AirPort Extreme Setup Guide
Contents 5 6 8 8 11 Chapter 1: Getting Started About the AirPort Extreme About the AirPort Software What You Need to Get Started The AirPort Extreme Status Light 13 14 16 18 Chapter 2: AirPort Extreme Networks Using the AirPort Extreme with a Broadband Internet Service Using the AirPort Extreme to Share a USB Printer Using the AirPort Extreme to Share USB Hard Disks 20 20 22 22 24 25 Chapter 3: Setting Up the AirPort Extreme Using AirPort Utility Creating a New Wireless Network Configuring and Sharing
26 27 28 29 30 31 31 If You Forgot Your Network or Base Station Password If Your AirPort Extreme Isn’t Responding If Your AirPort Extreme Status Light Flashes Amber If Your Printer Isn’t Responding Updating AirPort Software AirPort Extreme Placement Considerations Items That Can Cause Interference with AirPort 33 Chapter 5: Learning More, Service, and Support 35 Appendix: AirPort Extreme Specifications and Safety Guidelines 38 Regulatory Compliance Information 4 Contents
1 Getting Started 1 Congratulations on purchasing your simultaneous dual-band AirPort Extreme Base Station. Read this guide to get started. The new AirPort Extreme provides simultaneous dual-band wireless 802.11n networking. When you set up your AirPort Extreme Base Station, it creates two high-speed Wi-Fi networks:  A 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) network for 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n devices, such as iPhone, iPod touch, and older computers  A 5 GHz network for 802.11n and 802.
 Create a guest network with or without password protection, to provide Internetonly access to wireless devices, such as computers, iPhone, iPod touch, and Apple TV.  Connect your AirPort Extreme to your Ethernet network. Wireless-equipped Macintosh computers, Windows XP, or Windows Vista computers can then have access to an entire network without being connected by a cable.  Connect a supported USB device, such as a printer or a scanner, to your AirPort Extreme.
 Three 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet Local Area Network (LAN) ports (G) for connecting Ethernet devices, such as printers or computers, or for connecting to an existing Ethernet network  One USB port (d) for connecting a compatible USB printer, hard disk, or hub for connecting several devices Status light Internet WAN port Power port Ethernet ports USB port Reset button Security slot AC adapter Next to the ports is a reset button, which is used for troubleshooting your AirPort Extreme.
About the AirPort Software The AirPort Extreme works with the AirPort software included on the AirPort Extreme CD. Install the AirPort Utility software that came on the CD and follow the instructions on the following pages to set up your AirPort Extreme and your AirPort wireless network. Note: You must use AirPort Utility to set up this base station. The simultaneous dual-band AirPort Extreme Base Station is not compatible with previous versions of AirPort software.
To set up your AirPort Extreme using a Macintosh, you need the following:  A Macintosh computer with an AirPort or AirPort Extreme Card installed to set it up wirelessly, or a Macintosh computer connected to an AirPort Extreme Base Station with an Ethernet cable to set it up using Ethernet  Mac OS X v10.5.7 or later  AirPort Utility 5.5 or later To set up your AirPort Extreme using a Windows PC, you need the following:  A Windows PC with 300 MHz or higher processor speed and a compatible 802.11a, 802.
After you have connected the cables for all the devices you plan to use, connect the AC adapter to the power port, and plug your AirPort Extreme into a power outlet. There is no power switch. Power port Ethernet activity light AC adapter Important: Use only the AC adapter that came with your AirPort Extreme. When you plug the AirPort Extreme AC adapter into a power outlet, the status light flashes green for one second, and then glows amber while it starts up.
When you connect Ethernet cables to the Ethernet ports, the lights above them glow solid green. The AirPort Extreme Status Light The following table explains the AirPort Extreme light sequences and what they indicate. Light Status/description Off AirPort Extreme is unplugged. Flashing green AirPort Extreme is starting up. The light flashes for one second. Solid green AirPort Extreme is on and working properly.
What’s Next After you plug in your AirPort Extreme, use AirPort Utility to set it up to work with your Internet connection, USB printer or hard disk, or an existing network. AirPort Utility is located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows XP or Windows Vista.
2 AirPort Extreme Networks 2 In this chapter you’ll find explanations of the different ways you can use your AirPort Extreme. This chapter provides some examples of the different kinds of networks you can set up using your AirPort Extreme. It provides diagrams and explanations of what you need to do to get your AirPort Extreme network up and running quickly. See Chapter 3, “Setting Up the AirPort Extreme,” on page 20 to find out more about using AirPort Utility to help set up your network.
