Apple AirPort Express Base Station WiFi router: Pros and Cons
The Apple AirPort Express Base Station (A1392) router released in 2012. It is powered by Atheros AR9344 @ 533 MHz chipset, 64 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash. The N600 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with AirPort Express Base Station is 300 + 300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 1 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.
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Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Apple AirPort Express Base Station, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The AirPort Express Base Station is a cheap router. It supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) for faster wireless speeds. You can connect supported USB devices to the router. Apple has a strong presence and offers a wide range of networking products.
Apple AirPort Express Base Station specifications
| Brand | Apple |
|---|---|
| Name | AirPort Express Base Station |
| Type | A1392 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2012 |
Body
| Dimensions | 98 x 98 x 23 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 240 g |
The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
| Chipset | Atheros AR9344 @ 533 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| OS | Apple |
| Power supply | internal |
The Apple AirPort Express Base Station router has a Atheros AR9344 @ 533 MHz processor. You cannot expand the router's memory (64 MB). When choosing a router, it is important to consider the RAM specifications. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. Apple often releases firmware updates. They improve the router's features, security, and bugs. They also add new features.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
The router supports many networking standards. It ensures compatibility with different devices and systems. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP). It is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The WAN port on the AirPort Express Base Station router is a Fast Ethernet port, not a Gigabit Ethernet.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 3 dBi internal |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Class | N600 |
| Speed | 300 + 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 15 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
| Guest network | no |
This router has 2 x 3 dBi, internal antennas. Antennas are key parts of wireless routers. They send and receive radio signals to make wireless connections. Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band is less crowded. This leads to less interference and a clearer wireless signal. The AirPort Express Base Station router is 5 GHz capable. This is a Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) router. Wi-Fi 4 improved the range and coverage compared to previous Wi-Fi standards..
The top speed, 300 + 300 Mbps, is the highest data rate the router can reach. It's the theoretical limit in perfect conditions. WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). USB print servers let you connect a USB printer to your network. This makes it accessible to many devices. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router.
Administration
| Default IP | 10.0.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default password | public |
Changing the default password improves your router's security. It reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals controlling your network.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this Apple one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- lightweight
- sufficient memory
- works on 5 GHz band
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- insufficient flash
- lack of Gigabit LAN
- Non-gigabit WAN port
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
- missing WPS support
Apple AirPort Express Base Station photos
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