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Mac Forum / General / Hardware / January 2005Airport base or other?
Hi all! i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. I was just unsure about one point : Is there any real advantage in getting an Apple airport base? I mean, one can find way cheaper gears like D-Link that does the same + dsl modem. In my case, i'd have to but the station + an external modem (mine is USB, not ethernet). How are those cheaper WIFI bases configured anyway? Do they rely on the Apple tools? Do they give access to the same options as the Apple base (NAT, router fonctions, etc) Thanx for your time and advices. I have to find out quickly since i'm off for shoping this very saturday :)  Signature--- philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr ICQ - 6030703 remove "bounce" to reply by mail philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr (Le Ming) writes in article <1g75eap.1r7tid3qmgqkuN%philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr> dated Tue, 6 Jan 2004 16:15:10 +0100: >Hi all! >i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >In my case, i'd have to but the station + an external modem (mine is >USB, not ethernet). The high-end Airport base has 2 things which normal wireless routers do not: a dial-up modem and a USB printer port. If you don't care about those things, you might as well get a cheaper brand. >How are those cheaper WIFI bases configured anyway? Do they rely on the >Apple tools? Do they give access to the same options as the Apple base >(NAT, router fonctions, etc) Most use a web interface for configuration, so they can be configured by a PC, Mac, Linux box, or whatever else you have that supports a browser. -- spud_demon -at- thundermaker.net The above may not (yet) represent the opinions of my employer. > Hi all! > i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanx for your time and advices. I have to find out quickly since i'm > off for shoping this very saturday :) Probably the fastest way to get an answer to your more general questions is to search the archives of the *.misc group. This topic comes up regularly, and many people have given comments on the advantages and disadvantages of the Apple hardware versus others. Anecdotes and recommendations are also often given. More specifically, Apple gear is reputed to be more expensive, but I don't know that it will be much more expensive than one with a built-in modem. I don't know offhand of any wireless routers that have USB ports, but I'm not entirely up-to-date on what's out there. 3rd party gear will typically be configured via a web interface. The Apple gear will be configured via the AirPort Admin utility. Other than that, they mostly operate identically. Entity John Johnson spoke thus: > The Apple gear > will be configured via the AirPort Admin utility. Other than > that, they mostly operate identically. It's just that it looks so damn good. --Gnarlie > Entity John Johnson spoke thus: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > --Gnarlie Yup. I've got an original graphite (gift from my brother way back when) that's still pretty cool looking. I also prefer the AirPort Admin (especially the one in 10.3, much better) to most web interfaces that I've seen. The biggest config hassle so far has been getting my roomie's Dell laptom hooked up to the network. For some reason it drops out every three minutes or so. Go fig. > Yup. I've got an original graphite (gift from my brother way back when) > that's still pretty cool looking. I also prefer the AirPort Admin > (especially the one in 10.3, much better) to most web interfaces that > I've seen. I've tried the LinkSys and NetGear interfaces, and they were both quite horrible. The D-Link one is about as good as you could possibly get with a web interface, but given the web I'm sure the AirPort's desktop interface is better. Signature"Any sufficiently advanced stupidity is indistinguishable from malice." > Hi all! > i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanx for your time and advices. I have to find out quickly since i'm > off for shoping this very saturday :) Well you can't beat that Apple styling! Otherwise, only buy the Apple base station if you like to pay more. In comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc Le Ming <philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr> wrote: > i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. > I was just unsure about one point : [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > In my case, i'd have to but the station + an external modem (mine is > USB, not ethernet). The AirPort Base Station has the following advantages: (1) Nice to look at (2) Trivially easy to set up with your iBook (3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation and, using PPP, use your home ISP If you put the ugly, ill-designed D-Link/Lynksys in a closet and shut the door, then it comes down to cost versus ease of set up. I can't emphasize how trivially easy it is to set up an AirPort with an iBook. > In comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc Le Ming <philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > the door, then it comes down to cost versus ease of set up. I can't > emphasize how trivially easy it is to set up an AirPort with an iBook. Although I have a G5 rather than a notebook I did get it with the Airport Extreme wireless card. Since I already had a wireless Netgear router I did not get the base station. Setup was a snap. The Mac detected the wireless network and all I had to do was enter the info to join my wireless network. Actually I would not have had to do even that if I were not paranoid and use encryption. :-) Bill > Although I have a G5 rather than a notebook I did get it with the > Airport Extreme wireless card. Since I already had a wireless Netgear [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Bill Thanxfor all your advices! Bill, do you have the same fonctions as on airport base station on your wireless router? I mean same networking possibilities, same range foe the signal, NAT and so forth? Doesn't the apple base give access to some extra fonctionnalities that a non apple dsl/router/wifi gear does not provide? Signature--- philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr ICQ - 6030703 remove "bounce" to reply by mail >>Although I have a G5 rather than a notebook I did get it