Questions & Answers for AirPort Extreme Base Station
1713 Questions from the Community
-
Is the AirPort Extreme compatible with At&T DSL modems?
I have a Siemens Speedstream 4100 B DSL modem from At&t. Do you know if the AirPort Exteme is compatible? I'm trying to get a little more range. I get a weak signal in one of my offices using a Linksys E2000 router. Will I see an improvement?
- Asked by Mark L from Hayward
- Nov 5, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
"I have a Siemens Speedstream 4100 B DSL modem from At&t. Do you know if the AirPort Exteme is compatible?"
Absolutely, I'm using that setup.
"Will I see an improvement?"
Yes, you should. AirPort Extreme's signal will provide greater throughput.- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Nov 5, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Will Airport Extreme work with ADSL from any ISP
I have a ADSL modem with a built in wifi and router, can Airport Extreme replace this unit.
- Asked by Wesley G from Orlando
- Jul 21, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
It may be possible to use your ADSL wifi modem/gateway with the Airport Extreme Base Station. If you are using a 2Wire DSL modem/gateway it is possible to disable the gateway/router function and the onboard DHCP. The device will then forward the DSL modems ip address to the Airport which then handles DHCP and all routing functions. I used this set-up at my girlfriends house successfully for the last two years. I would imagine that this should be possible on most DSL modem/gateways as well.
- Answered by Michael W from Rancho Santa Margarita
- Jul 28, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can any access points be used with the Apple Airpot Extreme?
I plan to use the Apple Airport Extreme as my main router downstairs. However I need further access points upstairs. Is it possible to use other access points by other brands with the Airport Extreme or do you need to use apple products e.g. the base station?
- Asked by Sam S
- Nov 24, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can I use the AEBS with a Mac G4 533 running 10.4.11 or is it mandatory that 10.5 or later is on the Mac used to set-up and administer the AEBS?
- Asked by Ernest B from Goleta
- Jan 17, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
Well, the stated minimum system requirements are Mac OS X 10.5.7, so there's no guarantee it will work. If you manage to get it work on 10.4 you're still on your own re support, etc.
- Answered by Kenneth D from Ottawa
- Jan 22, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can I connect an Ethernet based HD off the Airport Extreme and access it like any other network storage?
- Asked by Kurstin M from Walnut Creek
- Nov 24, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
Yes, this is basic networking and the Extreme will participate as you hope.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Nov 25, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
what is the size of the airport extreme?
- Asked by Gary R from Dulles
- Feb 23, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
Length: 6.5 inches (165 mm)
Width: 6.5 inches (165 mm)
Height: 1.3 inches (34 mm)
Weight (approx): 1.66 pounds (753 grams)- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Feb 23, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can I get free support for setup?
- Asked by Kathryn H from Salt Lake City
- Feb 22, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
Yes, at Apple's Support website for AirPort. Multiple AirPort manuals are also available for download at the site.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Feb 23, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
is an Apple TV wireless or do you have to hook it up to a modem or use an ethernet cord?
I am considering purchase of an Apple TV
My TV set is in another room from my iMac.
How do I hook it up?- Asked by Gene R from Ardsley
- Jun 3, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
the apple tv is wireless, though you can connect it via ethernet if you want.
- Answered by Joel H from Normanhurst
- Jun 23, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate
-
where is the best place to place the airport extreme to get the best signal? and is there a way to improve signal?
- Asked by Christy C from Austin
- Oct 12, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
Place your AirPort Extreme in an open area where there are few obstructions, such as large pieces of furniture or walls. Try to place it away from metallic surfaces.
If you place your AirPort Extreme behind furniture, keep at least an inch of space between the AirPort Extreme and the edge of the furniture.
Avoid placing your AirPort Extreme in areas surrounded by metal surfaces on
three or more sides.
If you place your AirPort Extreme in an entertainment center with your stereo
equipment, avoid completely surrounding the AirPort Extreme with audio, video, or power cables. Place your AirPort Extreme so that the cables are to one side. Maintain as much space as possible between the AirPort Extreme and the cables.
Try to place your AirPort Extreme at least 25 feet (7.6 meters) from a microwave oven, 2.4 or 5 gigahertz (GHz) cordless phones, or other sources of interference.
The farther away from an interference source, the less likely it is to cause a problem. The following items can cause interference with AirPort communication:
Microwave ovens
Direct Satellite Service (DSS) radio frequency leakage
The original coaxial cable that came with certain types of satellite dishes. (Contact the device manufacturer and obtain newer cables.)
Certain electrical devices such as power lines, electrical railroad tracks, and power stations
Cordless telephones that operate in the 2.4 or 5 GHz range. If you have problems with your phone or AirPort communication, change the channel your base station or AirPort Extreme uses, or change the channel your phone uses.
