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Is it better to connect Airport Extreme to a router or directly to cable?
I have lately experienced amber blinking, resetting it a week a go, and yesterday it started lining amber again. It also gets rather warm - not hot.
Unplugged both cables and let it sit and cool down, connected and it's green again.
Just wondering whether or not to get a router as well.
Regards
Agi
MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.3)
The unit is barely warm to the touch. It's been running smoothly since Friday or so, when I gave it a short break.
If you plan to ask Apple to replace the AirPort Extreme, then you will likely have to prove your case to them.
To do that........
Run the AirPort until the amber light begins to blink again
Open AirPort Utility on your Mac (Finder > Applications > Utilities > AirPort Utility
Click on the AirPort Extreme, then click Edit in the smaller window that appears
Click the Base Station menu at the top of the screen.....up where you see the other menus like File, Window, Help, etc.
Ciick Diagnostics and Usage
Click on the small arrow next to Thermal Info
Copy the info having to do with Fan Loop. Unfortunately, you will have to manually copy the info, since copy/paste will not work.
It is not too difficult to open up the AirPort Extreme if Apple will not cover a replacement for you. Rather than trying to clean out the fan with compressed air, you might consider simply replacing the fan. Here is a source for the part:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/112243750515?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
To help answer that question, what is the make & model of the device that you currently connect your AirPort Extreme base station to?
The Extreme does not have a built-in modem, nor does it have a cable-type connector, so you will not be able to connect a cable directly to it. It is expecting to be connected to a modem, router, or gateway device by Ethernet.
AgnetaW wrote:
No device.
Airport Utiliy 6.3.7
Optic fibre 100 Mbit/s
You cannot connect an Airport Extreme to the incoming fibre cable. You have to have a modem to convert the fibre to ethernet, usually supplied by your service provider. Then you can connect the Airport to the ethernet port on the modem. You don't need to interpose a router unless you want to make additional ports available prior to the Airport.
Apple ME918Z/A - Apple AirPort Extreme, 3GBLAN-ports, 802.11ac
If you place your hand on the top of the AirPort Extreme after it has been operating for 30 minutes or so, it should be no more than barely warm to the touch.
From the description in your original post, it sounds as if the Airport Extreme may be starting to overheat. This can happen on units that have been operating more than a year or so. The AirPort tends to run too warm because the internal fan is clogged with dust, and it cannot generate enough internal air movement to keep the AirPort operating in its normal range.
If you power off the AirPort and let it cool down, thinks will likely be OK until the unit starts to overheat, at which time the amber light will begin to blink.
If the AirPort is less than a year old, Apple will replace the device for you. Apple will also likely replace the AirPort if you have AppleCare in effect on one of your Mac and the AirPort Extreme is less than three years old.
Adding another router will not help, unless you are asking about simply replacing the AirPort with another router.
Ok. The technician at Apple support I spoke to ten days ago didn't object to the set up. It has worked for a considerable time, and still does. I also had two PCs hooked up to the Ethernet LAN on the AE. Don't use those anymore. My iPhone, iPad and Mac Book Pro get their wi-fi via this set up.
So, what modem / router (make, model) do you suggest that I get?
My internet service provider doesn't provide a modem / router. I have had several over the years. I chucked the last one when my Airport Express gave up. Then I bought the AE.
This is all very interesting. Why does it work if I can't do it?
Anyway, thanks a lot guys for the information. Now, I just need a router suggestion.
Thanks. That was helpful. Any way to get the dust out of it? Probably not.
I bought the Airport Extreme on November 18, 2015. I bought my Mac Book Pro with Apple Care on February 5, 2015. Seems to fulfill the criteria you mention above. I will get in touch with them tomorrow.
The unit is barely warm to the touch. It's been running smoothly since Friday or so, when I gave it a short break.
<<<Is it better to connect Airport Extreme to a router or directly to cable?>>>
The Airport Extreme *IS* a router.
<<<I have lately experienced amber blinking, resetting it a week a go, and yesterday it started lining amber again.>>>
You'll want to load the Airport configuration program to see what error message it's giving. A blinking light could mean anything-that there's a software update (which you'll want to install right away), that your Internet is out, or various configuration issues.
<<<It also gets rather warm - not hot.>>>
That's normal for routers. They're pretty much all passively cooled so get kind of hot.
<<<Unplugged both cables and let it sit and cool down, connected and it's green again.
That may be a coincidence, but at any rate don't restart it, check what error it's giving you first.
<<<Just wondering whether or not to get a router as well.>>>
It is a router.
MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS Sierra (10.12.3)
The broadband line is connected to the Ethernet WAN.
Agi
I still need the make & model of the device that you have the Extreme connected to by Ethernet.
No device.
Airport Utiliy 6.3.7
Optic fibre 100 Mbit/s
What exact model is your AirPort Extreme base station?
Apple ME918Z/A - Apple AirPort Extreme, 3GBLAN-ports, 802.11ac
The following iFixIt link should give you an idea on exactly where the fan is located and what it would take to get to it.
Thanks. It's still running smoothly. If and when the problem (re)occurs I will know what paths to explore. Opening it up is not first on my list, though. Agi
Better to connect Airport Extreme to a router or directly to cable?
