802.11n AirPort Express hands-on

Well, what can we say? The new 802.11n AirPort Express looks exactly like the 802.11g AirPort Express we've been using to stream iTunes and wirelessly print to an el-cheapo USB laser printer since 2004. In fact, if not for the different model numbers (A1264 now, instead of A1084) and the fact that our old unit has some random battle scars, we would have found it almost impossible to tell them apart. Check the gallery for the hot side-by-side action.

Gallery: 802.11n AirPort Express Hands-on

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[splitmetal @ Mar 18th 2008 12:07PM]

Could you test this to see if it can act as a 802.11n bridge for a 360?

[Rob @ Mar 18th 2008 12:08PM]

Anyone knows a link to make the "g" version work as a bridge in general. I've tried a few tutorials but no dice. thanks.

[Nilay Patel @ Mar 18th 2008 12:29PM]

I used to use the 802.11g Express to bridge to my TiVo and PS2 just fine, don't see why it wouldn't work with the 360.

[bob @ Mar 18th 2008 12:38PM]

just select bridge in airport setup

[Rob @ Mar 18th 2008 2:37PM]

I forgot to mention with a non-Apple router.

[Kyle @ Mar 18th 2008 4:36PM]

OK, so I CAN use the Airport Express for my PS2 as an ethernet bridge? Interesting...

I really didn't want to run a cable all the way from my office...

[Kyle @ Mar 18th 2008 4:54PM]

Nope, spoke to Apple...the big difference between the Express and Extreme is Ethernet out ports. I'll have to get another Extreme if I want everything hard-wired.

[ryan @ Mar 18th 2008 12:11PM]

Can this thing spoof MAC addresses?

[Flashpoint @ Mar 18th 2008 12:54PM]

#1 Does this work with the PS3, XBOX 360 Wifi adapter and the Nintendo Wii
- this is important because I got Verizon Fios only to learn that the Actiontech router they give you doesn't work with the 360 and I never want to have that problem again.

#2 Does this work with PC's in the same area as MAC's.

[Allan @ Mar 18th 2008 12:59PM]

#1: No idea.

#2: Yes. I have a couple of the g versions and I've had Windows and Apple systems on at the same time without issue. Windows systems just see it as another access point and don't care too much what it is. You can even download the Airport Utility for Windows so you can manage it from Windows if you need to.

I've used one as my main router previously and plan to pick up an n version soon for the same purpose.

[Lars @ Mar 18th 2008 6:20PM]

"You can even download the Airport Utility for Windows so you can manage it from Windows"

You mean it has a proprietary management system? Ugh. Every other AP and router out there is accessable by port 80.

Yet another -1 for Apple's shenanigans.

[Maestro @ Mar 18th 2008 9:45PM]

@ Flashpoint: I have FiOS too and I got rid of the actiontec. What a piece of crap. I ended up getting my hands on a motorola NIM-100 and hanging that on a D-LINK DIR-655. My network has never been happier...check out broadbandreports if you want more info on the topic.

[martin @ Mar 18th 2008 12:13PM]

wow unboxing :-O .. whats the point, it just looks like the old airport express

[mike @ Mar 18th 2008 12:21PM]

The point is that if Engadget posts this, they get 5 more minutes of Steve Jobs cream filling...

[The Dude @ Mar 18th 2008 12:27PM]

You're surprised?

I'm surprised they didn't waste 5 preceeding entries to keep us posted on the FedEx package tracking. Shame on Engadget for such an oversight. Now you guys will have to fill your quota elsewhere.

[Zak @ Mar 18th 2008 12:41PM]

And the article right above this one is about Vista SP1 coming out, which is something we all knew about yesterday. But sure, keep telling yourself Engadget only posts Apple related articles. I mean it's not like there's any empirical evidence to the contrary, right?

Hey I have an idea, maybe I should start bitching and whining like a little girl every time Engadget runs an article that's NOT Apple related, and comment in every single one of them, how fun would that be? Then I could complain about how Engadget is so "gadget-centric" and how they should change their name to "Not-Apple-Gadget" because they run so many articles that do not, in fact, have anything to do with Apple.

