Uses for the USB port of Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express

Summary

The USB port on a Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or AirPort Express is only intended for the uses described here. It is not intended for use with other USB devices, such as broadband modems, speakers, or keyboards.

Products Affected

AirPort Base Station (Dual Ethernet), AirPort Express 802.11n (1st Generation), AirPort Express Base Station, AirPort Extr Base Station, AirPort Extreme 802.11n (3rd Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (4th Generation), AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation), AirPort Extreme Base Station POE/UL2043, Time Capsule 802.11n (1st Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (2nd Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (3rd Generation), Time Capsule 802.11n (4th Generation), Keyspan Express Remote

Time Capsule

  • Single self-powered USB hard disk (with support for Time Machine backups)
  • Single USB printer directly into the USB port, or several printers connected to the base station via a powered USB hub
  • Using a powered USB hub you may connect several hard disks and/or printers

AirPort Extreme Base Station with 802.11g, AirPort Extreme Base Station (PoE/UL 2043)

  • Single USB printer

AirPort Express Base Station 802.11g

  • Single USB printer directly into the USB port
  • Additionally, with AirPort Express firmware 6.1 or later, you may use the Keyspan Express Remote. If you want to use the remote and a printer at the same time, it's OK to use a powered USB hub to make that possible.

AirPort Extreme 802.11n 

  • Single self-powered USB hard disk
  • Single powered USB printer directly into the USB port, or several printers connected to the base station via a powered USB hub
  • Using a powered USB hub you may connect several hard disks and/or printers

AirPort Express 802.11n

  • Single powered USB printer directly into the USB port, or several printers to the base station via a powered USB hub
  • Additionally, you may use the Keyspan Express Remote. If you want to use the remote and a printer at the same time, it's OK to use a powered USB hub to make that possible.

Additional Information

A note on broadband modems

To connect to a broadband modem, such as cable and DSL, use Ethernet. If your broadband Internet service provider uses USB modems, contact them for an alternate solution.

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