Editing AirPort (section)

==AirPort routers==
[[File:Chipsets.svg|thumb|right|Evolution of chipsets]]
An AirPort router is used to connect AirPort-enabled computers to the Internet, each other, a wired [[local area network|LAN]], and/or other devices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=General Electric Mark V DS200 DS200LDCCH1A {{!}} Automation Industrial |url=https://ds200ldcch1a.com/blog |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=ds200ldcch1a.com |language=en}}</ref>

===AirPort Base Station===
{{multiple image
| image1 = Apple graphite airport base station front.jpg
| caption1 = Original ''Graphite'' (1999)
| image2 = Apple Airport-001.jpg
| caption2 = ''Snow'' (2001)
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 250
| header = AirPort Base Stations
}}
The original AirPort Base Station (known as ''Graphite'', model M5757, part number M7601LL/B) features a [[dial-up modem]] and an [[Ethernet]] port. It employs a Lucent WaveLAN Silver PC Card as the Radio, and uses an embedded [[AMD Élan]] SC410 processor. It connects to the machine via the Ethernet port. It was released July 21, 1999. The Graphite AirPort Base Station is functionally identical to the [[Lucent]] RG-1000 wireless base station and can run the same firmware. Due to the original firmware-locked limitations of the Silver card, the unit can only accept 40-bit WEP encryption. Later aftermarket tweaks can enable 128-bit WEP on the Silver card. Aftermarket Linux firmware has been developed for these units to extend their useful service life.

A second-generation model (known as ''Dual Ethernet'' or ''Snow'', model M8440, part number M8209LL/A) was introduced on November 13, 2001. It features a second Ethernet port when compared to the Graphite design, allowing for a shared Internet connection with both wired and wireless clients. Also new (but available for the original model via software update) was the ability to connect to and share [[AOL|America Online]]'s dial-up service—a feature unique to [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] base stations. This model is based on [[Motorola]]'s [[PowerPC]] 855 processor and contained a fully functional original AirPort Card, which can be removed and used in any compatible Macintosh computer.

===AirPort Extreme Base Station===
[[File:Airportextreme.jpg|thumb|right|AirPort Extreme Base Station]]

Three different configurations of model A1034 are all called the "AirPort Extreme Base Station":<br />1. M8799LL/A – 2 Ethernet ports, 1 USB port, external antenna connector, 1 56k (V.90) modem port<br />2. M8930LL/A – 2 Ethernet ports, 1 USB port, external antenna connector.<br />3. M9397LL/A – 2 Ethernet ports, 1 USB port, external antenna connector, powered over Ethernet cable (PoE/UL2043)

The AirPort Base Station was discontinued after the updated AirPort Extreme was [https://web.archive.org/web/20110608033152/http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2003/jan/07airportextreme.html announced] on January 7, 2003. In addition to providing wireless connection speeds of up to a maximum of 54&nbsp;Mbit/s, it adds an external antenna port and a [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] port. The antenna port allows the addition of a signal-boosting antenna, and the USB port allows the sharing of a USB printer. A connected printer is made available via [[Bonjour (protocol)|Bonjour]]'s "[[Zeroconf|zero configuration]]" technology and [[Internet Printing Protocol|IPP]] to all wired and wireless clients on the network. The [[CPU]] is an AU1500-333MBC [[Alchemy (processor)]]. A second model ([https://support.apple.com/specs/airport/AirPort_Extreme_Base_Station_no_modem.html M8930LL/A]) lacking the modem and external antenna port was briefly made available, but then discontinued after the launch of AirPort Express (see below). On April 19, 2004, a third version, marketed as the ''AirPort Extreme Base Station (with Power over Ethernet and UL 2043)'', was introduced that supports [[Power over Ethernet]] and complies to the [[UL (safety organization)|UL]] 2043 specifications for safe usage in air handling spaces, such as above suspended ceilings. All three models support the [[Wireless Distribution System]] (WDS) standard. The model introduced in January 2007 does not have a corresponding PoE, UL-compliant variant.

An AirPort Extreme base station can serve a maximum of 50 wireless clients simultaneously.

===AirPort Extreme 802.11n===
{{Main|AirPort Extreme}}
[[File:AirPort Extreme 2007.jpg|thumb|right|AirPort Extreme 802.11n]]
The AirPort Extreme was updated on January 9, 2007, to support the [[IEEE 802.11|802.11n]] protocol. This revision also adds two LAN ports for a total of three.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/airportextreme|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531112921/https://www.apple.com/airportextreme|archive-date=2013-05-31|title=AirPort Extreme|work=Apple Inc.}}</ref> It now more closely resembles the square-shaped 1st generation Apple TV and Mac Mini, and is about the same size as the mini.

The new '''AirPort Disk''' feature allows users to plug a USB hard drive into the AirPort Extreme for use as a [[network-attached storage]] (NAS) device for Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows clients.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/airportextreme/features/harddrivesharing.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130531014925/http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/features/harddrivesharing.html|archive-date=2013-05-31|title=AirPort Extreme – Sharing|work=Apple Inc.}}</ref> Users may also connect a USB hub and printer. The performance of USB hard drives attached to an AirPort Extreme is slower than if the drive were connected directly to a computer. This is due to the processor speed on the AirPort extreme. Depending on the setup and types of reads and writes, performance ranges from 0.5 to 17.5&nbsp;MB/s for writing and 1.9 to 25.6&nbsp;MB/s for reading.<ref name="AnandTech AirPort Extreme (5th gen) review">{{cite web|title=Airport Extreme (5th Gen) and Time Capsule (4th Gen) Review – Faster WiFi|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/airport-extreme-5th-gen-and-time-capsule-4th-gen-review-faster-wifi-/7|website=AnandTech|first=Brian|last=Krug|access-date=2021-10-07}}</ref> Performance for the same disk connected directly to a computer would be 6.6 to 31.6&nbsp;MB/s for writing and 7.1 to 37.2&nbsp;MB/s for reading.

