AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
Apple's first 54 Mbit/s base station, shaped like a flying saucer.
Overview
AirPort Extreme was Apple's step from the first AirPort of 1999 to the faster 802.11g standard, which was ratified only months later. The round dome casing, nicknamed the UFO, was kept, but the internals were new and the base station could share a dial-up or broadband connection with up to fifty wireless clients.
A USB port allowed a printer to be shared on the network, which suited the home office, and an Ethernet port acted as the WAN or LAN depending on setup. A built-in 56k modem remained for the many homes still on dial-up, and an external antenna jack could extend range.
All Macs sold at the time shipped with an AirPort Extreme card slot, so an Apple user could set up a wireless network with a single installer. Though a Windows-compatible product too, it was marketed mostly as a companion to the Mac.
Why it mattered
Brought 54 Mbit/s Wi-Fi to the Mac mainstream and established Apple's Extreme branding for its routers.
At a glance
- Announced
- January 7, 2003
- Released
- January 28, 2003
- Launch price
- $199
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- 802.11g at up to 54 Mbit/s
- USB printer sharing
- Built-in 56k modem
- Antenna jack for extended range
- Dome base station design
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Connectivity
- Wi-Fi
- 802.11g (54 Mbit/s), backward compatible with 802.11b
- Ethernet
- One 10/100 Ethernet port (WAN or LAN)
- Ports
- USB 1.1 (printer), 56k modem, external antenna port
- Smart home
- Not applicable
Network
- Clients
- Up to 50 wireless users
- Security
- WEP encryption
Design
- Shape
- Dome-shaped base station
