User's Manual

4
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:
m 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.
m 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
LL2009.book Page 4 Wednesday, October 24, 2001 1:20 PM