Airport? Please explain

[latisha1903]

I have a Powerbook G4 [just installed Tiger] and i do connect to the internet wirelessly at home.

what is airport? i've seen it in the apple store. but what exactly is it. purpose. what does it do?


i'm a recent switcher. sorry i don't know too much.

 

[Applespider]

Airport is just Apple's name for wifi (alias 802.11 networking). Your PB has an Airport Extreme (802.11g) card in it which if you're connecting at home wirelessly, is finding the network your current router is broadcasting.

Apple also sell 2 Airport ethernet routers which is what I think you're talking about seeing in the Apple store; the Airport Extreme and the Airport Express.

The Extreme is more expensive and slightly older. It looks like a UFO and allows up to 50 client computers. It's got a LAN ethernet port so you can have a wired computer hooked put it. It's also got a USB port which you can connect a printer too and then print wirelessly via Rendezvous.

The Express came out in summer 2004. It's about the size of your PB powerbrick and slots directly into the wall. It can only support 10 clients and doesn't have a wired port. It does have the USB printer port and it has an audio out port. You can use the Express (wired to your stereo via that port) to transmit your iTunes music to your stereo - called Airtunes.

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

I have a question about this too.

Sorry *noob* question.. can the Express pick up your existing wireless signal and then pick that up and extend it farther?

 

[paperinacup]

I have a question about this too.

Sorry *noob* question.. can the Express pick up your existing wireless signal and then pick that up and extend it farther?

Yes.

 

[mad jew]

Yes.

Assuming the original supports WDS.

 

[FocusAndEarnIt]

what the heck is WDS? I have a Linksys wireless G router
something like wd54g is the model number or something like that

 

[mad jew]

It stands for "wireless distribution system" and it's the standard that allows different wireless base stations to connect to the same network. I think it goes by a few other names though.

As for whether your Linksys will work, sorry but I've had no experiences with them. However, off the top of my head I'd say it'll work. I seem to remember others on these forums who've had success.