AirPort Card 2001
About Your AirPort Card
Includes information about
the AirPort Card and AirPort software
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About Your AirPort Card
With the AirPort Card installed in your computer, you can do the following:
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Access an AirPort network at home, school, or work and use it to browse the Internet,
send and receive email, and more.
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Set up a Computer-to-Computer network between two or more AirPort-equipped
computers, which you can use to transfer files or play multiplayer games.
Set up an AirPort network using an AirPort Base Station, available from your Apple-authorized
dealer or the Apple Store at store.apple.com
Important
If you purchased the AirPort Base Station at the same time as your AirPort Card,
install the AirPort Card and then set up the AirPort Base Station using the instructions
provided with the base station. The AirPort Setup Assistant described in this booklet is the
same one used to set up the AirPort Base Station. To set up the AirPort Base Station and
configure your computer to access the AirPort network it creates, you only need to use the
AirPort Setup Assistant once.
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About AirPort
AirPort technology offers a simple, fast, and affordable way to provide wireless Internet
access anywhere in your home, classroom, or small office. Instead of using traditional cables
to create a network, AirPort uses wireless local area network (LAN) technology to provide
wireless communication between computers.
How AirPort Works
In a traditional network, computers are connected through a series of wires that transfer
information among them. With AirPort, data is transferred between computers over a
wireless network using radio waves.
There are two ways to create a wireless network. You can use an AirPort-equipped computer
to create a temporary Computer-to-Computer network, which other AirPort computers
within range can join. Or you can create a more permanent wireless network using a base
station. In this kind of network, all wireless communication goes through the base station to
other computers on the network or to the Internet.
How AirPort Provides Wireless Internet Access
The following are ways that you can use AirPort technology to provide Internet access to
AirPort-equipped computers:
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Connect an AirPort Base Station (available from your Apple-authorized dealer or the Apple
Store at store.apple.com) to an existing network that already has Internet access, such as
in a school or small office.
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Connect a telephone line, cable modem, or DSL modem to an AirPort Base Station. The
AirPort Base Station establishes an Internet connection and also creates a wireless
network through which multiple computers can access the Internet.
Note:
To use AirPort to access the Internet, you must have an account with an Internet
service provider (fees may apply). Some Internet service providers (ISPs) are not currently
compatible with AirPort. Though some ISP accounts that use connection scripts or terminal
login windows are not supported, certain AirPort-compatible connection scripts have been
provided and can be selected in the AirPort Setup Assistant or AirPort Admin Utility.
For more information on using AirPort with your Internet account, contact your ISP or go to
the AppleCare Knowledge Base at kbase.info.apple.com
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Setting Up Your Computer to Use AirPort
Step 1: Do You Need to Install the AirPort Card?
If you ordered your AirPort Card with your new computer, the AirPort Card is already
installed. If the AirPort Card came in a separate kit, you need to install it yourself. Instructions
for installing the AirPort Card are in the manual that came with your computer. You can also
find them on the Apple Support Web site at www.apple.com/support
The AirPort Card is not a standard PC Card. If you are installing an AirPort Card in a
PowerBook computer, follow the installation instructions in the manual that came with your
PowerBook. Don’t install the AirPort Card in your PowerBook’s PC Card slot.
Do I need to know the AirPort ID of my AirPort Card?
If you are going to use your computer on a large AirPort network, such as in a school or
office, you may need to provide the AirPort ID (sometimes known as the MAC address) of
your AirPort Card to your network administrator. Your network administrator can use the
AirPort ID to provide an extra level of security for the network. The AirPort ID is 12
characters printed on a label on the AirPort Card. You can also find your AirPort ID this way:
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In Mac OS X,
choose AirPort from the Configure pop-up menu of the Network pane of
System Preferences, and click the AirPort tab.
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In Mac OS 9,
open the AirPort application, located in the AirPort folder in the Apple Extras
folder, inside the Applications (Mac OS 9) folder on your hard disk. Then click the
Settings arrow.
Do I need to install an AirPort antenna?
No. The antenna used by the AirPort Card is already built into your computer.
Warning
The AirPort Card has been designed so that you can install it yourself. If, after
reading the instructions, you feel uncomfortable about installing the card, you can have an
Apple-authorized service provider install it for you. If you follow the instructions, you
should not be concerned about damaging your computer. However, if you do attempt to
install the AirPort Card yourself, any damage you may cause to your equipment will not be
covered by the limited warranty on your computer. See an Apple-authorized dealer or
service provider for additional information about this or any other warranty question.
Consult the service and support information that came with your computer for instructions
on how to contact an Apple-authorized service provider or Apple for service.
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