Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)
Purchased from a military exchange.
BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT:
REQUIRED:
Management Utility requires a downstream computer running a recent version of Windows or OSX.
NOT DESIGNED TO BE MANAGED FROM A LINUX CLIENT.
PROS:
-No integrated web server for modifying device settings (must use AirPort Utility)
-Manual Setup option includes all of the necessary tools to secure your network
-Integration of External Hard Drives via integrated USB Port is SUPER easy (just plug it in)
-Supports USB Hubs for more drives/printer sharing (I haven't tried this)
-Supports Full US 101 Keyboard Character Set in Passwords/Pass Phrases
-Works great in a "Double NAT" network environment
CONS:
-Only three integrated "downstream" ethernet ports
-Only one status light for system health
EXCRUCIATING DETAILS:
NETWORKING:
I purchased this router to better secure my mixed-platform network and aid our family's transition from WinXP to Mac. I ran the initial setup from a "Wired" PC and went immediately to the Manual Setup. Transition of all of my network devices from my older subnet to the new subnet was painless once I got over my own boneheaded mistakes. Throughput on the wireless side of my home network was increased significantly (as advertised) vs. my older Linksys Router. I've retained the older subnet to support some WiFi devices that can't support the latest security protocols. Despite the Armageddon like proclamations about "Double NAT-ing" I've experienced absolutely no problems with our internet enabled devices accessing the internet.
AIR DISK:
For me this was mostly painless, but there are some limitations worth noting. AEBS does not support NTFS, however this is a non-issue (keep reading to see why). AEBS supports FAT32 and HFS+ (FAT32 is grossly inadequate for modern hard drive sizes and hard drive image archival).
PLEASE NOTE: If using an AirPort Extreme Base Station, even for a Windows environment, I recommend that you get a disk preformatted for HFS+ (Mac OS Extended). This will give you all of the advanced storage capabilities of a modern file system and the AEBS comes with software that will translate the HFS+ disk into FAT32 for your Windows PCs. SOME LEGACY SOFTWARE (in my case Ghost v9) will self-impose a 4GB file size limitation (part of the FAT32 specification), but Windows itself will roll with it.
TIME MACHINE WITH AIR DISK (I no longer recommend use of this undocumented feature):
There is a procedure for enabling an AirDisk for use with Time Machine. It's a NON-SUPPORTED/UNDOCUMENTED FEATURE of the AEBS. The process is very simple and requires no advanced knowledge (just a normal ability to follow instructions). I won't list the process here because this is a product review ("google" Time machine and AirPort Extreme). However, don't call Apple for help with this as it's not officially supported.
(UPDATE APR 2011) - This will work for a month or two, and then unexpectedly quit. Further examination indicated a progressive build up of file system errors due to the way Time Machine interacts with target volumes (most likely the WHY behind Apple's decision not to support this feature). As a result, I quit using the AirDisk with Time Machine workaround and I now use a FireWire drive connected to a Mac as our Time Machine target.
OVERALL:
I think this is a great product for any networking environment that includes Macs. This solution should also be considered in Mixed Mac and Windows environments. The features on this router are optimized for the OS X operating system, so those utilizing a Windows only environment should pay close attention to the FAT32 limitations of the AirDisk feture.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (Simultaneous Dual-Band) (MC340LL/A)
Product Description
The sleek, easy-to-use AirPort Extreme Base Station with simultaneous dual-band support is the perfect wireless access point for home, school, or small business. It offers fast, 802.11n Wi-Fi access for Mac computers, PCs, and Wi-Fi devices such as iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #735 in Consumer Electronics
- Brand: Apple
- Model: MC340LL/A
- Platform: Windows
- Format: CD
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 6.50" h x 6.50" w x 1.30" l, 1.66 pounds
Features
- Simultaneous dual-band wireless base station supports 802.11b/g and 802.11n
- USB 2.0 port lets you connect and wirelessly share a hard drive and/or printer
- Three GigaBit Ethernet ports
- Guest networking for easy sharing of your internet connection with temporary guests
- Measures 6.5 x 6.5 x 1.3 inches; backed by a one-year warranty
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