No wait I have a better idea - how about you dingbats stop crying like babies every time Engadget posts an Apple related article? It's your choice to read them, and you can even ignore them if you want to. A novel concept, I'm sure. Time to man up and just not read stuff that doesn't interest you, don't you think?

[The Dude @ Mar 18th 2008 1:12PM]

Thank you for reminding us just what serious business the internet is, Zak. I just wish I had the blowhard in me to waste more keystr...oh see I don't have it in me.

[Eric Leung @ Mar 18th 2008 10:56PM]

isnt there a non-apple version of engadget anyways...?

[Blake Bowen @ Mar 18th 2008 12:15PM]

Did they ratify 802.11n and I missed it?

[thatnod @ Mar 18th 2008 12:26PM]

Something wrong with 802.11n?

[Allan @ Mar 18th 2008 1:37PM]

I think that Blake is referring to the fact that the n "standard" is still a "draft" spec... yet there is so much hardware out there for it and things usually specify that it's the draft version.

[Beau @ Mar 19th 2008 11:27AM]

haha didn't even notice that.

[tcardone05 @ Mar 18th 2008 12:18PM]

WOOO HOO! An unboxing of a

[tcardone05 @ Mar 18th 2008 12:20PM]

damn.

[tcardone05 @ Mar 18th 2008 12:19PM]

WOOO HOO! An unboxing of a wireless base station?
Oh, wait, it's an Apple.

[Ray-- @ Mar 18th 2008 12:25PM]

yeah how retarded is this... unboxing a wifi base-station? how many other wifi base-stations has engadget unboxed? without doing any research im gonna guess... ZERO. Not to mention this particular one doesnt actually introduce anything new that even remotely interesting.

[Maestro @ Mar 18th 2008 1:03PM]

LOL...I posted a similar sentiment yesterday and the apple police flamed me down to the bottom. It's a badge I wear proudly.

[Kizorblade @ Mar 18th 2008 1:09PM]

"without doing any research im gonna guess... ZERO. Not to mention this particular one doesnt actually introduce anything new that even remotely interesting."

I agree. The draft n standard is nothing new or even interesting. Apple should have never developed this product: waste of time, bandwidth (because I clicked on the article, let alone comment!) and innovation.

[ScooterDe @ Mar 18th 2008 6:11PM]

more the issue, is that video is still missing. 802.11n was overdue, and would be ideal if video streaming was part of the deal.

[Steven @ Mar 18th 2008 12:24PM]

I would also like to know if this works with the 360.

[Scott Equine @ Mar 18th 2008 12:31PM]

dumb Q for the day: does the "Express" do the same as their regular "Airport" but with a more limited range? Or does it serve a different function?

[nycstern @ Mar 18th 2008 12:35PM]

Not the same -- the express has a built-in print server and audio hardware that allows it to act as a remote source for iTunes audio. The software is also set up to make it particularly easy to use the express as a WiFi signal booster for an existing network. I think the regular base stations can do that too, but not as easily, and for more money and space.

[martin @ Mar 18th 2008 12:35PM]

you can plug your speakers into it for airtunes, and your printer into it.

[thethirdmoose @ Mar 18th 2008 12:35PM]

If I remember correctly, the Express doesn't have any Ethernet out ports (or maybe just 1). Other than that, i think it works the same.

[Scott Equine @ Mar 18th 2008 12:39PM]

tks all. my super-duper Canon Pro9000 printer doesn't get on well with my current airport set up (ie. doesn't respond). So perhaps the Express is the solution.

[required @ Mar 18th 2008 1:02PM]

don't ask questions, just look at the white space used so diligently on its bleached packaging, it's "designed here, made there"

[Tom @ Mar 18th 2008 12:44PM]

Probably a dumb question, but is there any reason to go for the pricier airport extreme other than the additional ports in back?

[Fernando @ Mar 18th 2008 12:53PM]

Tom,

The Express is just an extension of the Extreme. Sort of like a AP with Ethernet, USB and a audio out. You would still need an Extreme or wireless router with N I would assume for this version of the Express, in order for it to work.

[Arjy @ Mar 18th 2008 12:55PM]

The express cant handle an external hard drive in the USB port for airdisk like the extreme can, and the express can only take up to 10 wireless connections, the extreme can handle 50, plus any hard wired without the ethernet ports. THe express can do airtunes and the extreme cant.