Using the AirPort Extreme with a Broadband Internet Service When you set up your AirPort Extreme to provide network and Internet access, Macintosh computers with AirPort and AirPort Extreme Cards, and 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and IEEE 802.11n draft specification wireless-equipped computers, can access the wireless AirPort network to share files, play games, and use Internet applications like web browsers and email applications. It looks like this: 2.4 GHz 2.
To set it up: 1 Connect your DSL or cable modem to your AirPort Extreme Ethernet WAN port (<). 2 Open AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows), select your base station, and then click Continue. 3 Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new network. (See “Setting Up the AirPort Extreme” on page 20.
Using the AirPort Extreme to Share a USB Printer When you connect a compatible USB printer to your AirPort Extreme, supported computers on the network (wired and wireless) can print to it. It looks like this: Shared printer 2.4 or 5 GHz 2.
To set it up: 1 Connect the printer to the AirPort Extreme USB port (d) or to a USB hub, using a USB cable. 2 Open AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows), select your base station, and then click Continue. 3 Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new network if you have not already set up your network. To print from a computer using Mac OS X v10.
Using the AirPort Extreme to Share USB Hard Disks When you connect a USB hard disk to your AirPort Extreme, computers on the network (wired and wireless) can access the hard disk to access, share, and store files. It looks like this: 2.4 or 5 GHz 2.
To set it up: 1 Connect the hard disk to the AirPort Extreme USB port (d) using a USB cable. 2 Open AirPort Utility (located in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a computer using Mac OS X, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows), select your base station, and then click Continue. 3 Follow the onscreen instructions to create a new network if you have not already set up your network. Computers can access the hard disk to share or store files using Mac OS X v10.
3 Setting Up the AirPort Extreme 3 This chapter provides information and instructions for using AirPort Utility to set up your AirPort Extreme. Use the instructions in this chapter to easily configure your AirPort Extreme and set up your AirPort network. This chapter provides an overview for using the setup assistant in AirPort Utility to set up your network and other features of your AirPort Extreme.
On a Macintosh computer using Mac OS X v10.5.7 or later: 1 Open AirPort Utility, located in the Utilities folder in your Applications folder. 2 Select your base station and click Continue. 3 Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your AirPort Extreme and your wireless network. On a computer using Windows XP (with Service Pack 3) or Windows Vista (with Service Pack 1): 1 Open AirPort Utility, located in Start > All Programs > AirPort. 2 Select your base station and click Continue.
Creating a New Wireless Network You can use the setup assistant in AirPort Utility to create a new wireless network. The setup assistant guides you through the steps necessary to name your network, protect your network with a password, and set other options. If you plan to share a USB printer or USB hard disk on your network: 1 Connect the printer or hard disk to the AirPort Extreme USB port (d).
Use the setup assistant in AirPort Utility to enter your ISP settings and configure how the AirPort Extreme shares the settings with other computers. 1 Choose the wireless network you want to change. On a Macintosh, use the AirPort status menu in the menu bar. On a computer using Windows XP, hold the pointer over the wireless connection icon until you see your AirPort network name (SSID), and choose it from the list if there are multiple networks available.
Setting Advanced Options To set advanced options, you can use AirPort Utility to set up your AirPort Extreme manually. You can configure advanced base station settings, such as advanced security options, closed networks, DHCP lease time, access control, power controls, user accounts, and more. To set advanced options: 1 Choose the wireless network you want to change. On a Macintosh, use the AirPort status menu in the menu bar.
Allowing Wireless Clients Access to Your Network If your network is password-protected using WPA Personal or WPA/WPA2 Personal, you can provide wireless clients access to your network without requiring them to enter the network password. When you allow a client access to your network, the client's name and wireless MAC address (or AirPort ID) are stored in the access control list of AirPort Utility until you remove them from the list.
4 Tips and Troubleshooting 4 You can quickly solve most problems with your AirPort Extreme by following the advice in this chapter. If You Can’t Connect to the Internet  Try connecting to the Internet directly from your computer. If you can’t connect to the Internet from your computer, check your network settings. If they appear to be correct and you still can’t connect, contact your Internet service provider (ISP).  Make sure you are connecting to the correct wireless network.
 On a Macintosh, use the AirPort status menu in the menu bar to select the network created by AirPort Extreme (the network name does not change).  On a computer using Windows, hold the pointer over the wireless connection icon until you see your AirPort Network Name (SSID), and choose it from the list if there are multiple networks available. 3 Open AirPort Utility (in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder on a Macintosh, and in Start > All Programs > AirPort on a computer using Windows).
To return your AirPort Extreme to the factory settings: m Use the tip of a ballpoint pen to press and hold down the reset button until the status light flashes quickly (about 5 seconds). The AirPort Extreme resets with the following settings: Â The AirPort Extreme receives its IP address using DHCP. Â The network name reverts to Apple Network XXXXXX (where XXXXXX is replaced with the last six digits of the AirPort ID). Â The base station password returns to public.
