Apple AIRPORT EXTREME CARD User Manual

AirPort
Extreme Card

User’s Guide

Includes information about
the AirPort Extreme Card
and AirPort software

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About Your AirPort Extreme Card

With the AirPort Extreme Card installed in your computer, you can

Access an AirPort or other wireless network at home, school, work, or Internet “hot

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spots,” 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 a computer to share its Internet connection with computers using AirPort.

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Set up an AirPort network using an Apple AirPort, AirPort Extreme Base Station, or

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Airport Express. The Apple AirPort base stations are available from your Apple­authorized dealer or the Apple Store at store.apple.com.

Important:

same time as your AirPort Extreme Card, install the AirPort Extreme Card and then set
up the base station using the instructions provided with it. The AirPort Setup
Assistant described in this booklet is the same one used to set up the AirPort Extreme
Base Station or AirPort Express. To set up the base station and configure your
computer to access the AirPort network it creates, you need to use the AirPort Setup
Assistant only once.

Your AirPort Extreme Card is compatible with all versions of the AirPort base station.

About AirPort

AirPort 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. With AirPort, data is transferred between computers over a
wireless network using radio waves.

If you purchased an AirPort Extreme Base Station or AirPort Express at the

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There are three ways to create a wireless network:

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Use an AirPort-equipped computer to create a temporary Computer-to-Computer
network, which other AirPort computers within range can join.
Use the Internet pane of Sharing preferences to set up an AirPort-equipped

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computer with an Internet connection to share the connection with other
computers using AirPort.
Create a more permanent wireless network using an AirPort base station. In this

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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 to provide Internet access to AirPort­equipped computers:

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Connect an AirPort base station to an existing network that already has Internet
access, such as in a school or small office.
Connect a cable modem or DSL modem to an AirPort base station, or if your base

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station has an internal modem, connect it to a telephone line. 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.

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.

Setting Up Your Computer to Use AirPort

Step 1: Do You Need to Install the AirPort Extreme Card?

If you ordered your AirPort Extreme Card with your new computer, the card is already
installed. If the AirPort Extreme Card came in a separate kit, you need to install it
yourself. Instructions for installing the AirPort Extreme Card are in the manual that
came with your computer. You can also find them on the Apple Support website at
www.apple.com/support.

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About Your AirPort Extreme Card