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AirPort Extreme
Setup Guide
Contents
5 Getting Started
7 About the AirPort Extreme
8 About the AirPort Software
9 What You Need to Get Started
11 The AirPort Extreme Status Light
13AirPort Extreme Networks
14Using the AirPort Extreme with a Broadband Internet Service
16 Using the AirPort Extreme to Share a USB Printer 18 Using the AirPort Extreme to Share USB Hard Disks
20Setting Up the Airport Extreme
21Using AirPort Utility
22Creating a New Wireless Network
22 Configuring and Sharing Internet Access
24Setting Advanced Options
25Allowing Wireless Clients Access to Your Network
26Tips and Troubleshooting
26 If You Can’t Connect to the Internet
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26 If You Forgot Your Network or Base Station Password
28If Your AirPort Extreme Isn’t Responding
29If Your AirPort Extreme Status Light Flashes Amber
30If Your Printer Isn’t Responding
31Updating AirPort Software
31AirPort Extreme Placement Considerations
32Items That Can Cause Interference with AirPort
33Learning More, Service, and Support
35 AirPort Extreme Specifications and Safety Guidelines
38 Regulatory Compliance Information
Getting Started |
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Congratulations on purchasing your simultaneous dual-band AirPort Extreme Base Station. Read this guide to get started.
AirPort Extreme provides simultaneous dual-band wireless 802.11n networking.When you set up your AirPort Extreme Base Station, it creates two high-speed Wi-Fi networks:
ÂÂA 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) network for 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices, such as iPhone, iPod touch, and older computers
ÂÂA 5 GHz network for 802.11n and 802.11a devices, such as newer computers, iPad, and Apple TV
Wireless devices join the network that provides them the best performance and compatibility, and the AirPort Extreme shares your broadband Internet connection with computers and devices on your network.
With your AirPort Extreme, you can:
ÂÂCreate a password-protected wireless home network, and then connect to the Internet and share the connection with other computers and Wi-Fi devices, such as iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.You can also share files among computers connected to the network.
ÂÂCreate a guest network with or without password protection, to provide Internet-only access to wireless devices, such as computers, iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.
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ÂÂConnect your AirPort Extreme to your Ethernet network.Wireless-equipped Mac computers,Windows XP,Windows Vista, or Windows 7 computers can then have access to an entire network without being connected by a cable.
ÂÂConnect a supported USB device, such as a printer or a scanner, to your AirPort Extreme. All of the compatible computers on the AirPort network, both wireless and wired, can access the device.
ÂÂConnect a USB hard disk to your AirPort Extreme. All of the compatible computers on the AirPort network, both wireless and wired, can access the information on the hard disk.
ÂÂConnect a USB hub to your AirPort Extreme, and then connect multiple USB devices, such as printers or hard disks. All of the computers on the network have access to those devices.
Important: Use AirPort Utility to set up your simultaneous dual-band AirPort Extreme Base Station. Previous versions of AirPort Setup Assistant and AirPort Admin Utility are not compatible with this base station.
AirPort Utility is installed in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows. If AirPort Utility isn’t installed on your computer, you can download it from www.apple.com/support/airport.
Apple periodically updates AirPort software. It’s recommended that you update your software to keep your AirPort Extreme up to date.
Note: To download a copy of this setup guide in your language, open AirPort Utility and choose Help > AirPort Service and Support, and click Manuals.
6Chapter 1 Getting Started
About the AirPort Extreme
The AirPort Extreme has six ports, located on the back:
ÂÂOne 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Wide Area Network (WAN) port (<) for connecting a DSL or cable modem, or for connecting to an existing Ethernet network
ÂÂThree 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) ports (G) for connecting Ethernet devices, such as printers or computers, or for connecting to an existing Ethernet network
ÂÂOne USB port (d) for connecting a compatible USB printer, hard disk, or hub for connecting several devices
ÂÂOne power port for connecting the AC adapter to a power source
Status light |
Internet WAN port |
Ethernet ports Reset button |
Power port |
USB port |
Security slot |
AC adapter |
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Chapter 1 Getting Started |
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Next to the ports is a reset button, which is used for troubleshooting your AirPort Extreme.The status light on the front of the AirPort Extreme shows the current status.
About the AirPort Software
Use the AirPort Utility software and follow the instructions on the following pages to set up your AirPort Extreme and your AirPort wireless network.
Note: You must use AirPort Utility to set up this base station.The simultaneous dual-band AirPort Extreme Base Station is not compatible with previous versions of AirPort software.
AirPort Utility
Use AirPort Utility to set up your AirPort Extreme to create a wireless network, connect to the Internet, and share compatible USB printers and hard disks.You can also connect your AirPort Extreme to an existing AirPort Extreme wireless network.
AirPort Utility is also an advanced tool for setting up and managing the Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Express Base Stations. Use it to manually adjust network, routing, and security settings and other advanced options.
