Just got my new Airport Extreme, and must say... yay!

[TattooedMac]

The store being JB Hi-fi.'

And they, from experience usually seem to know the in's and out's of what they are talking about. Is the one reason i keep going back to them, *There Knowledge*

 

[the8thark]

Oh I agree. Usually they are very good with what they know. First time they have gotten something wrong.

 

[Doug b]

I love my Airport Extreme. Hasn't failed me since day one which was back in 2008. I have a tiny 4 port hub hooked up to it for my wireless printer and external HD's which stream music and movies flawlessly from at least 25 feet away in another room. I just downloaded 2 XM radio shows (upped legally) from a torrent site @ both 3MBps (yes MB not mb) and 1.9 MBps respectively. It's as fast as my wired connection is.

And yes... it IS a router. Without a doubt.

Doug

 

[DarkestRitual]

That is what I was talking about. And yes the man in the store told me that was not a router, just a wireless base station. it seems the man in the store did not know what he was talking about. The store being JB Hi-fi.'

So I can replace my router with this? I thought that was the case, and it seems you both are saying the same thing. Just this useless store asistant made me think a different thing. So thanks to the both of you.

I had the AEBS (Extreme) in my hands in the box in the store. And his few words made me put it back. I was so close to buying it. So now I can go back to the store and tell him how wrong he is and I can buy it.

Final question.

Can I have my setup like this:

Wall outlet -> AEBS (extreme) -> wirelessly sending data to my imac upstairs.

That's what I always wanted to do. Stupid store sssistant. But if that's the case as I think it is then I'll go back and buy it.

100% can replace your router with it. Like I said, I tossed my piles of crap linksys router and WAP in the closet and dumped my AEBS in there. Not only can you, but I'd recommend it.

Well, it'll be wall outlet for power, then Modem -> AEBS -> wireless transfer.

Maybe if you were explaining your set up to him and you have a combination modem/router from your ISP he was getting confused. If this is the case, you'll have to figure out how to turn off the modem's built in wireless signal, but I don't think this is the case since you already said you have a router you're looking to replace.

 

[mtbinva]

I would have to concur with the Linksys Routers. They're crap. I had to replace my Wireless N because the "built in" antenna" didn't pick up crap (WRT320N). I researched and shopped for about a month before I decided not to go with the airport extreme, and the reason for me was simple, I wanted to have more control over my router/wifi that the Apple wifi would allow me. DHCP reservations and such.

Linksys quality is just not there anymore. I went with the NetGear dual band simultaneous connection (Netgear WNDR3700 RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router). I have to say I am quite happy with it. Again the only reason I chose that one was due to the advanced routing capabilities.

Both the Netgear and the Apple are top choices for sure!

 

[the8thark]

100% can replace your router with it. Like I said, I tossed my piles of crap linksys router and WAP in the closet and dumped my AEBS in there. Not only can you, but I'd recommend it.

Well, it'll be wall outlet for power, then Modem -> AEBS -> wireless transfer.

Maybe if you were explaining your set up to him and you have a combination modem/router from your ISP he was getting confused. If this is the case, you'll have to figure out how to turn off the modem's built in wireless signal, but I don't think this is the case since you already said you have a router you're looking to replace.

My router that I got from my ISP does not have a wireless signal. It's connected from the wall and then to my computer with a wire. It's a wired modem/4 port router all in one. And it's this wired modem/router I am wanting to replace. I don't have anything wireless at the moment. And have never used a wireless router or modem in my life.

Currently I have wall -> modem/router with wire (has no wireless capabilities at all) -> imac with wire.
and I want to replace the wired modem/router with the apple wireless one. And your above flow chart confuses me a little. All I really want to know is my wired modem/4 port router all in one, will I still need it with the AEBS? You say I will. And I thought I wouldn't.

Sorry for harping on and on this subject. I just don't want to toss my current wired modem/router then go doh! I needed that still.

And thanks for your help.

 

[Slydude]

If you currently have a modem/router you would still need it because the Apple gear does not contain the modem component. The alternative would be to contact your ISP and see of there is a model that is just the modem. You could then use the Apple gear as a router.

 

[DarkestRitual]

You can still use the Apple gear as a router. You'll have to keep your modem/router combo connected, but since it doesn't have a wireless signal, you don't need to worry about that. You can plug in your AEBS to the wired part of the router/modem that you have, and use the AEBS as a wireless router or access point. Either way, that will do what you need it to. Then you can treat your current modem/router as just a modem.

 

[the8thark]

Ok ok I will need my old router still if I get a AEBS.
Thank you thank you for that. Now I understand you totally. And can get the AEBS. I'll just need to find space for the setup downstairs.

+1 rep to you and will give it to you when it'll allow me to again.

 

[Slydude]

The one thing you will want to do is avoid having both your router/modem and the Apple gear acting as a router. You'll want one or the other acting as a router. The options seem to be:

1. Turn off routing capability on your current modem/router. Probably possible but we will need to know the specific make/model.
2. Turn off routing capabilities on the Apple gear and simply use the wireless portion to extend your network. Should be easy enough just let us know and I am sure someone will chime in with help.
3. Contact your ISP and see if there is a device available that is modem only. This would replace your current router/modem and the Apple gear would attach to that.

 

[DarkestRitual]

Good call, sly dude. I don't think that they will conflict with each other, but you can at the very least just use the AEBS as a wireless access point while keeping your current router/modem set up.

I guess how many devices do you have on the network? If it's just your iMac, i wouldn't even worry about the routing capabilities of either device. If it's a more complex network, you might run into issues with 2 routers, but I doubt it. If you've got any questions though, seriously PM me. I'm always here to help.

 

[Slydude]

Good call, sly dude. I don't think that they will conflict with each other, but you can at the very least just use the AEBS as a wireless access point while keeping your current router/modem set up.

I guess how many devices do you have on the network? If it's just your iMac, i wouldn't even worry about the routing capabilities of either device. If it's a more complex network, you might run into issues with 2 routers, but I doubt it. If you've got any questions though, seriously PM me. I'm always here to help.

Thanks. It really shouldn't cause a problem but if there is a way to create a networking disaster you can bet I will find it.

 

[DarkestRitual]

You can bet that I already did with my POS linksys set up lol.

 

[Collin Bl]

FYI, My experience has been that iChat has a more demanding requirement on a LAN. With modem/router connected to Extreme or Time Capsule to wired/wireless computer/s - the more reliable way seems to have the first unit - modem or modem/router set to do DHCP and the next unit in pipeline doing bridge mode. Have seen systems work with both router and extreme doing DHCP but it was not consistent in maintaining a connection, same with Extreme/TC doing DHCP and not modem/router but once again it would work with some connections but not others. This seems to be part of iChats 3 way handshake that takes place for Audio and Video conns.