Righty-ho, I want to setup an Airport Express so I can browse the internet from my iPhone, but I want this in work.
I've never setup an AE to run the 'net before, so what should I need to do?
I have a 12" PowerBook I can bring in and configure it if I need to.
Obviously I can't connect to the ethernet port on the AE at the same time it's connected to the network - because there's only one ethernet port on it, so if I plug it in to the network will I be able to configure it wirelessly from the PowerBook?

Mark

Yes, it's very simple. AirPort utility does everything and it's nice and straight-forward.

Cheers Nick.
I'll be doing this on Monday, so I'll post back with the result. (8+)

Mark

Oh, by the way I forgot to ask if it's new or second hand? Mine was new so it was by default unsecured. If yours is second hand and has security on it then you'll have to reset it.

Not sure how this is done, I've never needed to do it, but there is most likely a pin hole on the bottom which you can press and hold.

This was so easy to do.
As the AE had been used previously for streaming music to a stereo I had to reset it, after that I had to update the Airport Utility then I had to update the AE firmware, after that it was a breeze setting up a secure, non-broadcasting wireless network.
Me and my mate can now browse the 'net on our iPhones in work.

Mark

Just to let you know, AirPort utility will automatically open and grab your attention when there is a software update for the device and the device itself will flash orange as if there is an error.

I find it quite annoying tbh but meh.

Glad you got yours setup nice and easily.

Silly question Mark, but I assume you got permission to install the point and that it is running in secured mode?

Of course it's running in secure mode.
I also got permission too, I'm not a total n00b, regardless of what Nick 'n' Edd might say. (8+p

Mark

I thought you probably had, but given some of the mistakes I see people making on forums, I thought it worth asking, more in case somebody else had the same idea and just took a WLAN access point to work, plugged it in and then wondered why there was a P45 sitting on their desk after lunch.

Be careful D; he's a n00b.

A n00b, I tell you!

Every now and again you may have to reset the Airport express, but it is a much easier solution. I take mine and an ethernet cable when I travel. I simply plug the airport express in and then connect to a router with the cable and I am away. No need to ask for wireless passwords from your host. That makes their system no less secure at the same time.

I too have an Airport Express question.

I have a Airport (n) base station at one end of my wired network and I want to install an Airport Express (g) at the far end of the wired network. The aim of course is to have an extended WiFi network. There is a fair bit of overlap in the middle of the two WiFi devices.

My question is what settings should be set on the Airport Express for a seamless WiFi experience?

CC

Same SSID & WPA key should do it

I would opt for the most secure encryption that you can use. It will delay the time before you have to change it.

One word of warning, if you have n and g mixed, unless you have a dual band n router, it will drop back to g performance for the whole band.

If you do have dual band, the lower band, which n and g share will run at g speed and the higher band will run at n speed.

Agree with Amensia about the security. WPA2 PSK (pre-shared key) is the lowest form of encryption I would go for. WEP and WPA (1) have both been rendered pretty much useless.

WEP can be cracked in a couple of minutes by a normal PC, WPA needs a graphics card for the extended processing, but can be cracked in a few hours.

I'd also go with a long password/passphrase key (over 24 characters)

I haven't used the Airport stuff yet - although I was looking at the Airport Extreme in Media Markt the other day, I may get one shortly, as I have a n capable laptop now...