with the >>Airport Extreme wireless card. Since I already had a wireless Netgear [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > extra fonctionnalities that a non apple dsl/router/wifi gear does not > provide? My understanding is that there is very little differences, but I am no expert in this area. I didn't get the Airport base station because I already had a wireless network set up and it would have involved more money. When I hooked up and turned on the Mac it detected the wireless network automatically. Where I ran into a slight problem was actually Apple wanting to register before I had a chance to join the network. This was a result of having encryption enabled on the router. I am not sure if the Apple base station has any extra functionality. But I can say I am able to log into the netgear router and perform any changes and have access to all the settings through Safari. I have exactly the same options as I have when accessing the router through my other OS's. Hope this helps. Bill Ok thanx for the infos. I guess what i'm going to do is get the apple bs, and a netgear Dm602 dsl modem-router. Now there I need some extra input about how i'm goinf to configure it. I have two options : 1 - i set the netgear to do everything (i mean i put the usual dsl options in like vpi, standards and so on) + my dsl account settings so that the netgear can do the connection all by himself. I then hook up the bs to it and just configure it as a dhcp server with nat activated to share the connection between several computers and have my local network on. 2 - I only set the netgear to be a stupid dsl modem (device mode i think) so i just enter my dsl settings (vpi,...)to match my region (france) and set the connection settings (login / password from my isp) in the apple bs. I don'y know if it's the same in the states, but i france we have an automatic deconnection of the sevice every 24 hours to make sure IPs arte not distributed for nothing (especially when you have a dynamic IP like i do). So the thing is I want to be able to reconnect as easily as possible. So i have a very wide choice about how to set it all up, and for this I need your advices. I won't be able to do much testing, nor consult usenet by tonight (my Mac will be gone), so any help would be greatly appreciated :) > Ok thanx for the infos. > I guess what i'm going to do is get the apple bs, and a netgear Dm602 [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > appreciated :) > I can't help with the DSL part as I have cable internet access. When I installed the router I have now everything was pretty much automatic. It detected the proper settings and about all I had to do was set up the wireless encryption part of it. And don't forget to change the default password on the router or you could have every 12 year old in town playing with your system. :-) > > Although I have a G5 rather than a notebook I did get it with the > > Airport Extreme wireless card. Since I already had a wireless Netgear [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > extra fonctionnalities that a non apple dsl/router/wifi gear does not > provide? I'm not Bill, but... My BS gets enough range to cover my entire house (maybe 50ft to the exterior wall-I haven't tested outside). The BS sits directly beneath the floor to the first floor, and covers the first floor and basement. The house only has these two levels. If you buy a new BS, you could purchase the one with the jack for an external antenna. An external antenna gives the possibility of extending your range (but performance depends on the particular antenna), though I believe that placement of the BS is more important in most cases. The Apple BS provides NAT, multiple channels, WEP, an access whitelist, and other features listed on Apple's website: http://www.apple.com/airport/specs.html As for whether Apple's unit has extra functionality compared to 3rd party gear, most wireless routers don't have a modem (which is optional on the BS), some have an external antenna jack (which is also optional), some don't have the USB port (comes on all AP extreme BS). So, if all you want is a minimal wireless router, you could get one cheaper somewhere else. It might not look so nice, and will require a web browser to configure. If you want more than that (USB port, internal modem, external antenna, or some combination of the above), the Apple equipment isn't so much more expensive than other similar equipment. Both Apple and 3rd-party gear can work and work well, and you can get 3rd-party equipment with all of the features of the Apple BS. You can get 3rd-party equipment with more features too, but you will pay for it (and I'm not sure that most people need the stackable 24-port wireless router with dual 56k modems anyway). >>>Although I have a G5 rather than a notebook I did get it with the >>>Airport Extreme wireless card. Since I already had a wireless Netgear [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > (and I'm not sure that most people need the stackable 24-port wireless > router with dual 56k modems anyway). Thanks for the input. I may take a look at the Apple base station then, as I have been considering a mini print server to move my laser to. And they are pretty expensive so I would be a good bit of the way there that way. Thanks again. Bill >In comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc Le Ming <philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr> wrote: >> i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] >the door, then it comes down to cost versus ease of set up. I can't >emphasize how trivially easy it is to set up an AirPort with an iBook. (3) above is wishful thinking as far as I know. SignatureRon > >(3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation > > and, using PPP, use your home ISP > (3) above is wishful thinking as far as I know. It works very well. My ABS is connected to my cable modem and the cable access does not have a provision for dialup. So when I am at work, I simply dial in to the ABS and I am online. I haven't tried printing from work to the home printer connected to the ABS but that would be cool. m-m >> >(3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation >> > and, using PPP, use your home ISP [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >I haven't tried printing from work to the home printer connected to the >ABS but that would be