ZAirPort status menu in the menu bar
Use the AirPort status menu to switch quickly between AirPort networks, monitor the signal quality of the current network, create a computer-to-computer network, and turn AirPort on and off.The status menu is available on computers using Mac OS X.
8Chapter 1 Getting Started
WhatYou Need to Get Started
To use the AirPort Extreme you need a wireless-enabled computer that is compliant with the IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n specification.To set up the AirPort Extreme, your computer must meet the requirements listed below.
To set up your AirPort Extreme using a Mac, you need the following:
ÂÂA Mac computer with an AirPort or AirPort Extreme Card installed to set it up wirelessly, or a Mac computer connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station with an Ethernet cable to set it up using Ethernet
ÂÂMac OS X v10.5.7 or later ÂÂAirPort Utility 5.5.3 or later
To set up your AirPort Extreme using a Windows PC, you need the following:
ÂÂA Windows PC with 300 MHz or higher processor speed and a compatible 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, or 802.11n wireless card to set it up wirelessly, or a Windows computer connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station with an Ethernet cable to set it up using Ethernet
ÂÂWindows XP Home or Professional (with Service Pack 3 installed) or Windows Vista (with Service Pack 1 installed)
ÂÂAirPort Utility v5.5.3 or later
Chapter 1 Getting Started |
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Plugging In AirPort Extreme
Before you plug in your AirPort Extreme, first connect the appropriate cables to the ports you want to use:
ÂÂConnect the Ethernet cable that is connected to your DSL or cable modem (if you will connect to the Internet) to the Ethernet (WAN) port (<).
ÂÂConnect a USB cable connected from the USB port (d) on the AirPort Extreme to a compatible USB printer (if you will print to a USB printer), a hard disk, or a hub.
ÂÂConnect an Ethernet cable from any Ethernet device to the Ethernet LAN ports (G).
After you have connected the cables for all the devices you plan to use, connect the AC adapter to the power port, and plug your AirPort Extreme into a power outlet.There is no power switch.
Power port |
Ethernet activity light |
AC adapter
10 Chapter 1 Getting Started
Important: Use only the AC adapter that came with your AirPort Extreme.
When you plug the AirPort Extreme AC adapter into a power outlet, the status light flashes green for one second, and then glows amber while it starts up. After it has started up completely, the status light flashes amber until your AirPort Extreme has been updated with the correct settings.The status light glows solid green after your AirPort Extreme is properly set up and connected to the Internet or a network.
When you connect Ethernet cables to the Ethernet ports, the lights above them glow solid green.
The AirPort Extreme Status Light
The following table explains the AirPort Extreme light sequences and what they indicate.
Light |
Status/description |
Off |
AirPort Extreme is unplugged. |
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Flashing green |
AirPort Extreme is starting up.The light flashes for one second. |
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Solid green |
AirPort Extreme is on and working properly. If you choose Flash |
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On Activity from the Status Light pop-up menu (in the Base |
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Station pane of AirPort settings in AirPort Utility), the status light |
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may flash green to indicate normal activity. |
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Flashing amber |
AirPort Extreme cannot establish a connection to the network or |
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the Internet, or is encountering a problem. Make sure you have |
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installed AirPort Utility and use it to get information about what |
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might cause the status light to flash amber. See“If Your AirPort |
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Extreme Status Light Flashes Amber”on page 29. |
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Solid amber |
AirPort Extreme is completing its startup sequence. |
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Chapter 1 Getting Started |
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Light |
Status/description |
Flashing amber and green |
There may be a problem starting up. AirPort Extreme will restart |
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and try again. |
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Solid blue |
The base station is ready to allow a wireless client access to the |
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network. See“Allowing Wireless Clients Access to Your Network” |
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on page 25. |
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What’s Next
After you plug in your AirPort Extreme, use AirPort Utility to set it up to work with your Internet connection, USB printer or hard disk, or an existing network.
12 Chapter 1 Getting Started
AirPort Extreme Networks |
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In this chapter you’ll find explanations of the different ways you can use your AirPort Extreme.
This chapter provides some examples of the different kinds of networks you can set up using your AirPort Extreme. It provides diagrams and explanations of what you need to do to get your AirPort Extreme network up and running quickly.
See Chapter 3,“Setting Up the Airport Extreme”on page 20 to find out more about using AirPort Utility to help set up your network.
See the document“Apple AirPort Networks”for detailed information about AirPort networks and the AirPort Extreme Base Station.The document is located at www.apple.com/support/manuals/airport.
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Using the AirPort Extreme with a Broadband Internet Service
When you set up your AirPort Extreme to provide network and Internet access, Mac computers with AirPort and AirPort Extreme Cards, and 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and IEEE 802.11n specification wireless-equipped computers can access the wireless AirPort network to share files, play games, and use Internet applications like web browsers and email applications.
It looks like this:
2.4 GHz
2.4 or 5 GHz
DSL or cable modem |
<Internet WAN port |
to Internet
14 Chapter 2 AirPort Extreme Networks
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