internet connectivity + speed issues, iPad Air + MacBook Air. Pls advise.

Thanks for the info, this really helps.

The A1354 was discontinued in the summer of 2011, so the product is at least 9 years old and probably older depending on when it was first placed into service, which might have been as early as 2009. On average, the useful life of this model was about 5-6 years, so you have had very good luck with the product.

It was the power supply that caused the most issues for users on this model, since it tended to slide downhill starting at about the 5-6 year point. As the power supply aged, it had a tendency to produce power supply "blips", which could often result in a loss of the Internet connection until the AirPort was restarted. Things were fine until the next "blip".

If you want to gamble $15-20 dollars on a replacement power supply, that might bring a few more years of use for the AirPort. I've used the adapter linked below on some older AirPorts with very good luck.

https://www.amazon.com/T-Power-Adapter-Compatible-Airport-Station/dp/B008H7MFYC/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=power+supply+for+a1143&qid=1591898127&sr=8-1

Of course, here we are assuming that the modem is not the cause of the issues. If a new power supply does not help, you can usually return the product for credit, so your risk is minimal.

If you want to check to see if the modem might be the culprit, you can connect your computer directly to the modem for a day or two and check the Internet connection from time to time. If the connection remains stable, the modem is fine. If you see that the Internet connection drops during the "test", then you may have a modem issue and AirPort might still be OK, even though it is probably overdue for replacement, or at least a replacement power supply.

If you don't want to fool with trying a new power supply or spending time on a modem "test", your best bet in terms of simplicity and reliability is to check with your ISP to see if they can supply you with a modem/router, often called a gateway.

This is a product that combines both a modem and router in one single package. The product is optimized for the service from your ISP, so you don't need to worry about potential compatibility issues like what router works well with which modem. There is also practically no set up required for the device, it's usually pretty much plug and play.

Online, it shows the plan provides 20.6 gigabytes

Not sure what this is referring to since Internet connection speeds are measured in Mbps. Try connecting to a site like www.speedtest.net and run a few checks to see what the results might be.

If you don't want to look at a modem/router from your provider, then you can go with a separate router to connect to the modem, assuming it checks out OK in your "tests". We don't want to suggest a potential replacement router though, until we know what connection speed plan that you have and whether or not you might be upgrading to a higher plan in the future.

Please post back when you have run a few checks using the Speedtest site linked above.

Not sure how "old" your old AirPort router might be, but if you could provide the model number, that would be a start.

If the old AirPort has a "flat" shape and looks like a small white pizza box with rounded corners.......look on the bottom of the device for the model number. It starts with an "A" followed by 4 numbers. Please post back with that info. Note.....we don't need a serial number.......just the model number.

Or, if you have a really really old AirPort, it will be "round" and look something like a flying saucer. If that is the case, just say that the AirPort is the "round" version.

Next question would be what kind of Internet connection plan your ISP is delivering. If it is something like 50 Mbps for example, I think you already understand that it won't make much sense to spend a lot more money to get a router that was designed to handle 500+ Mbps speeds. Kind of like buying a car with 500 horsepower and a top speed of 150 mph when 90% of your driving is on the local surface streets.

Finally, how old is the Arris TM822 modem approximately? If it is 5+ years old, it might make sense to see if your ISP will provide you with a modem/router. This is by far the simplest solution for most users, because you don't have to worry about whether a new router will work with your existing modem......and the ISP will provide service and support for everything since they are responsible for the Internet connection and the modem/router.

This way you can avoid an all too common Catch 22 situation where if you have a problem with a new router, the router support folks will blame the issue on the modem and the modem support folks will blame the problem on the router. Or, the modem support folks will blame your ISP connection. You get the idea.

Things can vary tremendously with WiFi since there are so many variables that factor into the equation. I have a 200 Mbps Internet connection plan, but a check a few minutes ago showed 227 Mbps and now a minute later I'm reading 178 Mbps.

It's a bit unusual to see the faster upload speeds. Normally download is 2-3 times the speed of upload, but things can vary. Nature of the beast with WiFi.

There is still the test to see if the issue might be with the modem. This happens about 25% of time. A user thinks his router is acting up, but he connects his computer directly to the modem to test for a few hours, and the connection is lost the same way. At that point, it's either the modem that is faulty or the wiring coming into the home that connects to the modem is causing the issue due to a intermittent connection.

The toughest issues are always the intermittent ones, because things might work OK for a few days, then suddenly drop due to an intermittent wiring connection. To solve an intermittent issue, I once had to have the wiring from the utility pole coming into the house to modem completely replaced.

When you call the cable company or your ISP to report that you are having Internet connection problems, 99% of the time the first thing that they will tell you is that "everything looks good from here". That means their connection to the modem looks good to them. They can't "see" any further into your network.

The ISP service might be fine getting to the modem, but if the modem is acting up......anything 5+ years old is suspect.....you won't know the modem is at fault unless you connect a computer directly to the modem and watch things for a day or two. If the connection drops, you know the problem is probably the modem. They have power supplies that decline as well as the routers.

So, when troubleshooting you can work backwards from the AirPort router......like we are doing.....but if the problems continue, then you have to reason that it was not the AirPort power supply.....and the AirPort might be fine......so you go to the next product, which is the modem.

Or, you can start at the modem and work forward in the troubleshooting process. Before the AirPort power supply arrives, it would be great......if possible......to connect a computer directly to the modem and check the connection from time to time. If things work OK this way, you can probably eliminate the modem as a possible cause of the problems.

All we're really doing here is trying to narrow down the possibilities. As it stands, there are 3 of them.

1) The wiring connection from outside your house to the modem

2) The modem

3) The AirPort

If the modem checks out, you have eliminated one possibility and probably two since the wiring has to be working. If the new power supply does not help the AirPort, then it's likely the AirPort at fault.. There are other internal components that can fail or decline.....you just can't get at them. Time for a new router in that case.

Realistically, at best there is about a 50/50 that chance the replacement power supply will help the AirPort, but it's worth a shot.....and Amazon should allow you to return the product for credit if it does not help, so worst case you are out a bit of time.