[Arjy @ Mar 18th 2008 12:57PM]

Fernando: No, the express is a wireless router in itself, the extreme just gives more options. You will not need another router for the express to work. The ethernet port on the express is WAN in from the modem, not LAN out.

[D W @ Mar 18th 2008 1:50PM]

"The Ethernet port on the express is WAN in from the modem, not LAN out."

Actually it's either, but you can only do one or the other at any one time.

Though please don't ask me about configuring these things because I've never quite understood why they're so annoying and temperamental to configure. For the money and hassle, I'd happily give Apple an extra $25 if they would put a status LCD on the outside instead of some stupid flashing LED.

Free tip - use the Ethernet plug and not wireless to configure it. I guarantee it'll save you hours of time when doing complex setups. I have three (of the g kind), and one almost never configures/reboots correctly on first try.

[Graham Reed @ Mar 22nd 2008 4:24PM]

I figured out how to use it as a Wi-Fi to Ethernet bridge. The setup utility is a little misleading. Set it to "Extend a Wireless Network", and UNCHECK "Allow Wireless Clients". (The misleading bit is, if you have it on "Join a Wireless Network" the checkbox reads "Allow Ethernet Clients". I wasn't able to get this to work, kept getting self-assigned IP.)

I also had to go back to my Airport Extreme and check "Allow this network to be extended". I'm not sure if that's needed for non-Apple base stations.

All this is based on Manual Setup in the AirPort Utility.

[viclee888 @ Mar 18th 2008 1:02PM]

well i'm pretty excited, I for one didn't know about the N version.

Now you idiots complaining that they're talking about an apple product, grow up. This is a GREAT product if you travel--it's not just another base station, it's a portable base station that's wonderful if you travel a lot and work in hotel rooms etc. etc.

Sure, you can bring a normal full sized wireless access point/router, but this thing is much easier to carry and looks quite sweet.

Get over it, must you guys hate everything apple just because it's uber?

[Christopher M. @ Mar 18th 2008 1:39PM]

Wish I didn't have to choose between wireless hard drive access (Extreme) and wireless music (Express). My choice ends up being 'sit on hands' :(

[Zak @ Mar 18th 2008 1:49PM]

Time Capsule.

http://www.apple.com/timecapsule/

[Carl @ Mar 18th 2008 2:28PM]

Time capsule doesn't stream music on its own.

[Evan @ Mar 18th 2008 1:45PM]

What I don't understand is, stores charge the same for the D-Link and LinkSys print servers, and more for some other network audio streamers, when the Apple's little unit does both functions and more all in one. The Airport Express is one case where the Apple version is actually a better deal than other brands!

[Mike @ Mar 18th 2008 1:52PM]

For those that asked. I have used my "G" Airport express as a wireless bridge to my XBox 360 for a year now. Works great.

[DP @ Mar 18th 2008 9:01PM]

No kidding. Good to know.

[thatkidmattt @ Mar 18th 2008 1:55PM]

I've been waiting for these for a while. I've used the Airport Express before, and honestly the entire Airport line is one of Apple's best products.

Also, to all the people that complain about "yet another Apple article". Why read it? You're not forced to click on that specific post and read it - so don't. Engadget is an independent technology blog, as such the bloggers can post whatever the f*ck they want that they consider interesting. If you don't find it interesting then just move on and don't read it. Do you get your jollies from bashing Apple, because it honestly seems like you do, and it also seems like the one thing you can't get over is that the bloggers can post whatever they want and don't have to answer to any of us.

Now I'm probably going to get called a fan boy because, not only have I said that I like the specific Apple product being talked about, but I've also defended that it be posted on Engadget. I'll probably get lowest ranked because the ranking system here is based entirely on how anti-Apple a comment is, but Jesus-f*cking-Christ is it annoying to read 9 out of 10 articles and all of them have some vindictive prick screaming about how he or she is tired of/hates Apple - even if the article isn't related to Apple in any way.

This isn't a pro-Apple rant, this is a pro-Shut-the-hell-up-you-f*cking-moron's rant.