Extreme Problems
Turns out that there are a number of people reporting problems with their AirPort Extreme Base Stations (which I have seen neatly abbreviated as XBS in a comment on this blog!). See for instance MacNet v2 which links to heated and detailed discussions on this problem on Apple's own discussion boards. It sounds like the problem might be focused on the $249 XBS which has a modem and antenna jack.
An AirPort repair site is reporting that people have told the author that if they bring back an XBS to an Apple Store, it's being replaced regardless of where it was purchased.
Could be hardware (early chipset problems), but more likely firmware. I haven't seen this much frustration among Apple users for hardware problems for quite some time. (Thanks to Mr. Barrett for the links.)
Comments
I'm having the same issue with my XBS but this is the XBS w/o modem. It has just happened in the last couple of days - the XBS disappeared from my list of available networks. While trying to reconfigure using Airport Admin Util - it didn't even list the XBS or didn't even see it.
Posted by: Ed | February 24, 2003 06:31 PM
Glenn:
Thanks for posting these. I was going to mention something about what my clients are experiencing, but only after I'd called Apple Tech Support about the issue--which I've yet to do (groan, sigh). Regardless, I have two clients with these new AEBS's that are experiencing these unexplained (and apparently unsolvable) signal outages. It's NOT interference. There's something wrong with these things...perhaps only some but enough that it's a problem. Guess I'll be carting a few of these back to the Apple SOHO store. Sigh.
Posted by: Damien Barrett | February 25, 2003 06:45 PM
Glenn;
Looks like firmware 5.0.3 is out: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=120191
I just uploaded it to my XBS - will see if it fixes anything.
Ed
Posted by: Ed | February 25, 2003 11:42 PM
I have bought a broadband only XBS. After thinkering with it for one day (I wanted to change the IP range distributed with DHCP; I do have a fixed IP add on the WAN side) I do have now an odd problem: the XBS does no DHCP at all on the wireless link... It serves addresses on the Ethernet link, however.
The card I have in the PowerBook sees the signal, but I connect over the card, I get no IP address...
I already upgraded to firmware 5.0.3.; the problem started after downgrading (by error) and reupgrading after a system reset.
Posted by: Aldo Bergamini | March 3, 2003 04:43 AM
Just tested a XBS for a Client
noted an incompatibility with PC based Apple Airport Admin Utility
Can not get PCs to recognize the XBS
can log into it via the Admin Util but when you make changes and UPDATE... you lose your access to the XBS.
Have had to rest the unit to factory defaults 3x already
not happy stuff -
btw. this never happened during Apple Airport installations (did more than 20 of them)
Posted by: TBO | March 14, 2003 01:37 AM
I'm on my 4th XBS. They all configure from the Powerbook just fine until I plug in the DSL cable, then they drop out of sight and Admin freezes up. Also, the reset function seems to be disabled - can't get back to factory settings. Have had lots of patient knowledgeable help from Apple tech support - given actual phone numbers and email addresses to contact individuals-but no clue as to what the problem is.
Very frustrating, but comforting to see I am not alone!
Posted by: plb | May 16, 2003 05:40 PM