Apple today updated its AirPort Express mobile base station with 802.11n to deliver up to five times the performance and twice the range of the previous model. Priced at US$99, AirPort Express is the world’s smallest 802.11n-based mobile base station. It can be plugged directly into the wall for wireless Internet connectivity and USB printing at home or easily brought on the road for wireless freedom wherever there is an Internet connection. AirPort Express features AirTunes, which works seamlessly with iTunes to give users a simple and inexpensive way to wirelessly stream iTunes music from a PC or Mac to any room in the house.
“Apple is leading the way with a broad range of innovative 802.11n base stations for almost any wireless networking need,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “From the small and portable AirPort Express, to AirPort Extreme for workgroups of up to 50 users and the new Time Capsule for automated backups, Apple customers now have more great ways to extend their wireless networks with 802.11n.”
AirPort Express features a single-piece, compact design weighing just 6.7 ounces, providing maximum portability. AirPort Express offers both PC and Mac users the ability to share a single DSL or cable broadband connection with up to 10 simultaneous users. Users can also share a printer wirelessly that is connected to the USB port. Apple’s AirPort Utility software provides easy step-by-step instructions for setting up and configuring AirPort Express; and with its advanced security features, AirPort Express safeguards data on networked computers with support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2), 128-bit WEP encryption and a built-in firewall. Apple now includes 802.11n as standard in its entire line of AirPort base stations and Mac notebooks as well as iMac, Apple TV and Time Capsule.
AirPort Express includes a built-in combination digital and analog audio connector allowing users to connect to a home stereo or powered speakers. iTunes automatically detects remote speakers and displays them in a simple pop-up list for the user to select. Once the remote speakers are selected, AirTunes wirelessly streams iTunes music from the computer to the AirPort Express base station. Multiple AirPort Express base stations can be set up around a home, each connected to a set of powered speakers for a whole-home music experience. AirPort Express can also extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme wireless network.
AirPort Express is available immediately through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $99.
More info about Apple’s new Airport Express here.
anyone want to wager a guess as to how much further it’ll throw the signal? currently i have the older express beaming my base station 802.11n signal to my front yard, but i’ve been trying for a while to eke the signal a bit further so it reaches my dad’s house on our property. all of the computer’s we have are 802.11n, but the 802.11g express just can’t quite make it to his house.
Tech specs show 10/100 Ethernet. So what is the advantage? IMHO it makes no sense to do an 802.11n AP without Gigabit Ethernet. I was going to buy two to replace my 802.11g AXs, but there is no point since I won’t see any performance gains (marginal) in moving files around my LAN.
And since no Service Provider is likely to be above even 50Mbps anytime soon, there is no need to even look at 802.11n for a WAN connection device.
IMHO, the short of it is that 802.11n benefit currently is LAN-to-LAN throughput, and to take advantage of that you need GigE Ethernet.
Justajoe
I just bought an Express last month to replace my D-Link piece of junk. Somehow I always buy things at just the wrong time.