AirPort and non-Apple routers / modems

eoineen

Can any one here indicate to me if the performance of my AirPort Extreme card in my June 2006 Intel iMac is diminished because I don't use an Airport Base system to route my eircon internet service?

Would it be a good investment to buy an Apple Base to replace my standard eircom wireless router / modem?

ZENER

There should be no difference in speed with a good signal. The actual speed you get depends on proximity to the access point, type of wireless system in use, i.e. 802.11a/b/g/n and the number of devices sharing the connection to the access point. For a 802.11g access point the max speed is 54Mbps stepping back according to signal strength (proximity to access point, walls, etc. all effect this) to about 2.2Mbps (I think).

Assuming your BB connection is 2Mbps then even at the slowest stepback speed of most wireless points there should still be enough bandwidth to carry your broadband connection to one computer. There are other factors involved but basically speaking I think most of the above is correct.

I don't think it would be of any benefit to you to get an Airport Base Station to be honest.

ZEN

eoineen

ZEN

Thanks for that comprehensive reply. Was leading up to whether or not Apple's new enabler (ok it's just under E2 and all) was worth getting and if a Base Station would boost it further but of course eircon's spped limits this anyway right?

Urban Weigl

The enabler isn't worth getting in your case since the Eircom base station won't do 802.11n.

Also keep in mind that if you get Apple's Airport Extreme base station, the enabler is included free of charge anyway, so no need to get it.

Basically, unless you purchased an 802.11n base station from a third party, which I'd say only a handful of people in the world did, there is no reason to pay €1.95 for the enabler.

Considering the features of the Airport Extreme base station, it might be worth getting. Not only will you get 50% better range, but you can also hook up a printer and external hard drive for instant print server and file server!

parsi

The latest security update for airport (_NOT_ the enabler) resolved the problems that were caused to the Core 2 DUo iMacs by the 10.4.8 update - or at least it did so in my setup which is now much nippier and is finally useful.

Run software update on your mac and pick up whatever is out there.

eoineen

Thanks for those clarifications. The enabler is off my list and eircom continue to confound me in the uselessness of their service.

Urban Weigl: already have a wireless printer which both macs in the house can use but thanks for the additional info.

Thanks again