Another Airport Extreme Question in 2023 - Almost 2024

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Level 1

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Another Airport Extreme Question in 2023 - Almost 2024

It's now December 2023 and I'm still using an expansive network/backup system that I created using Apple Airport Extremes and Time Capsules (three of each). I have no less than 60 devices connecting to that network including lightbulbs, speakers, thermostats, door locks, a garage door opener, Alexa dots, Alexa Echos, a sprinkler timer, computers, printers, TVs, cameras, and various other gadgets. Everything works so flawlessly, including streaming, that I hesitate even thinking about switching to anything else - not to mention what the thought of having to reconnect all of my devices does to me! When I began to transition to newer routers a few years ago, I immediately had speed and connectivity issues and gave up (probably too soon). Please tell me, am I crazy to keep using the Airports until they kick off? Tis the season for sales so it's a good time to buy...but the Airport Extremes have been so exceptional that I just can't seem to give them up. Am I crazy, is it time...are there risks - security or otherwise - in continuing to use the Airport Extremes?

AirPort Extreme

Posted on Dec 4, 2023 9:39 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Bob Timmons

Community+ 2024

Level 10

168,782 points

Dec 4, 2023 3:03 PM in response to ConnieTpa

The AirPorts still provide good basic WPA2 Personal security for home networks, so nothing wrong in continuing with them for another year or two....or more.....as I will be doing with the 3 AirPorts here.

These were really excellent products, easy to set up and administer and very reliable.

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Answer 2

tctctctc

Level 1

8 points

Dec 4, 2023 11:15 PM in response to Bob Timmons

The same is here, and I plan to use it as long as possible. I just changed the hard drives on my extreme.

Although the new Wi-Fi 6 Mesh network looks very tasteful. I think it will still good serve.

Anyway, it will find his place in the new network, it can always be used as a file server or roaming extender.

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Answer 3

Jan 8, 2024 4:35 AM in response to ConnieTpa

I am using 5 Apple Airport Extreme (6th Generation) as access points in our home network and one TimeCapsule A1409 with a 10TB HDD for various backups. Everything ist working great since 8 years.

The internet connection speed of the router is 180 MBit/s down and 40 up. If I place my MacBook near an Airport Extreme I get a WiFi connection (Tx-Rate) with 1,170 MBit/s. So this is still very fast.

Maybe if our german village gets fiber eventually and if I upgrade the network switch in the basement to 2.5 GBit I will also exchange the Airport Extremes to some newer hardware. Until then I am happy with it.

The only issue, I experienced: Our son was gaming a lot (mostly MMOs) and his PC was connected by cable to the Airport Extreme, which was serving WiFi to the rest of the family too. So he complained about connection issues. I solved it with a small Netgear switch, which now connects him directly by LAN to the internet router in the basement. The WAN of the Airport Extreme is plugged parallel into the same Netgear switch. Everthing seems to be better now, but I don't really know if the Airport Extreme was indeed the bottleneck.

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Another Airport Extreme Question in 2023 - Almost 2024

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