless hardware is vastly superior today than 6 years ago. Also, in my experience, wireless gear tends to degrade in performance and reliability with age.
- Answered by Todd J from Columbus
- Jan 2, 2013
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is apple care available for airport extreme?
- Asked by Alan T from Detroit
- Jan 25, 2010
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Best Answer
No longer available.
However, if an AirPort base station is used with an AppleCare-covered Mac computer or Apple TV, that AppleCare coverage automatically extends to the base station as well. All AirPort Base Stations are eligible for 5 years of total AppleCare coverage.- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Mar 22, 2010
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Can snow leopard back up to a Hard Disk Attached to a AirPort Extreme Base Station using Time Machine?
Basically like a cheaper version of Time capsule
- Asked by David M from Sydney
- Jan 14, 2010
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Best Answer
It is possible. In Airport Utility app, 1. select the disk option. 2. Under File Sharing, check the box that says enable file sharing. 3. Open up finder and on the left hand side you should see your Airport Extreme under shared. This is your disk, click on it and log in. 4. Open up Time Machine Pref. and select the back up disk. This works as of Airport 7.4.2 and OS 10.6.4
- Answered by Matthew L from Omaha
- Jun 16, 2010
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Does the airport extreme support new DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems?
- Asked by Joel C from Altadena
- Mar 22, 2010
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Best Answer
Yes, this AirPort Extreme is at least as up-to-date as any other WiFi-certified 802.11n simultaneous dual band 5GHz and 2.4GHz wireless router that exists.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Mar 23, 2010
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Is there anyway to add another wireless router to increase the range?
We moved our Airport Extreme to an area that limits my connectivity where I use wireless. Is there anyway to increase the range by maybe adding an airport express to the mix?
- Asked by Walton G from San Antonio
- Nov 21, 2009
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Best Answer
Yes you can! You can use the AirPort Admin Utility to make them part of a Wireless Distribution System (WDS). The Express will act like a repeater and increase the distance you can go. Keep in mind that it would need to be placed within reach of a decent signal from your main AirPort unit to work well.
- Answered by Eli H from Salt Lake City
- Nov 23, 2009
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