Hands-On Report--Apple AirPort 3.4.1 Updater

AirPort 3.4.1 Updater is out and available for download via the Software Update preference pane or as a standalone file. We couldn't find any details on what exactly is fixed in the new updater. But after the release of v3.4 there were a number of reports of reduced reception and wake from sleep connection issues. While we did not see these issues on four AirPort networks, one or more of the issues may have been fixed for others in v3.4.1. Here is what the vague Read Me file says:

This software update provides improved AirPort wireless networking software, and is recommended for all users with an AirPort Extreme and AirPort enabled computer or an AirPort Extreme base station.

New AirPort Extreme Features

• Improved antenna output control.
  
• Enhanced logging from your base station which is compatible with syslog.
  
• Performance improvements for WPA security implementations.
  

This is the same as for v3.4.

Upon rebooting after installation, we had to reselect the wireless network and allow access to our Keychain in a dialog box on several Macs.

With one exception, we notice no reception differences in our AirPort Extreme networks, probably because we noticed no real degradation with AirPort v3.4 as reported by some. We also had no reconnection problems after waking from sleep.

The reception exception is a 1-GHz 17" PowerBook G4 that, from the same location, consistently showed three arcs in the menu icon before 3.4. But when downloading large files, it would drop to two arcs. After 3.4, things were reversed--the icon would display two or three arcs normally and a solid three arcs during a large download. In either case, however, the throughput as measured by several download speed services was the same on average regardless.

After 3.4.1, the icon is back to a solid three arcs normally and it also displays a solid three arcs during a large download. Unfortunately, the download speed remains the same as before using the speed tests (CNet and Bandwidth Place). We conclude that our reception issue was really cosmetic. [Dana Baggett]