by Glenn Fleishman
171 pages, 2.4 MB download
PDF format, designed for reading online or printing
Published: October 4, 2007
Free 30-page excerpt available!

Now covering the Gigabit Ethernet AirPort Extreme Base Station!

Get the most out of your 802.11n AirPort Extreme! Find real-world advice on setting up either model of Apple's 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Station from Wi-Fi expert Glenn Fleishman. You'll find help with all the picky details: choosing the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band, including old Wi-Fi gear without hurting performance, handling complex Internet addressing configurations, the ins and outs of sharing USB disks and printers from an AirPort Extreme, connecting to an Apple TV, and connecting from Macintosh and Windows clients. You'll also learn how to set up a multi-base-station network to cover a larger area.

This title begins with a quick look at useful terminology and then walks readers through setting up a new AirPort Extreme Base Station: hooking it up, connecting to it with AirPort Utility, and setting up a new wireless network that can either connect to the Internet or to another network segment.

"The detailed information on what works (and what doesn't!) was extremely helpful when setting up my AirPort Extreme 802.11n Base Station."   —Olaf Pluta

You will learn how 802.11n fits with older networking standards like 802.11a, b, and g; find help with band and channel choices for the AirPort Extreme; and learn how to extend your network's coverage and range. The book also helps you consider and configure your wireless network's security, noting oft-suggested security approaches that don't work well and explaining how to implement measures that do work well.

For more advanced readers (or those who are about to be more advanced), Glenn explains how to handle tricky Internet IP addressing situations for communication from inside and outside a base station's network, complete with detailed explanations and configuration steps for the many possibilities, including the new reserved addressing feature. You'll also find info about the many options in AirPort Utility and get help with setting up a software base station.

"If anyone knows about real-world Wi-Fi, it's Glenn Fleishman."
    —Mark Frauenfelder, co-founder of bOING bOING

Read this book to learn the answers to questions like:

• I have an older AirPort base station - should I still use it on my network?
• How do I set up and print to the USB printer attached to my AirPort Extreme?
• What should I consider as I set up USB disk sharing?
• How can I add an 802.11n adapter to an older Mac that lacks the newer standard?
• How do I set up dynamically assigned addresses?
• How do I create a password to restrict access to my base station?
• What are the steps for connecting an Apple TV to a network?

Save $5 on your next order from Small Dog Electronics! A coupon at the end of the book saves you $5 when you shop at Small Dog Electronics.