So I have a airport express 802.11n 1st gen. I just got a new place and got a TWC modem with 200/20 internet speed. Is my router maximizing the internet speed I bought? And if it isn't what device would be able to handle the full capability of the modem (the 2nd gen vs the Extreme). Thanks so much!
MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3)
The AirPort Express......either the 1st Gen or 2nd Gen version......has a 100 Mbps Ethernet port, so that would be the theoretical maximum connection speed that either version of the Express could deliver.
The AIrPort Extreme has a 1,000 Mbps Ethernet port, so it will have no trouble at all handling a 200 Mpbs Internet connection.....and much more if higher speeds are available.
On a 300 Mbps Internet connection here with TWC, the AirPort Extreme typically delivers about 325-330 Mbps, which indicates that TWC is delivering more than they promised.
Thanks so much!
So if that's the case, I'm a little confused about one thing. I have this app on my computer called Mactracker which keeps a history of all Apple devices and their specs, and while it isn't perfect (it doesn't have a wireless data rate for the 1st gen), it does say that the 2nd gen has a wireless data rate of up to 300 Mbps. Granted that says "up to" and the difference between the Express and Extreme is vast (according to Mactracker the extreme has a wireless data rate up to 1.3Gbps), but how could the 2nd gen have a wireless data rate of up to 300 mbps if it's ethernet port is 100 mbps (I assume my confusion comes from conflating terminology, but I'm unsure what the clarification is). Thanks!
If the Express connects using wireless only to "extend" another AirPort router, then the speeds can go higher. If you have another AirPort router that is already producing your wireless network, you did not mention it in your post.
When you said that you upgraded your connection speed with TWC, I was assuming that your AirPort Express was connecting to your modem using Ethernet.
Oh it is. whoops, my bad! Thanks so much!
Airport Express speed question
