Review of Apple AirPort Extreme 6G

In the life of every person, sooner or later there is a problem buying a new Wi-Fi-router. We are sure that among our reader will find a decent amount of true fans that are completely surrounded themselves with Apple technology, including the router. However, the technology goes forward, and now all the representatives of the flagship line of Apple computers have on-board adapters with support for 802.11ac. It would be great to give them the opportunity to reach their full potential. The sixth generation AirPort Extreme, in addition to the radically altered design, just can boast support for the fastest to date, wireless networking standard. Just recently we had a need to replace the office router, so it was purchased - AirPort Extreme 6G.

If you have a thought arises in the mind about whether to buy myself this miracle, this review will help you decide. The product is actually very cool, but first things first.

A key feature AirPort Extreme 6G - speed. Speed, speed, speed. Every square centimeter of the product page on the Apple site is permeated with instructions on what to us "Incredibly fast Wi-Fi," "speed in the new version", "Ultra High Speed ​​Wi-Fi base station" and so Further.

Indeed, 802.11ac is able to show the speed that lies far beyond the current capabilities of many top internet service providers (particularly regional), but the new AirPort Extreme not only pleases processability.

Packaging and Design

As befits Apple's, pleasant emotions arise at a stage when you take the box with the product in your hands.

Packing strict, laconic, minimalist. And quite weighty! The specs say that the router itself weighs about 945 grams. That is, in view of the box and is in complete wire can gain full kilogram.

Furthermore, it is puzzling form. The router in the conventional sense - it is such a small box, flattened on top. In our case, the device resembles a tower. In this form lie its technical advantages, but they will be discussed below. Now we continue to deal with the kit.

Any additional accessories were found in the box. All of the necessary minimum: a router, power cable, manual, garantiynik.

Take in the hands of the router. Yes, it is very heavy, heavy and creates a sense of solid monolithic object. However, this is not a smartphone, and feel its weight, we in any case will not have to, but in situations where more easy analog can fly away from the table, even from a minor shock, mass Extreme 6G play in plus product.

Stability also contributes to a special rubberized coating on the bottom of the router. Initially it carefully pasted over film, like the rest of the side surface, and therefore after the final print product, you can watch the pristine, perfectly clean glossy finish.

Fingerprints on it almost invisible because of the white body, and after careful rubbing can be happy to behold on the table sparkling technological monument.

The bottom surface is slightly convex disk with technical apertures. This design provides the normal movement of air, and in this case it is really necessary.

Inside the hidden router rather quality, judging by the reviews were handed down device guys from iFixit, the cooling system. I have to say that when the work and the fan is not audible. Generally. Even from a distance of 20-30 cm. In general, an active cooling should contribute to reliable operation even in the hottest summer.

The top part, because of the greater exposure to dirt, made of matte plastic, and here flaunts the Apple logo.

The operation indicator router is very small, located in the lower right corner of the front panel and operates on the same logic. Green color - everything is OK, amber - something is not ok. On the reverse side at the same site detected the reset button.

Size and location in the room

For comparison, we put next to Extreme 6G smartphone iPhone 5s, and, as you can see, the device is actually very compact.

Height - 168 mm.

The length of the sides of the square forming the area of ​​the bottom and cover - 98 mm, but due to rounding router seems even smaller and does not spoil the interior of the table.

Unfortunately, the design does not provide for other than both vertical locations router, and therefore lovers placing the like on the walls will have to attend to the presence of the corresponding pre-cozy mikropolochki. :)

interfaces

After removing the protective film opened view of the router interfaces are arranged in a row on the rear panel.

At the bottom - a port for connecting the power cable, it is located above the Gigabit WAN. Above there is a single USB 2.0 for connecting a printer, external hard drive, or both together through a hub. Further, one after another, there are three Gigabit LAN.

By the arrangement have arisen two questions: Why is only one USB 2.0, and why? Form factor housing would be quite allowed to place two, and three USB-ports. At least the second port would be very useful for simultaneous connection of a printer and a hard drive with a hub without witchcraft. Also it raises the question of the lack of support much more high-speed USB 3.0. In the case of difference printer, certainly will not, but the market external HDD models have long been fed up with the support of third-USB and the standard I would have looked very harmoniously combined with space 802.11ac. However, Apple in any case, is more visible, and indeed the function to connect external media is not the key here.

