Editing AirPort (section)

===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)''.