For more information about the reason the light flashes, open AirPort Utility, select your base station, and then choose Manual Setup from the Base Station menu. Click Base Station Status to display information about the flashing light. You can also select the “Monitor base station for problems” checkbox in AirPort preferences. If the base station has problems, AirPort Utility opens and walks you through solving the problems.
 Choose Bonjour from the pop-up menu.  Select the printer and click Add. On a computer using Windows:  Open “Printers and Faxes” from the Start menu.  Select the printer. If the printer is not in the list, click Add Printer and then follow the onscreen instructions.  If Bonjour for Windows is installed, click the Bonjour Printer, click the Bonjour Printer Wizard on the desktop, and follow the onscreen instructions for setting up a printer.
AirPort Extreme Placement Considerations The following recommendations can help your AirPort Extreme achieve maximum wireless range and optimal network coverage. Â Place your AirPort Extreme in an open area where there are few obstructions, such as large pieces of furniture or walls. Try to place it away from metallic surfaces. Â If you place your AirPort Extreme behind furniture, keep at least an inch of space between the AirPort Extreme and the edge of the furniture.
 Certain electrical devices such as power lines, electrical railroad tracks, and power stations  Cordless telephones that operate in the 2.4 or 5 GHz range. If you have problems with your phone or AirPort communication, change the channel your base station or AirPort Extreme uses, or change the channel your phone uses.  Nearby base stations using adjacent channels. For example, if base station A is set to channel 1, base station B should be set to channel 6 or 11.
5 Learning More, Service, and Support 5 You can find more information about using your AirPort Extreme on the web and in onscreen help. Online Resources For the latest information about the AirPort Extreme, go to www.apple.com/airport. To register your AirPort Extreme (if you didn’t register it when you installed the software on the AirPort Extreme CD), go to www.apple.com/register.
Onscreen Help To learn more about using AirPort Utility with your AirPort Extreme, open AirPort Utility and choose Help > AirPort Utility Help. Obtaining Warranty Service If the product appears to be damaged or does not function properly, please follow the advice in this booklet, the onscreen help, and the online resources. If the base station still does not function, go to www.apple.com/support for instructions about how to obtain warranty service.
Appendix AirPort Extreme Specifications and Safety Guidelines AirPort Extreme Specifications  Frequency Band: 2.4 and 5 GHz  Radio Output Power: 23 dBm (nominal)  Standards: 802.11 DSSS 1 and 2 Mbps standard, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g specifications, and a draft 802.11n specification Interfaces  1 RJ-45 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet WAN (<)  3 RJ-45 10/100/1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet LAN (G)  Universal Serial Bus (USB d)  802.11 a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.
Size and Weight  Length: 6.50 inches (165.0 mm)  Width: 6.50 inches (165.0 mm)  Thickness: 1.34 inches (34.0 mm)  Weight: 1.66 pounds (753 grams) Hardware Media Access Control (MAC) Addresses The AirPort Extreme has three hardware addresses printed on the bottom of the case:  AirPort ID: The addresses used to identify the AirPort Extreme on a wireless network.  Ethernet ID: You may need to provide this address to your ISP to connect the AirPort Extreme to the Internet.
About Operating and Storage Temperatures  When you are using your AirPort Extreme, it is normal for the case to get warm. The AirPort Extreme case functions as a cooling surface that transfers heat from inside the unit to the cooler air outside. Avoid Wet Locations WARNING: To reduce the chance of shock or injury, do not use your AirPort Extreme in or near water or wet locations.  Keep your AirPort Extreme away from sources of liquids, such as drinks, washbasins, bathtubs, shower stalls, and so on.
Regulatory Compliance Information Wireless Radio Use This device is restricted to indoor use due to its operation in the 5.15 to 5.25 GHz frequency range to reduce the potential for harmful interference to co-channel Mobile Satellite systems. Cet appareil doit être utilisé à l’intérieur. Exposure to Radio Frequency Energy The radiated output power of this device is well below the FCC and EU radio frequency exposure limits.
Important: Changes or modifications to this product not authorized by Apple Inc. could void the EMC compliance and negate your authority to operate the product. This product was tested for FCC compliance under conditions that included the use of Apple peripheral devices and Apple shielded cables and connectors between system components.
European Union—Disposal Information: This symbol means that according to local laws and regulations your product should be disposed of separately from household waste. When this product reaches its end of life, take it to a collection point designated by local authorities. Some collection points accept products for free.
Taiwan Warning Statements © 2009 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, AirPort, AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, Apple TV, Bonjour, iPhone, iPod touch, Macintosh, and Mac OS are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
www.apple.com/airport www.apple.