New Airport Extreme Base Station better range? and.....

[Ray Finkle]

Does the new AEBS have better range than the last model? I mean by quite a bit, because if it's just barely its not gonna help. Also if I buy a new one will it be plug and play? Will all my wireless setting be the untouched or do I have to redo the entire setup? Thanks.

[Bandit Bill]

Yes the new models have much better range, particularly in the 5 GHz band.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/airport-extreme-5th-gen-and-time-capsule-4th-gen-review-faster-wifi-/1

Yes you will need to redo the entire setup. These are the easiest routers on the planet to configure. A basic setup doesn't require much more than entering a network name and password.

[Ray Finkle]

Thanks Bill. I am actually considering upgrading my express base station now. I am thinking then I can use the older one as an extension. Not sure though. My signal isn't solid on my deck and that's where I want it bad now that summer is here to control my music. Plus sometimes I stream radio stations. So the extreme has to make it to the device then that has to beam back to the express for airplay.

[Bandit Bill]

I'm confident that you will be happy with the new Extreme. You likely won't need to use the old one as an extension and I advise against it if it is not needed. Adding repeaters into your network will slow your network down. Only use the if absolutely necessary.

[Ray Finkle]

Good advice and only complicates setup even further. Plus a new extreme all my other devices would benefit not just AirTunes.

[macmanmacman]

just a warning if you use comcast and have there digital voice service have them use the digital voice modem as your internet modem as well because a external modem from comcast causes major headaches with the new airport so be far warned

[Ray Finkle]