Simplicity vs limitations

For some AirPort Extreme users will seem quite limited in terms of functionality, but definitely it will please simplicity and a minimum amount of time required to setup the router.

To create a network and set up basic parameters can be even with Apple mobile devices using the integrated tools in iOS. Thus given by the network name, password, and the password to access the router.

The user does not need to worry about firmware supporting up to date, because AirPort Extreme will do everything himself.

We will not talk about each AirPort utility element, since all necessary manuals are on the Apple site.

USB

Port, as mentioned above, is only one and not the most recent. It is possible to connect an external HDD, printer or both simultaneously using a hub.

In the case of the Mac OS, and with the appropriate printer advanced remote monitoring possible, but with the support of the printing AirPlay function device can also print from iOS-devices. In the case of Windows, no additional functions are not available.

In practice, the speed of access to data on an external HDD air ranges from 13 to 16 MB / s.

Speed ​​limit and

AirPort Extreme 6G supports connecting to the Internet via PPPoE and only IPoE. In the first case, a wired connection provides the speed at 800 Mbit / s, while the second highest were only 400 Mbit / s. However, not everywhere and not everyone has a gigabit providers, and router because there is unlikely to be a limiting factor.

Now for the Wi-Fi. Inside AirPort Extreme 6G hiding six antennas. Three for each of the supported bands.

• In the 2.4 GHz router operates on 802.11n standard maximum theoretical rate 216 Mbit / s.
• At 5GHz router operates on 802.11n standards with a maximum theoretical speed of 450 Mbit / s and 802.11ac maximum theoretical speed of 600 Mbit / s.

The attentive reader will notice that even the theoretical maximum values ​​are much lower than those described in the standard 802.11ac. This is not Apple can not, but only our legislation:

802.11ac support functions depends on the legal requirements that exist in a particular country; channels with a spectral width of 80 MHz and beamforming technology available in the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Kuwait, Belarus, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Egypt.

Well, the law is the law, and we have no right to blame the manufacturer for compliance.

Actual performance in the 2.4GHz band we are not particularly interested, because 802.11ac operates in the 5 GHz band, and only here you can see a real increase in speed. However, for clarity, should demonstrate a comparison of devices operating in the 5 GHz band and 802.11n standard. All were tested in a single openspeyse without walls between rooms. Simply put, the router and connected devices are located at a distance of several meters in direct line of sight.

In practice, device adapter shown 802.11n speed in the range from 160 to 310 Mbit / s, with adapters 802.11ac pleased rate up to 465 Mbit / s transmission multithreading.

in total

It is time to highlight the essence, that is to make lists of the most salient advantages and disadvantages of AirPort Extreme.

pros

• 802.11ac.
• Automatic firmware update.
• Two separate radio modules = two separate networks operating in different ranges.
• "Back to My Mac» for remote access to your network.
• Import / export settings in a configuration file.
• Easy and quick adjustment with integrated iOS and OS X utility.
• Separate guest wireless network is the lack of access to the network and its resources.
• Excellent quality and stability of signal.
• Schedule of wireless access to the router by leaps and bounds.
• Expansion of network coverage with additional AirPort devices.
• Compatibility with IPv6.
• Backup function Time Machine, which is not stated in the specifications, but it works with an external hard drive.

Minuses

• A USB-port that does not support USB 3.0.
• The lack of a 4-channel mode in 802.11ac.
• The lack of relevant secondary services such as FTP-server, media server, and VPN.
• Lack of support for popular protocols L2TP, and PPTP.
• The price is comparable to the more functional non-Apple routers.

As you can see, despite the technological tricked and excellent external design, with AirPort Extreme 6G lacks a number of features that are available even in the budgetary decisions of others manufacturers. However, Apple devotees, who built the infrastructure around them from the products of the company, of course, will be satisfied. The router provides all honestly, what Apple says in the description: Awesome speed, great design, the extraordinary ease of installation and configuration, and the ability to connect a printer and an external drive.