I bought an Airport Express in the US and want to use it in the UK.
Regrettably the country list does not include Europe, so my questions are:
a) do I need to change the firmware?
b) is it even possilbe to change the country/ region to Europe?
Any hints would be appreciated
Thank you
Bungy
a) do I need to change the firmware?
No, unless you are being notiified that an update is available.
b) is it even possilbe to change the country/ region to Europe?
Unfortunately, no. This information is "embedded" in the device at the time of manufacturing.
For the most part, your AirPort Express will operate OK in the U.K., but you will not be able to use Channels 12 or 13 on the Express.
Thank you Bob for your prompt response.
Disappointed as I was hoping to use the express for 802.11n in the 5GHz range. Of course this only gives me channels 38, 44, 52 and 60 with the US; whereas if it could be changed to ETSI or Europe I would have had the higher channels too.
So, my conclusion is, although we in the UK pay up to 40% more in the US for less functionality when it comes to Apple products, should we be foolish enough to buy in the US, it still doesn't help. ****!
Once again, many thanks
Regards
Bungy
In all fairness it is the country that establishes which RF bands and associated frequency channels are allowed. Further any wireless manufacturer, including Apple, can further restrict what is actually available with their products. What Bob has mentioned for the Apple base stations in the U.S. is actually less than all that are available there.
For whatever reason, Apple had decided to market their AirPorts to world regions instead of to individual countries, and most likely, the slightly different model Order#s reflect that. I would guess that the firmware used were fine-tuned to those regions and why when you look at the available countries they are predominately listed in either North America, Europe, and Asia.
I agree in principle, however most radio devices today provide a facility to configure using country codes.
Apple do not offer this, but also there is little consistency. For example, look at Bob's earlier post, we both have express set to US yet we are reporting different channel availability.
From a radio reg perspective, I agree. ITU dictate frequency and power, then each nation decides how their ranges will be spread amongst military, government etc and finally the public.
This is why International standards are not standard internationally.
As for my previous comment on less capability in the UK, was pertaining to the likes of Siri. I travel to the US a lot and Siri is of great value there. Here in the UK for most questions asked we get the reply: "sorry, xxx, I can't provide maps and directions in the UK" or something to the affect of, sorry I can only search for businesses in the United States.
(and we pay between 30-40% more), and we don't have 4g in the UK yet, but we still pay the extra.
I have been with Apple for 15+ years, I have practically all their range from mac air to 8 core, but it means nothing unless you reside in the US.
Frustrated of UK
Of course this only gives me channels 38, 44, 52 and 60 with the US
The U.S. version of the AirPort Express will work on 36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157 and 161. At least, mine does.
Well here is just a guess but....
Would you realy want to make it easy for every american to start using channel #14? This starts to become a legal issue...
how do I change the country from US to Europe please
