Apple AirPort Extreme base station supports Draft N spec

(Credit: Apple Computer)

Amid all the exciting phone and TV announcements that Steve Jobs made at today's Macworld keynote address was an aside that probably deserved a little more attention: the latest iteration of the AirPort Extreme base station supports the Draft N standard. The new base station not only supports the current version of the standard, but it's also backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g, so it operates in both the 5GHz and the 2.4GHz bands. While backward-compatibility with 802.11b/g is common, compatibility with 11a is less so. Having 802.11a support is great because you can choose to operate the base station in the 5GHz band in order to reduce network interference.

The back of the new AirPort Extreme base station

(Credit: Apple Computer)

A peek at the back of base station (well, a peek at a picture of the back) shows one WAN port and three LAN ports (four LAN ports are more common on most wireless routers), though to the disappointment of many fans, none of them are Gigabit Ethernet ports. There is, however, a USB port for networking an external hard drive or a USB printer (or both if you add a USB hub). As far as wireless security goes, the new AirPort Extreme base station supports WPA/WPA2 and 128-bit WEP.

Apple has changed the physical design of the base station, too: it employs the Mac Mini/Apple TV design, though it's slightly shorter than the Mac Mini. The Draft 11N AirPort Extreme will ship in February for $180, in line with pricing for Draft 11N routers from the likes of Linksys and Belkin.

[jdubb11]

What about an 802.11n card?

I know the new base station is a/b/g backwards compatible, but is there any word of Apple creating a new 802.11n Airport Extreme Card for laptops? My understanding of the 802.11n technology is that it doesn't work as Draft N unless the router and card are both 802.11n.

Thanks!!

[kyleaa]

under the radar

All of Apple's Core 2 Duo computers have shipped with N cards installed, it was just done quietly. New software will be released with the base station to allow them to operate as in N. However, if you have an earlier Core Duo model, you appear to be out of luck for the time being.

[kohlert]

Most AirPort Cards already have N capabiity

All new Apple computers (except for the 17" iMac) have 802.11n capability built right into their cards. Apple will be releasing a software patch to allow them to access this feature. This patch will be released to coincide with the release of the new Airport Extreme Base Station, which is expected to ship sometime next month (Feb/07). AirPort cards sold this year also have this capability when patched.

[cyde01]

802.11n still below the radar

It's interesting how there is so little hype surrounding the 802.11n spec. This new Airport Extreme station and the fact that all the core 2 duo macs shipped with draft N cards seems like it was done so quietly with no fanfare. Is it because the spec is still not finalized? Also, the reviews on Cnet mention that all the draft N routers don't perform like the spec promises. It will be interesting to see how the Apple does. Don't know why they didn't include gigabit ethernet, tho. That's a spec that is here and now, not something that hasn't been finalized like draft N.

[Rickb1]

That's their trademark...

Apple doesn't wait for spec. It didn't for Firewire 400 or 800, USB, SCSI, or the
mouse for that matter. That's why they are always ahead. Mac users don't even
care if it ever specs... As long as they can get it done faster and more reliably.

[mr johnh]

802.11n doesn't work with all Macs

802.11n doesn't work with all Macs, so don't buy it if your computer isn't
the right one. I have a Mac Mini, and .11n wont work with it.
You must read the fine Print. Also would be nice if there was a plug for an
external antenna!