How can I use my old Apple AirPort Utility modem with my new amplify, alien modem?

To add a bit to Jan Hedlund questions, and to make sure we are all saying the same thing, I think worldwide we may use different terms for these networking devices.

It is my understanding that is some parts of the world, the term modem is used to define what in other parts as a router. These are actually two different things, To make it a bit more confusing, there are also gateway devices, which combine the features of both modems and routers.

To level set, and not trying to "take sides", I would propose the following for our discussions in this post.

• A modem is a network device that provides a connection between the Internet and your local network.
• A router, on the other hand, allows multiple devices on your home network to connect to the Internet simultaneously, and ensures that Internet traffic is directed to the correct devices on the local network.
• A gateway combines the features of both modems & routers in one device.

With that said, none of the Apple base stations are modems, nor are they gateway devices. They are only routers. Similarly, the AmpliFi Alien is only a router. As such both of these devices would require a modem for Internet access.

Now, depending on which model AirPort base station you have, is what you can use it for with your AmpliFi router.

If it is an AirPort Express base station, and it is an 802.11n model, you can do the following:

• Connect it by Ethernet to the Alien to potentially extend the Alien's wireless range.
• Connect it by wireless to the Alien as a wireless client for AirPlay streaming and/or to connect a wired printer to share on the local network.

If it is an AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule, it basically can only be used when connected to the Alien by Ethernet. It potentially then can be used to extend the Alien's wireless range.

To be honest, even the newest generation AirPort Extreme or Time Capsule will be very limited on what it can offer the Alien. You would be better off, sticking with getting the Alien MeshPoints, if your goal is to extend the Alien router's wireless range.

Hi,

Would a router at https://amplifi.com/alien be the new one? If different models, please specify.

Which exact Apple AirPort base station model (or possibly card) do you have? A model number should be found somewhere on the device (a magnifying glass may be needed). Please do not post any serial numbers or access codes.

Also, please specify how or why you want to use an old Apple Airport device with a new router.

To avoid permutations in potential troubleshooting I chose not to use my old AirPort routers when I got three TP-Link Deco XE75 routers (*).

Previously I used Huawei Lte CPE B593s-22 4G mobile gateway connected via Ethernet to 2011 AirPort Extreme 802.11n 5th Generation, and TP-Link Deco M4R. Those very different devices worked quite OK, although every few months I had to power cycle them when the net stalled. I also have an older 2004 AirPort Extreme 802.11g Snow Dual Ethernet Base Station but I had already retired that because newer versions of the Apple Airport Utility do not support that.

I recently finally got fibre optic connection so I decided to update the routers. The fibre optic was bundled with TP-Link Deco M4R, and coincidentally also my son got the same model with his fibre optic -equipped new flat so I gave that spare M4R to him.

(*) With the Deco XE75(EU)_V2_1.2.3 firmware some Apple device rarely failed to get an IP number although the Wi-Fi was otherwise active. Weirdly just opening the Deco.app in some mobile device and checking the online status kicked a working IP to that device. But I'd rather not explain that workaround to other users. TP-Link support was quite active and after I sent them one router log, they proposed me to use a custom firmware with more detailed logging. But I had then just updated firmware to 1.2.5 so I have not yet tried that and the flaw has not yet repeated.