Is there something EA4500 does better than EA6500?

[stevech]

Opinion alert: Hate to reiterate, but consumers' "spending too much money" is Apple's hardware business plan! The high premium for Apple hardware is more like a threefold-tithe.

[sfx2000]

Get what you pay for, lol...

Seriously though, the Airport Extreme is price competitive with Netgear/DLink/Linksys when you compare features at the higher end.

[stevech]

keyword-search these forums... I recall reading a dozen or so threads where people with Apple WiFi have trouble too often, making it interoperate with non-Apple WiFi devices. Now 802.11 should assure air link interoperability. From these thread discussions, and my own three or so times helping others with Apple, there are problems with things like pass-phrases for WiFi encrytion... where the math transform from pass-phrase to WPA/WEP hex digits (hidden from user) may differ in some pairings. Apple tends to hide details needed for troubleshooting, in an attempt to simplify. But it gets hard when you don't know how to "lift the hood".

I also recall some people complaining that some Apple WiFi routers/APs have poorer range than top-quality non-Apple. Mayb hooey though.

There is the Apple AirPort Express which, as I recall, does not have full AP/Router functionality. I think it's a client bridge and it confuses people, esp. those who connect it to a DSL/Cable modem.

[sfx2000]

Originally Posted by stevech

keyword-search these forums... I recall reading a dozen or so threads where people with Apple WiFi have trouble too often, making it interoperate with non-Apple WiFi devices. Now 802.11 should assure air link interoperability. From these thread discussions, and my own three or so times helping others with Apple, there are problems with things like pass-phrases for WiFi encrytion... where the math transform from pass-phrase to WPA/WEP hex digits (hidden from user) may differ in some pairings. Apple tends to hide details needed for troubleshooting, in an attempt to simplify. But it gets hard when you don't know how to "lift the hood".

Well known that Apple has dispensed with WEP, and pushed the community very hard towards WPA/WPA2 - is that a bad thing?

Just like enforcing 20MHz channels in 2.4GHz - not just about WiFi, but Bluetooth - and you don't want your Airport Extreme interfering with your Microwave Oven correct?

I suppose the ASUS RT-66U. I can be angry at them for interfering with my pizza slice warmups

I also recall some people complaining that some Apple WiFi routers/APs have poorer range than top-quality non-Apple. Mayb hooey though.

Current HW seems to be just fine... off-site review from a non-Apple Fanboi site...

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4577/a...faster-wifi-/6

There is the Apple AirPort Express which, as I recall, does not have full AP/Router functionality. I think it's a client bridge and it confuses people, esp. those who connect it to a DSL/Cable modem.

Airport Express has always had full AP/Router functionality...

[stevech]

Airport Express... a friend of mine has one... I tried to help him get it going. I now recall that yes, it is a router, but has only one LAN ethernet port. Needs a switch added in some use cases.

[sfx2000]

Originally Posted by stevech

Airport Express... a friend of mine has one... I tried to help him get it going. I now recall that yes, it is a router, but has only one LAN ethernet port. Needs a switch added in some use cases.

yep, the older models had a single ethernet port (typically WAN, but can be configured as a LAN port in a bridge config).

The 2012 edition has a second port...