**Update** – We have been digging deeper and it is now appearing that the AirPort Extreme Gigabit model is picky about patch cables. After further testing we were able to narrow it down to the patch cables causing the AirPort Extreme not to link at 1 Gb. We tried both custom made Cat 5e patch cables and pre-made patch cables with and without molded ends.

Cable Specs that we had issues with only 100 Mb Link Speed:

• E204816 CM UTP 24AWG 4PR ETL Verified to TIA-568-B.2 Category 5e Patch Cable
• E154502 24AWG CMR Verified Category 5 Patch Cable AWM FT4

Cable Specs that connected at 1 Gb Link Speed:

• CSA Type PCC FT4 LL80671 ETL Verified to TIA/EIA 568A ISO/IEC 11601 Cat 5e
• CSA 219561 FT1 Verified Category 5e UTP TIA/EIA-568B.2 CM 4PR

All cables have 4 pairs of wires terminated and are configured as straight through patch cables (not cross-over cables).

I plan I hooking the patch cables up to our cable tester to see if there are any differences shown by a cable tester…

While at the local Apple Store today to purchase a new iMac I bought two of the refreshed AirPort Extremes with the “Gigabit Ethernet” specs on the box. The Apple Store Employee actually had to go get them out of the back as they were not on the floors yet. Probably to clear stock of the 100MB version for the people not aware of the hardware refresh.

The specs on the outside of the box clearly state the following:

Interfaces

• One Gigabit Ethernet WAN port for connecting a DSL or cable modem
• Three Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports for connecting computers or network devices
• USB port for connecting a USB printer or USB external hard drive
• 802.11 wireless

First thing I noticed different is the icon that shows up in the AirPort Utility as seen below:

As you can see above the new icon for the AirPort Extreme and the previous icon below.

The new AirPort shows up as firmware version 7.2 versus the previous 7.1.1 firmware level.

Once I configured everything I looked under the Ethernet connection speed drop down and was a little surprised to not see 1000MB in the list.

I then proceeded to connect my MacBook Pro via Ethernet to see what my connect speed was, as shown below.

Notice the Link Speed of 100 Mb…

I tried the other “Gigabit” ports on the AirPort Extreme with the same results. I thought well maybe there is a firmware update, nope! I then connected an HP Windows Laptop to the AirPort Extreme and it also only connected with a link speed of 100 Mb.

Now the manual refers toAirPort Utility version 5.2, a quick check and my installed version showed 5.1. In went the disk shipped with the AirPort Extreme…

After rebooting, I launched the AirPort Utility…

Clicking OK informs me the are No updates to the AirPort Utility or any of my AirPort Base Stations at this time.

The icons have updated for available AirPort Base Stations.

Now on to see what has changed, first is the Base Station Options, you can select to check for firmware updates automatically.

Next thing noticed is the new little key icon next to password fields.

Clicking on the Key icon brings up a new password assistant, screenshots below.

Now under Ethernet WAN Port we get the 1000 Mbps…

Also appears to be an IPv6 Firewall under the advanced options tab…

So now on to connecting my MacBook Pro via Ethernet again…

Much to my disappointment still only 100 Mb on the Link Speed. Power cycled the AirPort Extreme and still only got 100 Mb Link Speed : (

Unboxing the second unit that I had purchased I pulged my MBP into it first thing and the link speed showed as 1 Gb.

Well the first unit would not connect at 1 Gb but the second one straight out of the box shows link speed of 1 Gb. Going to put this new one in to replace the other new unit and see what happens.

Here is a shot of the box that this AirPort Extreme was taken from.

We have been digging deeper and it is now appearing that the AirPort Extreme Gigabit model is picky about patch cables. After further testing we were able to narrow it down to the patch cables causing the AirPort Extreme not to link at 1 Gb. We tried both custom made Cat 5e patch cables and pre-made patch cables with and without molded ends.

Cable Specs that we had issues with only 100 Mb Link Speed:

• E204816 CM UTP 24AWG 4PR ETL Verified to TIA-568-B.2 Category 5e Patch Cable
• E154502 24AWG CMR Verified Category 5 Patch Cable AWM FT4

Cable Specs that connected at 1 Gb Link Speed:

• CSA Type PCC FT4 LL80671 ETL Verified to TIA/EIA 568A ISO/IEC 11601 Cat 5e
• CSA 219561 FT1 Verified Category 5e UTP TIA/EIA-568B.2 CM 4PR

All cables have 4 pairs of wires terminated and are configured as straight through patch cables (not cross-over cables).

I plan I hooking the patch cables up to our cable tester to see if there are any differences shown by a cable tester…