However, an Airport Extreme base station can communicate both with newer 802.11g-based devices and the older 802.11b AirPort cards.ĪirPort Express Main article: AirPort Express The Extreme cards, however, do not work in older Macs-the Airport bus cannot support the new faster transfer rate.

All of Apple's current computer models, with the exception of the Xserve, have a slot to insert an AirPort Extreme card, and all models of PowerBook and iBook now ship with a card as standard. AirPort Extreme allows data transfer of up to 54 Mbit/s, and is fully backwards-compatible with the thousands of existing 802.11b (AirPort) base stations in coffee shops, retail stores, offices and homes. introduced AirPort Extreme, based on the 802.11g specification. The AirPort card was later added as an option for almost all of Apple's product line, including PowerBooks, eMacs, iMacs, and Power Macs.ĪirPort Extreme Main article: AirPort Extreme Apple was the first manufacturer to embrace 802.11b wireless networking. Antennas were integrated into the displays of iBooks, so reception was very good. The AirPort allowed transfer rates up to 11 Mbit/s. An AirPort card was sold as an optional accessory with Apple's iBook line of notebooks and the AirPort Base Station was also introduced. There have been 3 primary types of AirPort Base Stations:ĪirPort Main article: AirPort (original)ĪirPort first debuted on Jat the Macworld Expo in New York City.

Apple airport express modem