Using an Airport Express as an AP

Salvo

Salvo

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I currently have a NetComm NB3300 ADSL Router/Switch, and an extensive Network of Cat5 throughout the house, I use my AirPort Extreme Basestation as a Print-Server and basic Access Point for my iBook (I don't have Cat5 everywhere).
What I'm wondering is could an Airport Express replace my Airport Extreme? I know it can be used as a Wireless Print Server, but can it be used as a Stand-Alone (non-WDS) Access Point? Will LAN computers still have access to a printer connected to an AirPort Express?
 
I read some of the Airport Express features and benefits and it looks like it's a signal booster for the Airport Extreme base station as well as enabling the user to extend their iTunes to other rooms of the house. It has an audio out as well as an ethernet port which makes it very versitile.

I think you still need your Airport Extreme card in your computer to utilize your network, so I think the answer to your question is "No".

Here's the apple info page on Airport Express for more info: http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/
 
Bob

But it doesn't function without the Airport Base Station (or some other wireless transmitter), correct?
 
Not true. Airport Express is a Router, doesn't need a base station, just a connection to a modem.
 
Thanks Bob and Sam,
I'll have to wait until they're available in Australia, and then see if my Financier will give me a discount if I Downgrade my AirPort Extreme Basestation to an AirPort Express.

I don't use the NAT features, and It's only to accommodate my iBook, so a full AirPort Extreme Basestation is overkill.
 
Natobasso said:
Bob, if the airport express is a router, why would anyone bother with the airport base station? :)
Click to expand...
Because the Airport Base station has more features.

The Airport Express is clearly designed to function as a low end access point for those that want to have the wireless stereo option, but do not need or want a full fledged wireless network.

While the Airport express can be configured to work as a remote base station, it cannot work as a main base station or a relay station. Also it can only have up to 10 clients.

Sure it fits the needs of home networks, but don't forget Apple is trying to market the Airport Base Stations to schools that would need networks larger than 10 clients.
 
This is exactly my point: The Express is not a transmitter, it's a receiver. It just picks up whatever transmitter signal is available (namely an airport base station or some other wireless transmitter) and thus the Express cannot be used on it's own, as a previous poster stated.

The F&B specs apple provides are a bit confusing, but it seems clear that a small device like Express can only relay a signal, not be used as an originating transmission point.
 
Natobasso said:
The Express is not a transmitter, it's a receiver. It just picks up whatever transmitter signal is available (namely an airport base station or some other wireless transmitter) and thus the Express cannot be used on it's own, as a previous poster stated.

The F&B specs apple provides are a bit confusing, but it seems clear that a small device like Express can only relay a signal, not be used as an originating transmission point.
Click to expand...
I think you need to re-read the airport express pages (specifically things like "Airport on the Go"). It is an access point. However, when it comes to WDS it has reduced functionality and can only act as a remote base station. It also has a reduced functionality when it comes to clients and willl only allow 10 connections.
 
Natobasso said:
This is exactly my point: The Express is not a transmitter, it's a receiver. It just picks up whatever transmitter signal is available (namely an airport base station or some other wireless transmitter) and thus the Express cannot be used on it's own, as a previous poster stated.
Click to expand...

It is both a transmitter and a receiver - wireless ethernet is by its very nature a two way protocol. It works fine as a base station it is you who are a bit confused.

Natobasso said:
The F&B specs apple provides are a bit confusing, but it seems clear that a small device like Express can only relay a signal, not be used as an originating transmission point.
Click to expand...

Have you ever looked at the Airport Extreme cards that are going into laptops, they are tiny. The added functionality here would fit on a single chip and is not a problem. The truth of the matter is that the Airport Express will eat into the Extreme base station sales but that may not be a big deal. If they are cheeper to manufacture Apple may even make more profit on them.

The "deficiencies" of the Express are
  1. Only supports 10 clients (not 50)
  2. Only one ethernet port, old version has 2 one for DSL/Cable and another for local lan.
  3. Can only be a slave in multi base station relay configurations.

For may users like me these devices are interchangeable. I will be getting one and replacing my base station with it with Zero loss of functionality. (The stereo streaming will be a plus and I will give the old one to grandma and grandpa to stop never ending calls to support their flaky linksys.)

-Eric
 
lurk said:
The "deficiencies" of the Express are
  1. Only supports 10 clients (not 50)
  2. Only one ethernet port, old version has 2 one for DSL/Cable and another for local lan.
  3. Can only be a slave in multi base station relay configurations.
Click to expand...
Can you expand on what you mean by (3)?

I want to use one Airport Express to extend the range of another Airport Express. The Apple site says:

"Want to extend the range of your current AirPort network? You can do so easily with AirPort Express...just place AirPort Express within the range of your primary base station (either an AirPort Extreme Base Station or another AirPort Express Base Station) and near the area where you want your wireless connection."

This seems to mean that having an Airport Extreme Base Station isn't necessary, and that one Airport Express can bridge to another Airport Express. Am I right about this?
 
This seems to mean that having an Airport Extreme Base Station isn't necessary, and that one Airport Express can bridge to another Airport Express. Am I right about this?
Click to expand...

Correct you are.
 
No confusion if folks would read the info from Apple on it. Seems pretty clear to me, and I'm no rocket scientist :)
 
iPod= full-featured mp3 player with lots of extras and good amount of space.
iPod Mini= smaller version of iPod, a few less features, smaller size.

AirPort Extreme Station= full-featured wireless hub with lots of extras.
AirPort Extreme Express= smaller version of the AirPort Station, a few less features, smaller size.

::angel::
 
What's confusing to me is that they are offering a product that seems to directly conflict with an existing one. Or, they should differentiate it more effectively as they did with the iPod and iPod mini, from a marketing standpoint.

Right now the Express makes me wonder why you would buy an Airport Base Station at all? :0
 
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