barrjohnm

Q: Is the Apple AirPort Express Base Station a good solution?

I am moving so the wifi station that Verizon gave me is leaving. I am thinking of getting the Apple AirPort Express Base Station as the WiFi station. I will be connecting an iMac (Main Computer) MacBook Pro, iPad, iPhone.

 

My main question is how does this base station used for WiFi compare with others on the market,

Thanks!

Johnny

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Aug 30, 2016 10:37 AM

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Q: Is the Apple AirPort Express Base Station a good solution?

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  • by Bob Timmons,Helpful

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 30, 2016 11:32 AM in response to barrjohnm
    Level 10 (104,968 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 30, 2016 11:32 AM in response to barrjohnm

    The AirPort Express has limited speed capability due to its slow Ethernet ports and limited wireless capability due to its very minimal built in WiFi antennas.

     

    On the other hand, if the plan from your new Internet Service Provider (ISP) is limited to about 50 Mbps, then the Express would probably be OK if most wireless devices will be located close to the AirPort Express.

     

    If the budget allows, an AirPort Extreme would be a much better product.....up to 10 times the speed of the Express.....with additional WiFi antennas located right up at the top of the "tower" for improved performance.

     

    If the plan from your new ISP is 100 Mbps or higher, then the AirPort Extreme would be a better match.

     

    If you are considering other routers from other manufacturers......we can't comment at all on their performance without knowing the make and model number of the device that you are considering.

  • by barrjohnm,

    barrjohnm barrjohnm Aug 30, 2016 11:37 AM in response to Bob Timmons
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Notebooks
    Aug 30, 2016 11:37 AM in response to Bob Timmons

    Hi There,

    This was very helpful, thank you! My budget is okay for the AirPort Extreme. The speed of the Internet would be 100 Mbps from Verizon FIOS. I have not shopped around for other routers, just looking for the best one for me.


    Can you tell me more about the AirPort Extreme?

     

    Thanks.

    Johnny

  • by Bob Timmons,

    Bob Timmons Bob Timmons Aug 30, 2016 11:48 AM in response to barrjohnm
    Level 10 (104,968 points)
    Wireless
    Aug 30, 2016 11:48 AM in response to barrjohnm

    Details here:   http://www.apple.com/airport-extreme/

     

    Apple is stretching a bit though when they say the "The all new AirPort Extreme".....since the product was introduced over 3 years ago.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Aug 30, 2016 12:35 PM in response to barrjohnm
    Level 9 (58,370 points)
    iPhone
    Aug 30, 2016 12:35 PM in response to barrjohnm

    barrjohnm wrote:

     

    Hi There,

    This was very helpful, thank you! My budget is okay for the AirPort Extreme. The speed of the Internet would be 100 Mbps from Verizon FIOS. I have not shopped around for other routers, just looking for the best one for me.

    For what it's worth, I believe my FIOS package from Verizon include a the router. Maybe it was a promo at the time. I couldn't tell you much about it except that it works just fine in my three story house with lots of thick walls and a lot of people using it. It's certainly worth asking Verizon about it.

     

    I must say that I love my Airport Express for travel. All the hotel rooms I stayed in in Japan only had wired internet. And I only had an iPad. It worked perfectly under those conditions.

  • by Lawrence Finch,

    Lawrence Finch Lawrence Finch Aug 30, 2016 12:47 PM in response to barrjohnm
    Level 8 (37,837 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 30, 2016 12:47 PM in response to barrjohnm

    Verizon includes a router with their package, usually a better quality one than most other ISPs provide. They traditionally provide an Actiontec MOCA-capable router. I suggest you call them and ask. Either way, you need a router with a MOCA (Multimedia Over Coax) network input.