Nearby base stations using adjacent channels. For example, if base station A is set to channel 1, base station B should be set to channel 6 or 11.- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Oct 13, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Is the APE only as fast as the weakest link? I have 1 iBook that's 11G and 3 Macs that are 11N so will I only get the 11G speeds?
- Asked by Steve F from Troy
- Nov 11, 2009
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
Generally it is. There are a couple of ways to go about this. You can either utilize the simultaneous dual band setup, or you can broadcast signal in both 2.4GHz frequencies as well as 5.0 GHz frequencies.
I had the same problem. I was connecting Wireless G devices and Wireless N devices to the Airport Extreme, and my Wireless N devices could only get speeds comparable to Wireless G.
First I setup the dual band networks and connected only Wireless N devices to one, and my other devices to the other. My Wireless N devices were now seeing speeds up to 144 Mbps. However, I knew that I was capable of seeing speeds up to 300 Mbps. So I did some research and found that you can broadcast the same network on different frequencies. I connect my Wireless N devices to the 5.0 GHz frequency and see speeds up to 300 Mbps on my MacBook Pro and AppleTV. I connect all of the other devices to the 2.4 GHz frequency.- Answered by Christopher M from Burlington
- Nov 20, 2009
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can the Extreme Base Station be used as a range extender?
I already have a wireless router in the basement but I don't get good strong signal upstairs. Can I install this base station and set it up as a range extender to boost the signal upstairs?
- Asked by Michael S from Gander
- Nov 8, 2009
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
Yes you can provided that your existing router already provides WDS services.
For more information on how to setup search the Apple knowledge base (HT2044).- Answered by George K from Granville
- Jul 15, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can I use my existing keyboard and monitor and printer by buying this product? (Airport Extreme Base Station)
- Asked by Beverly N
- Dec 31, 2009
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
I think you might be talking about the mac mini and not the AirPort Extreme. This is a wireless router as such doesn't require a keyboard/monitor.
- Answered by Desmond L
- Jan 6, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can i connect a printer and hard drive to Airport Extreme for cloud use and wifi printing?
- Asked by David T from Castro Valley
- Dec 4, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Can i connect a separate ethernet cable to my computer using this device and provide internet to my desktop and wireless to my laptop at the same time
I also have a desktop computer that needs to be hooked up to the modem, so can i use the the ethernet cable coming from the modem into the airport and then have a second ethernet cable going from the airport to the desktop computer and provide them both internet at the same time?
- Asked by Gerald V from Springfield
- Feb 4, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
Yes, this is a very common config. You can have up to 3 ethernet-attached devices in addition to your Internet router/modem.
- Answered by Kenneth D from Ottawa
- Feb 6, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
-
will my Western Digital My Book Live work on the Airport Extreme
- Asked by Dave E from Oldhurst
- Dec 1, 2012
- Flag as inappropriate
-
will an airport express work with an airport extreme?
- Asked by Patricia G from Grosse Pointe Farms
- Dec 25, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Best Answer
Yes, generally there is a choice of a couple ways they can work together, and they will use the same version of AirPort Utility if your computer meets the minimum System Requirements.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Dec 30, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Will the latest 802.11n with iphone 3g from 2009?
- Asked by Donna H
- Oct 6, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
Yes, all iPhones will connect to the AirPort Extreme's wireless network. No iPhone can yet setup or manage the AirPort Extreme since they can't install AirPort Utility and there is no app to replace it.
- Answered by Andrew H from Carmel
- Oct 12, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Is AirPort now built in to the newer iMacs?
- Asked by James M from Littlestown
- Nov 24, 2009
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
Yes..if you review the Tech Spec Tab on the new Imacs it states the following in the Communications Section:
- Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking;2 IEEE 802.11a/b/g compatible
- BluetoothBuilt-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
- Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45 connector)- Answered by Mark L from Minneapolis
- Nov 27, 2009
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Will the Airport Extreme run ADSL over a PTSN line, Annex A ?
This is in Greece
- Asked by Andrea J from Carrboro
- Jul 27, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
You still need a modem device. You can use the Airport as your router, which is what I use. I use the cheapie modem from my telephone company, which then plugs into the WAN port on the Airport Extreme. Works brilliantly. And then I can plug an external HDD into it and I have a time machine :)
- Answered by James R from Sandton
- Nov 28, 2011
- Flag as inappropriate
-
Do you need internet connection for this?
- Asked by Tyler S from Lara
- Dec 19, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate
Answer
No internet is needed to create a functioning network and to share files, etc. However, an internet connection is needed if you want to be able to surf the web, check email, etc. In short, buying this fancy new router does not eliminate the need to have an ISP (cable, DSL) internet connection if you want to have a network capable of accessing the internet.
- Answered by Eric P from Bloomfield Hills
- Dec 21, 2010
- Flag as inappropriate