How do I add more ports to my new Airport Extreme?

Use an USB hub or Ethernet switch. For best results, an USB hub should have its own power supply.

(96234)

An ethernet switch added to your network will give you more ports.

Allan

The AirPort Extreme uses Gigabit Ethernet ports, so you would want to be sure to get a Gigabit Ethernet switch to match the performance of the AirPort Extreme.

Switches come in 5-port, 8-port, 16-port, etc varieties.

Recommended brands are Cisco and Netgear.

Any computer / electronics superstore will have what you need.

Connect an Ethernet cable from one of the LAN <-> ports to the switch. You can then use any of the ports on the AirPort Extreme or the switch.

We still don't know whether you were asking about USB ports....or Ethernet ports....or both.

I'm betting Ethernet, but I'm a lousy better. 😉

Hi Bob- you always solve my problems.. is this advice still current?

And one more question.. let's say the wireless coverage (new 2013 extreme) needs to be extended. (Don't know yet). If I add the expresses I have - circa 2010 (first generation) or the extreme (4th generation) to my network, will it slow down the network, which is why I retired these in the first place? Sharon

The network will slow down somewhat if you attempt to connect the extending device using wireless. But, you may not notice the slowdown due to the better wireless coverage.

If you plan to connect the extending devices using a wired Ethernet connection back to the main AirPort Extreme....there is no signal or speed loss in a wire.

Thanks Bob. . Changing out my cable (TWC) modem in the next few days and then will set up the new extreme. Will see then if I have to need to extend.

Then I may have to ask you how to connect the extending devices using a wired Ethernet connection back to the main AirPort Extreme if the extending devices are not in the same room.

Sharon

Hi Bob- Right before I changed out the Doxis 2 modem to a 3 with Time Warner, and complained to TWC re speed, there was a big improvement, but not consistent. Changed out the modem, installed the new extreme. No problem whatsoever.

I do not need anything like the former set up (one extreme / 4th generation) and two expresses- one used for Ethernet for a TV, the other used downstairs to extend the network. Thinking to leave as is for now- one 2013 extreme.

Does it seem right that using speed test I'm getting similar speeds, no matter if I'm connected via wi-fi, or Ethernet? That's what's happening.

I'm thinking that all the speed in the world is not going to change Time Warner Cable, the provider for earthlink cable-- I'm paying for earthlink max (it's like time warner turbo I think) but there are no other choices after that, as is with time warner. I'm "promised" up to 15 mpbs download, and with the new equipment, that's what I"m getting. (today, yesterday, after the equipment switch); also before I switched equipment fjor about 10 minutes, after tech support heard my complaints, etc.. then it went back to the same drop outs, inconsistency, etc.

Let's say download speed stays at 15-16 mpbs.. I work online / 15 is not terrific.. I don't know if its worth changing to TWC without the earthlink / it's not like there are many choices here: the city has been divided up by the various companies... and the city of SD gets a portion of the big fees, so there's no incentive for change. People pretty much hate TWC and complain re speeds and getting ripped off, but that may be the same with all the companies. Any advice here?

Sharon

so ignore wired for now

if your mac is wired directly into the TW modem, you're getting 15 and you're paying for 15, right, or am i missing something?

then, connect the extreme directly to the TW modem and connect your mac directly to the extreme (still all wired), are you still getting the same speeds as before?

if so, then your connect and wired ports are working fine

Sharon Chard-Yaron wrote:

Does it seem right that using speed test I'm getting similar speeds, no matter if I'm connected via wi-fi, or Ethernet? That's what's happening.

Thinking to leave as is for now- one 2013 extreme.

That would certainly keep things a lot simpler.

Does it seem right that using speed test I'm getting similar speeds, no matter if I'm connected via wi-fi, or Ethernet?

A very good sign assuming those speeds are reasonably close to the your plan offered by your ISP. The Extreme itself is capable of much faster speeds than your ISP can ever hope to provide.

I'm thinking that all the speed in the world is not going to change Time Warner Cable, the provider for earthlink cable

Not sure what you mean here. Time Warner provides various plans, some up to 50 Mbps. I get 60+ consistently with this plan. I had a 30 Mpbs plan before that consistently delivered about 35-36 Mbps.

The math is simple. If you download a lot of files from the Internet, a 50 Mbps connection is going to take half as long to download a file as a 25 Mbps connection, for example.

One word of caution though....if you try a higher speed plan...plan to stay, as you will never go back to slower speeds once you have sampled higher speeds. Comcast now owns Time Warner by the way. I don't know whether that will be a good thing or a bad thing.

I see what you mean. It may be worth switching out of Earthlink then, even though it's a hassle. (Earthlink is part of the package deal with TWC, but earthlink's top speed is 15mbps. ) .

For TWC do you provide your own modem or take the one TWC provides? Up until last month Earthlink/Time Warner did not charge for modem rental; now they will charge $6 a month. I'm fine with buying my own, but supposely TWC's supported list is limited. Which do you recomend? theirs or one from their list?

Re "if your mac is wired directly into the TW modem, you're getting 15 and you're paying for 15, right, or am i missing something?" That's exactly it. It's just that previously there was no relationship between what I was paying for and what I received in terms of speed. It was never in my favor. So now, wishful thinking, was thinking it would go the other way..

Re " connect the extreme directly to the TW modem and connect your mac directly to the extreme (still all wired), are you still getting the same speeds as before?". yes..

Thinking I may try to change plans with TWC -- adding on "a la carte" and subtracting earthlink will proably reduce my discounts, but they don't last forever anyway.

Thanks for your help. And to Bob too.

Keep in mind that everything at TWC is likely to change. TWC does not make any modems or modem/routers....they use equipment provided by a number of different manufacturers.

Personally, I prefer to use my own simple modem and the AirPort Extreme as the main router.....rather than using a combination modem/router or gateway device.

The combination device does have a plus of simplicity for users who want to deal with as few devices as possible. If you opt for one of these devices, you probably don't even need the AirPort Extreme.

Look over TWC's current list of "approved" devices to get an idea of what they offer:

Buy Your Modem | Time Warner Cable

I cannot tell you what is "best", but I use a Netgear CMD31T modem. Things have been flawless for several years, but that is no guarantee of what your experience might be.

Thanks. Actually I looked at that list yesterday. I for sure would go for one without a router, as I like the new airport extreme. (Not being a techie, don't want to borrow trouble with compatibility problems, etc. ) The one you have -- sounds like a plan.. I can return the one I picked up yesterday at TWC and buy my own.

With the comcast-time warner merger, who knows what will be.. I deal with Comcast at my parents home on the East Coast, and they are no picnic, but I think problems with them are regional, as my daughter had Comcast in Saramento, and they were fine.

I may wait until TWC offers some new packages, because apparently right now I will lose some steep discounts if I go "a la carte" . I've been resisting their phone as part of a "triple play"-- don't want to be completely owned by TWC, but now I may give in..

Sharon