The AirPort Extreme has no port for an external antenna.

On August 7, 2007, the AirPort Extreme began shipping with [[Gigabit Ethernet]], matching most other Apple products.

On March 19, 2008, Apple released a firmware update for both models of the AirPort Extreme to allow AirPort Disks to be used in conjunction with [[Time Machine (macOS)|Time Machine]], similar to the functionality provided by [[Time Capsule (Apple)|Time Capsule]].<ref>{{cite web
 | title = Time Machine now works with AirPort Extreme's AirDisk feature
 | first=N. |last=Patel
 | publisher=Engadget.com
 | date = March 19, 2008
 | url = https://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/time-machine-now-works-with-airport-extremes-airdisk-feature/
 | access-date =2021-10-07 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080320180628/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/19/time-machine-now-works-with-airport-extremes-airdisk-feature/| archive-date= March 20, 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref>
On March 3, 2009, Apple unveiled a new AirPort Extreme with simultaneous dual-band 802.11 Draft-N radios. This allows full 802.11 Draft-N 2x2 communication in both 802.11 Draft-N bands at the same time.

On October 20, 2009, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme base station with antenna improvements.

On June 21, 2011, Apple unveiled an updated AirPort Extreme base station, referred to as ''AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation)''.

===AirPort Express===
{{Main|AirPort Express}}
{{multiple image
| image1 = Apple airport express.jpg
| caption1 = Original (2004)
| image2 = AirPort Express 2012.jpg
| caption2 = Revised (2012)
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 250
| header = AirPort Express
}}

The AirPort Express is a simplified and compact AirPort Extreme base station. It allows up to 50 networked users, and includes a feature called AirTunes (predecessor to [[AirPlay]]). The original version (M9470LL/A, model A1084) was introduced by Apple on June 7, 2004,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2004/06/07Apple-Unveils-AirPort-Express-for-Mac-PC-Users/ |title=Apple Unveils AirPort Express for Mac & PC Users |date=June 7, 2004 |work=Apple Inc.}}</ref> and includes an [[Mini-TOSLINK|analog–optical audio mini-jack output]], a [[Universal Serial Bus|USB]] port for remote printing or charging the iPod (iPod Shuffle only), and a single [[Ethernet]] port. The USB port cannot be used to connect a hard disk or other storage device.

The AirPort Express functions as a [[wireless access point]] when connected to an Ethernet network. It can be used as an [[Network bridge|Ethernet-to-wireless bridge]] under certain wireless configurations.
It can be used to extend the range of a network, or as a printer and audio server.

In 2012, the AirPort Express took on a new shape, similar to that of the second and third generation Apple TV. The new product also features two 10/100&nbsp;Mbit/s Ethernet LAN ports.

===AirPort Time Capsule===
{{Main|AirPort Time Capsule}}
{{multiple image
| image1 = Appletimecapsule.jpg
| caption1 = Original (2008)
| image2 = Apple time capsule g5 out.jpg
| caption2 = Tower (2013)
| align = right
| direction = horizontal
| total_width = 250
| header = Time Capsule
}}

The AirPort Time Capsule is a version of AirPort Extreme with a built-in hard drive currently coming in either 2&nbsp;TB or 3&nbsp;TB sizes, with a previous version having 1&nbsp;TB or 500&nbsp;GB. It features a built-in design that, when used with Time Machine in Mac OS X Leopard, automatically makes incremental data backups. Acting as a wireless file server, AirPort Time Capsule can serve to back up multiple Macs. It also includes all AirPort Extreme (802.11 Draft-N) functionality.

On March 3, 2009, the Time Capsule was updated with simultaneous dual-band 802.11 Draft-N capability, remote AirPort Disk accessibility through [[Back to My Mac]], and the ability to broadcast a guest network at the same time as an existing network.

On October 20, 2009, Apple unveiled the updated Time Capsule with antenna improvements resulting in wireless performance gains of both speed and range. Also stated is a resulting performance improvement/time reduction on Time Capsule backups of up to 60%.

In June 2011, Apple unveiled the updated Time Capsule with a higher capacity 2&nbsp;TB and 3&nbsp;TB. They also changed the wireless card from a Marvell chip to a Broadcom BCM4331 chip. When used in conjunction with the latest 2011 MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and MacBook Airs (which also use a Broadcom BCM4331 wireless chip), the wireless signal is improved thanks to Broadcom's Frame Bursting technology.<ref name="AnandTech AirPort Extreme (5th gen) review" />

On June 10, 2013, Apple renamed the Time Capsule to the AirPort Time Capsule and added support for the 802.11ac standard.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule/specs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115112405/http://www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule/specs/|archive-date=2016-11-15|title=AirPort Time Capsule - Tech Specs|work=Apple Inc.}}</ref>