Difference Between AirPort Extreme and AirPort Extreme Routers

AirPort Extreme vs AirPort Extreme Routers

AirPort Extreme

AirPort Extreme is also called AirPort. It refers to the wireless router introduced by Apple, Inc. It is based on Wi-Fi also known as IEEE 802.11 standard. The IEEE 802.11 protocol also includes 802.11b, 802.11n and 802.11g. In general, AirPort Extreme refers to the standard protocol or router or the expansion card. IEEE 802.11 refers to a standard which has been set for implementing WLAN or wireless local area network for communication for computers in the frequency bands: 2.4 GHz, 3.6GHz, and 5 GHz. The standard version IEEE 802.11 has had many amendments since it was introduced in 2007. IEEE 802.11 was created by IEEE LAN/MAN Committee and is also maintained by them. The primary basis for all Wi-Fi brands is the IEEE standard or protocol which uses techniques of over-the-air modulation.

The AirPort Extreme was updated in 2007 on January 9th. It supported IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n. Two LAN ports were added and the built-in modem was removed. An external antenna port was removed, and support was provided for power over Ethernet. After the addition of all the features, the AirPort Extreme started resembling the Apple TV and the Mac mini. It looks like them, is the same size, and can support a maximum of 50 clients.
A USB hard drive can be plugged into AirPort with the new AirPort Disk feature. It can be used as NAS, network attached storage device by Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X clients. When the USB hard drive is attached to AirPort Extreme, the performance is slower than if the USB were connected to the computer. The reason for it is the performance speed of AirPort which ranges for writing from 0.5MB/s to 17.5MB/s and for reading 1.9MB/s to 25.6MB/s. It does not have an external antenna port.

Amendments to AirPort Extreme

  • AirPort Extreme was introduced on January 9th, 2007.
  • In 2008, March 19th, AirPort Extreme was updated and AirPort Disks introduced.
  • In 2009, March 3rd, AirPort with a dual band was introduced.
  • In 2009, October 20th, Apple introduced an updated version of AirPort Extreme with antenna improvements and an updated base station.
  • In 2009, June 21st, Apple introduced AirPort Extreme called the AirPort Extreme 802.11n.

AirPort Extreme routers

An AirPort Extreme router refers to a router which is used to connect computers with AirPort to the Internet, connect computers with each other with AirPort features, and connect a wired LAN or to connect with other devices.

Summary:

  1. AirPort Extreme refers to the standard protocol, router, the expansion card, or base station. It refers to the wireless router introduced by Apple, Inc. It is based on Wi-Fi also known as IEEE 802.11 standard; AirPort Extreme router refers to a router which is used to connect computers with AirPort to the Internet, connect computers with each other with AirPort features, connect a wired LAN, or connect with other devices.