Apple M8930LL/A Airport Extreme Base Station

Rating:
Summary: Share broadband between Mac & PC
Review: It hurt to pay so much, but I had the feeling that getting the Airport Extreme Base Station would save me time and headaches when trying to share broadband between a PC and Mac.

I was successful with this platform/OS/equipment combination:
Apple M8930LL/A Airport Extreme Base Station
Mac: OS 10.1.5, Apple Airport Card
PC: Win2000 Pro, NetGear MA101 Wireless USB Adapter

Plugged an ISP-provided DSL modem into the Base Station and configured the Base Station using the Mac. (Had no success with Apple's Airport Admin config software for the PC.)

Then plugged in the NetGear MA101 on the PC, installed the software from CD, and configured the settings to match the Mac security.

I got strong signal strength and throughput from both the NetGear MA101 and the Airport Card in a three story house.
40-bit WEP works fine. 128-bit is occasionally a little buggy on the PC, requiring me to temporarily reset both platforms to 40-bit.

Haven't tried setting up file sharing yet, but will attempt the USB printer connection on the Base Station. (Caution, check Apple.com/airport for list if approved USB printers that will work with the Base Station. Also, this USB printer feature supposedly requires the Mac to run OS 10.2.3+)

I wish the Airport Base Station manual had more scenario details and suggestions how to tailor your WAN configuration. I spent a lot of time searching the Apple BBS regarding questions I think should have been covered in the manual.

Overall, the Airport Extreme Base Station is a thing of beauty to look at, relatively easy to configure -- but I'm scared to death of someone knocking it to the floor.

Rating:
Summary: Now fully complaint with 802.11g final spec
Review: Merely a week after the 802.11g specification is finalized, Apple released a free firmware upgrade that brings Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) up to compliance (downloadable from Apple's web site). In addition to fully complying with 802.11g and 802.11b standards, the upgrade also improves performance with both wired (10/100BASE-T Ethernet) and wireless (802.11b and 802.11g) clients.

If you are using Mac OS X 10.2 or higher, you can upgrade the AirPort Admin Utility to gain additional benefits:
- New automatic channel selection option. If set, AEBS will automatically select the optimal WiFi channel when it restarts.
- New 'Enable interference robustness' option under 'More...' dialog box. If enabled, AEBS will better interoperate with wireless telephones, microwave ovens, etc.
- Wireless Distributed System (WDS) is now easier to setup.
- Control over DHCP range.

Yes, AEBS is better than ever. While AEBS remains among the most expensive 802.11g WiFi routers on the market, it sets itself apart with compelling strengths:
- It is the easiest to setup under Mac OS X by far, thanks to elegant AirPort Admin Utility.
- USB printer port for sharing printers and printing wirelessly!
- Excellent cosmetics... it's soooooo pretty!
- WDS lets you expand WiFi range with additional AEBS or other WDS-compliant WiFi access points (most WiFi routers lack WDS).
- Timely firmware updates from Apple. Bring on the 802.11i WLAN security!

Rating:
Summary: mixed opinion - frequent restarts
Review: On the plus side:
- This is an absolutely beautiful piece of equipment. Stylish, not too large, wall-mountable. Long electric cord to reach an outlet far away.
- Seems to be durable and not flimsy.
- Provides an extremely fast internet connection (compared to some other routers I've used).
- Was a piece of cake to set up using the AirPort Setup Assistant.
- Works with both Mac and PC, although I'm constantly having a bit of trouble configuring my PC to work with it.
- Wireless printing - fantastic idea if your printer can't be right next to your computer, or you don't want yet another USB cord plugged into your computer. See a note in the "minus side" part.
- Very secure. You can do WEP encryption, or (better yet) create a closed network, specifying the Ethernet ID of each specific computer that can join. No one will be able to steal your modem's bandwidth without knowing your base station's password!
- So far I've been able to resolve any problems by myself after consulting the manual or support websites - there is nothing I hate more than calling technical support and being asked "is the base station plugged into the outlet?" as the first question.

