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AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule made dual-band
updated 09:55 am EST, Tue March 3, 2009
New AirPort Ext, Time Cap.
In addition to its updates to the iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini, Apple has also released new AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule peripherals. Both of the devices now support simultaneous 2.4 and 5GHz wireless connections, allowing the creation of separate networks, such as distinct 802.11n and 802.11b/g connections, or a Guest Network which restricts users to Internet connectivity.
The new AirPort Extreme router is officially listed at $179, but is priced at $159 on Apple's website. The revised Time Capsule, which doubles as a router and network-attached storage, continues to be sold in 500GB and 1TB capacities priced at $299 and $499, respectively.
[AirPort Extreme]
[Time Capsule]
hey
03/03, 11:42am reply
Are these the 'surprises' (or whatever they called them) mentioned in yesterday's post about the release?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
useful for iPhone
03/03, 02:37pm reply
The dual-band capability will be useful for owners of iPhones and modern Macs because it will allow the Macs to take advantage of the 5 GHz band which the iPhone cannot use, while also creating a 2.4 GHz band for the iPhone. The thing I don't know is if there would be a way to "bridge" those networks so your iPhone could exchange data with your Mac(s). Many iPhone apps these days use WiFi syncing, so if the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are completely isolated there would be no communication between your Mac(s) and your iPhone.
The real solution to this problem is for the iPhone to ALSO support 5 GHz.
Longwalker
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Feb 2008
Airport Extreme Upgrade?
03/03, 02:45pm reply
I was curious to know if anyone knows whether the dual-band stuff is hardware of if owners of the last rev. Airport Extremes can expect a software update to attain this functionality as well.
Thanks...
coitus
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2000
re: Lngwalker
03/03, 03:01pm reply
When 2 devices on the same bandwidth are transferring between each other, it goes through the router, thus bandwidth are cut in half.
So it's actually better to have separate bandwidth. I currently have it done that way with Airport Extreme (running 5ghz N) and the wifi router that comes from ISP.
dliup
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2006
Price correction
03/03, 03:51pm reply
The new Airport Extreme is priced at $159 in the Apple Store. Your story says $179.
xebrawerx
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Sep 2003
...Price Correction
03/03, 04:39pm reply
You need to check again. The previous model is $159 and the new model is $179.
moofpup
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Dec 2007