cool. I'm willing to learn. How do you set your base station so that it will answer? SignatureRon > >> >(3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation > >> > and, using PPP, use your home ISP > I'm willing to learn. How do you set your base station so that it will > answer? There is a setting in the Base Station Admin Utility for PPP dialin. Then you make a new location in Network preferences. m-m >> >> >(3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation >> >> > and, using PPP, use your home ISP [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >There is a setting in the Base Station Admin Utility for PPP dialin. >Then you make a new location in Network preferences. I don't have a Base Station Admin Utility, but I do have one called Airport Admin Utility and I am unable to locate anything about PPP dialin. Perhaps you have later hardware. SignatureRon > >There is a setting in the Base Station Admin Utility for PPP dialin. > >Then you make a new location in Network preferences. > > I don't have a Base Station Admin Utility, but I do have one called > Airport Admin Utility and I am unable to locate anything about PPP > dialin. Perhaps you have later hardware. Yea, that's it: Airport Admin Utility. Show all settings-> Network tab-> Enable PPP dialin. You need an Extreme Base Station for a modem. m-m >> >There is a setting in the Base Station Admin Utility for PPP dialin. >> >Then you make a new location in Network preferences. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >Yea, that's it: Airport Admin Utility. Show all settings-> Network tab-> >Enable PPP dialin. You need an Extreme Base Station for a modem. I said early on that I have the original Airport Base Station. SignatureRon > You need an Extreme Base Station for a modem. > > I said early on that I have the original Airport Base Station. Not to nitpick, but in response to: > >(3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation > > and, using PPP, use your home ISP You replied: > (3) above is wishful thinking as far as I know And we went on from there. m-m > >> >> >(3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation > >> >> > and, using PPP, use your home ISP [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Airport Admin Utility and I am unable to locate anything about PPP > dialin. Perhaps you have later hardware. I have an original Graphite Airport Base Station. Using the Airport Admin Utility, under the "Internet" you can select "Modem" for dialing into an ISP. This will setup a PPP connection even if it doesn't say PPP. The other option that even hints at PPP is called PPPoE which is what some Cable modem or DSL modem connections require to use their service. Does that help? Bob Harris >> >> >> >(3) If you get a built-in modem, you can dial in to your BaseStation >> >> >> > and, using PPP, use your home ISP [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > >Does that help? I used that to dial out before the DSL was up and running, but with the original Airport Base Station, it's a one way street. No provision for having the modem answer. SignatureRon >In comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc Le Ming <philming@bouncelibertysurf.fr> wrote: >> i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >(1) Nice to look at >(2) Trivially easy to set up with your iBook I don't think the Aiport has much advantage here. I've used a variety of wireless routers (trying to find the one with the best range and works with VPN) and the setup is easy as plugging it in. They work with no configuration needed. Now if you want to enabled WEP or MAC filtering on the WLAN then you need to configure them via a browser, no big deal. The Airlink+ (.11g) model I'm currentl using is butt-ugly, but has better range than the Linksys model. And it was $60 at Fry's. -Jason SignatureJason Perez | "Frodo Lives!" "Gig 'em!" Austin, TX > Hi all! > i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Thanx for your time and advices. I have to find out quickly since i'm > off for shoping this very saturday :) I have a D-Link DI-614+ and it works great. My three roommates and I share a 3Mbit DSL line with four desktops (two Mac, two PC) and a wireless PowerBook G3. The PowerBook has an original AirPort card, so it didn't make sense to get AirPort Extreme. The only way you'll notice a difference is when copying files...I get about 750KB/sec when transferring files to the laptop. There's no way you'll ever get anywhere near 11Mb/sec with any consumer internet service. One BIG benefit of getting something like the D-Link is that most of them include a four-port switch so you can easily add highspeed wired links or an Ethernet printer. And it was $70. ;) Adam > > Hi all! > > i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > I have a D-Link DI-614+ and it works great. My three roommates and I > share a 3Mbit DSL line with four desktops (two Mac, two PC) and a > wireless PowerBook G3. > > The PowerBook has an original AirPort card, so it didn't make sense to > get AirPort Extreme. The only way you'll notice a difference is when > copying files...I get about 750KB/sec when transferring files to the > laptop. There's no way you'll ever get anywhere near 11Mb/sec with any [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Adam > > Hi all! > > i'm about to get a 933 iBook with wireless networking. [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > I have a D-Link DI-614+ and it works great. My three roommates and I > share a 3Mbit DSL line with four desktops (two Mac, two PC) and a > wireless PowerBook G3. > > The PowerBook has an original AirPort card, so it didn't make sense to > get AirPort Extreme. The only way you'll notice a difference is when > copying files...I get about 750KB/sec when transferring files to the > laptop. There's no way you'll ever get anywhere near 11Mb/sec with any > consumer internet service. > > One BIG benefit of getting something like the D-Link is that most of > them include a four-port switch so you can easily add highspeed wired > links or an Ethernet printer. > > And it was $70. ;) > > Adam Adam, I just got a powerbook G4 667 with an airport card already installed. I have the same D-link router as you. I can't seem to get my Apple to work with it. I just switched from PC to Apple so I don't have a clue what to do. Can you help? |
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