On the minus side:
- Let's face it, you can buy a regular 802.11g wireless router for way cheaper. I would have never splurged on this item myself (it was a gift). Linksys is always a reliable bet, although I haven't used their 802.11g wireless router.
- Printing through the wireless USB connection is very slow. Often the base station is connected perfectly fine, but forgets that there's a printer attached! I have had to restart the base station in order for it to see the printer again.
- Often my computer no longer sees the base station. I know this is not my computer's fault because it still sees my neighbor's wireless network. Usually I just restart the base station, and then it's detected again. About once a month I have to do a "hard restart" erasing all the settings for the base station to be recognized again. Very troubling.

The bottom line, as I see it: if I bought this item with my own money, I would have already returned it. It is three times the price of a PC-based wireless router, so I expect the base station to work 3 times more reliably. That has not been the case. Don't let its stylish appearance fool you - test it out for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: mixed opinion - frequent restarts
Review: On the plus side:
- This is an absolutely beautiful piece of equipment. Stylish, not too large, wall-mountable. Long electric cord to reach an outlet far away.
- Seems to be durable and not flimsy.
- Provides an extremely fast internet connection (compared to some other routers I've used).
- Was a piece of cake to set up using the AirPort Setup Assistant.
- Works with both Mac and PC, although I'm constantly having a bit of trouble configuring my PC to work with it.
- Wireless printing - fantastic idea if your printer can't be right next to your computer, or you don't want yet another USB cord plugged into your computer. See a note in the "minus side" part.
- Very secure. You can do WEP encryption, or (better yet) create a closed network, specifying the Ethernet ID of each specific computer that can join. No one will be able to steal your modem's bandwidth without knowing your base station's password!
- So far I've been able to resolve any problems by myself after consulting the manual or support websites - there is nothing I hate more than calling technical support and being asked "is the base station plugged into the outlet?" as the first question.

On the minus side:
- Let's face it, you can buy a regular 802.11g wireless router for way cheaper. I would have never splurged on this item myself (it was a gift). Linksys is always a reliable bet, although I haven't used their 802.11g wireless router.
- Printing through the wireless USB connection is very slow. Often the base station is connected perfectly fine, but forgets that there's a printer attached! I have had to restart the base station in order for it to see the printer again.
- Often my computer no longer sees the base station. I know this is not my computer's fault because it still sees my neighbor's wireless network. Usually I just restart the base station, and then it's detected again. About once a month I have to do a "hard restart" erasing all the settings for the base station to be recognized again. Very troubling.

The bottom line, as I see it: if I bought this item with my own money, I would have already returned it. It is three times the price of a PC-based wireless router, so I expect the base station to work 3 times more reliably. That has not been the case. Don't let its stylish appearance fool you - test it out for yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Easy Set Up; Looks Good; Needs to be Reset From Time to Time
Review: The airport base station looks cool and was very easy to set up. It sends out a strong signal. The only downside is that from time to time it stops working and I need to unplug it and plug it back in again and then all is well. I have to do this once a week or once every two weeks. This is a weakness but I am still glad I have it.

Rating:
Summary: Easy Set Up; Looks Good; Needs to be Reset From Time to Time
Review: The airport base station looks cool and was very easy to set up. It sends out a strong signal. The only downside is that from time to time it stops working and I need to unplug it and plug it back in again and then all is well. I have to do this once a week or once every two weeks. This is a weakness but I am still glad I have it.

Rating:
Summary: Extreme Wireless
Review: The Extreme Airport Base Station is in theory a step up in speed from the Graphite and Snow stations. Speed is now up to 54Mps, but real-time tests will show much slower speeds and most people will never realize the speed difference over the graphite and snow models because even broadband cannot equal the top speeds of the new station. But, you still need 802.11g, then keep reading.

The new stations come with two Ethernet ports and use the 802.11g frequency in addition to being downward compatible with 802.11b stations, cards, and networks. So, you can have an extreme base station and an older airport card. The speed will be limited to 11 mps, but it works.

The stations come in two models. The more expensive model also has a dialup modem and can be used to DIAL IN into networks when you are on the road or outside your home or office. This is a big advantage over the Ethernet model and should justify the extra [$$] or so. At least Apple lowered the prices to [$$$] and [$$$], but they are still overpriced compared to like models. However, if still have a dialup connection and need a network at home or for a small business, the modem model would be hard to pass up.

