Replace Airport Extreme

As you can imagine everyone's networking environment is different. It would be impossible to assure you which of these two products would perform, as well or better than signal propagation-wise, compared to your existing AirPort Extreme base station. However, both are excellent, feature-wise, compared to your Extreme.

What I suggest is that you carefully review the return policies of the vendors that you plan on acquiring these routers from, should either or both not meet your expectations, they can be returned without any issues. If, after reviewing their policies, you find them satisfactory, go ahead and make your purchase and try them out. Let us know what you decide and your results.

Again, you can't go wrong with either, but actual experience will be the only way to tell which will work better at your home.

FWIW. I completely replaced my Apple networking ecosystem with Ubiquiti UniFi gear when Apple decided to exit the networking hardware market. I have yet to regret my decision doing so. To note, both the Amplify HD & Alien line are also part of the Ubiquiti family.

My decision to go with the UniFi line is that I prefer a network that fundamentally relies on an Ethernet backbone ... although mesh networking is also supported.

No problem coming here and asking questions. I'm sure someone with experience with any of the brands you are looking at will chime in with their results.

Caveat: I have no experience with either product but they both of them seem to be worthy of consideration. A dedicated iOS setup app would be a prerequisite for me and I believe both of them have one. So does the Linksys Velop AX4200 WiFi 6 Mesh System Apple sells.

Bob Timmons wrote:

In other words, there would really be no real advantage to purchasing the product through Apple, unless you simply want to buy from Apple.

14 day no questions asked return policy, should that make a difference. Of course any reputable dealer will have a similar or better policy.

I do not know the reason Apple does not sell the Synology WRX560 but I wouldn't read too much into that.

The Synology routers all support Time Machine backups to a hard drive connected to the USB port on the router if that capability is important to you.

If it did not have a USB port that would be a deal-breaker as far as I'm concerned.

Edit to add: I don't know if the Linksys's USB port can be used for that purpose. It only indicates it's for printing, and if that's true it's also a deal-breaker.

Not sure if you are interested in performing Time Machine backups to a USB hard drive that is connected to the router, which is an option that the AirPort Extreme provides.

The Synology routers all support Time Machine backups to a hard drive connected to the USB port on the router if that capability is important to you.

From what I can tell after taking a brief look, the Amplify router does not have a USB port.

While Apple does offer the Amplify router in their stores and online, they do not provide technical support for the product, so users will be working directly with Amplify on any issues or questions. In other words, there would really be no real advantage to purchasing the product through Apple, unless you simply want to buy from Apple.

Good luck! Will be interested in your feedback.

As far as returns, I normally buy Apple accessories from Amazon when available, because I can return the product for up to 30 days while Apple limits things to 14 days.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever returned an Apple accessory to Amazon......maybe when I ordered the wrong USB to Ethernet adapter.......can't remember the details.

Excellent choice! FWIW, I've been using Synology NAS's for years and I like that they use a very similar operating system on their routers. Take your time exploring all of the features and have fun. Will be interested in your experiences.

Joe Gramm wrote:

Supposedly for the average user, which is probably me, the Synology IOS setup app is just a few clicks and the router is up and running. For more advance settings like parental controls, guest network, etc, this is where the Linux based SRM via a browser supposedly shines.

Indeed it does. Once you get familiarized with the basics, you'll quickly find that you will be exploring all of its additional features ... like the media server. What? A media server on a router ... yep! (Hint: Check out section 13.5 in your new router's User Guide.)

One thing I'm wondering because I have not set up a new router since my AE. I have roof top solar panels with a somewhat finicky reporting system that is connected via WiFi. To keep it happy, can I simply name the new router the same as is now and keep the same password. I currently have a 16 character password. Would that be okay to do or is that a no no for security purposes.

Here is where you will find out an example of how this router (or others like it) really shines. You can create a local network dedicated to your solar panels. That network can then have whatever characteristics those panels require for optimum connectivity. Then, your "main" network, that you will connect the rest of your devices to, can be configured to meet your networking goals ... including increasing the amount of security.

You are very welcome! I'm glad you are enjoying your new Amplify Alien router. It is an amazing piece of technology. Don't fret about your Extreme. I understand that a few "renegade" Apple networking engineers are the ones that started up Ubiquiti, so there may still be an "Apple" at the heart of their systems.

Hi Joe,

I am somewhat familiar, but since I don't have Amplify devices, I have no way to verify using Teleport with them.

What I do know, is that Ubiquiti provides three basic modes of Teleport, and I'm assuming that you are referring to the Remote Access mode, where you can use the Teleport app on an iPhone to VPN into your home's Amplify network.

Not sure about the personal Wi-Fi network though, and I will have to research that for you. As far as I know, Teleport only provides a VPN access, not a HotSpot nor Internet access.