One drawback to the Extreme stations are range. They are limited to 50 feet, whereas, the Graphite and Snow stations have ranges of up to 150 feet. The Extreme models can be outfitted with externel antennas (to extend range) from Mac specialists Dr. Bott or others, but this comes with an added price. Unless your computers stay within 50 of the base station you will need an antenna.

Another problem that some people have experienced is interference with phones and microwave signals. Apple recently updated the firmware on this Station to help with the problem. Some early stations also had problems keeping the signal. The updated firmware is supposed to solve this as well.

Overall, these stations in theory are faster and the price is almost the same as the Snow station. However, there have been problems with firmware, interference, and the short range. Problems that firmware should fix (sans the range).

Although, the range is not considered a problem (and firmware won't fix that), but a short-coming. If you need to be on the 802.11g frequency and you love Apple for their easy solutions and setup, get this station.

This station also works well with Windows PCs and Windows users should not shy away just because it has an Apple logo.

Compare with D-link and Linkys 802.11g routers and base stations.

Rating:
Summary: Worth it
Review: The wireless revolution has seriously altered the way I work. It didn't seem like it was that big of a deal, to be able to work anywhere in the house on a laptop. And then I was home over Thanksgiving and tried my father's - it was incredible. So, soon after I had my own and I love it - I even ended up getting another one for my wife's laptop.

Whether it's browsing amazon.com late at night in bed, checking morning email in the kitchen while the kids run around, or being able to set up a writing desk anywhere in the house without worrying about an accessible internet port - the airport system is awesome. Even if you only have a desktop computer it's worth it - you can to put the computer in a place where there's no internet plug, without the 40 foot cord draping your wall to connect it. All in all, a wireless system may seem extravagant, but once you have one you'll wonder how you got by without it.

The airport card, along with the base station, allows you to connect several computers, even ones that don't have wireless cards in them (i.e., we have two laptops on the wireless system, and then one iMac that doesn't have an airport card is plugged directly into the base station). You can print, scan - anything - wirelessly, as long as those extra components are connected to the base station.

If you have a big house and the base station won't be centrally located, you may want to look into the antenna. I have a 2500 square foot house and the base station is at one end of it. I can get access from anywhere in the house without the extra antenna, though in one or two places it's a weak signal. My father's house, on the other hand, is over 5000 square feet and the base station is at a far end - you can't even get a signal on the other side of the house. However, he purchased the antenna and the signal is now very strong wherever you are. A warning - you should make sure your airport network is password protected, especially if you get the antenna. The signal will be broadcast through half your neighborhood and if not protected, people can get on and use your airtime, clogging up your bandwidth.

Make sure you get the right card! There's the airport extreme card and the regular airport card (I believe they are both compatible with either base station). Check Apple's website for direct compatibility between your computer and the two different cards. They are different sizes and will only fit in the right kind of slot.

One final word - I've heard from others that certain products from Net Gear or other wireless manufacturers accomplish the same thing as the airport card and base station for much cheaper. I can't attest to the validity of this, but it might be worth looking into. I'd exercise extreme caution, since if you go with Apple products it will be covered with tech support, even if it's more expensive. And putting third party hardware in your computer will likely void the warranty on your computer.

Rating:
Summary: Another good apple product... but still...
Review: This is a good product supporting the 802.11g standard (if patched supports the final spec) allows 54mbps at what I have found to be about 55 feet but is completely backwards compatible.

PROS
) 802.11g (NATIVE)
) Native 802.11b support (part of the 802.11g spec)
) A throughput of 54mbps at most. This is about one half of standard Ethernet. And approx 5x faster than standard 802.11b
) My 802.11b computers seem slightly faster than before, but not a substantial amount

CONS
) 99% of PC users have a passionate hatred for Mac/Apple Products.
) Only 1 LAN and 1 WAN (a.k.a. Uplink i.e.: to DSL/CABLE) ether net ports.
) Requires a Mac for setup.

It is more appropriate to mark this as 3.5 stars but you cant. Don't get me wrong it's a good product but not enough Ethernet support.

Rating:
Summary: works just like it's supposed to.
Review: what can i say... it's made by apple. it costs a little more than other stuff. but it works a little better than other stuff. just go ahead and get one.