MacBook Wireless Networking Requirements
Today’s MacBook laptops come with an AirPort Extreme built-in wireless card, so if you already have an AirPort Extreme or Express Base Station, you’re good to go. Otherwise, hold tight. These are the hardware requirements for wireless networks.
The maximum signal range – and effectiveness – of any wireless network can be obstructed by interfering walls or electrical devices, such as microwave ovens and some cordless phones, all of which can cause interference.
If you decide that you want to create your own wireless network, avoid cables, or want to add wireless support to your existing wired network, you need a base station. (If you already have an existing wired network, the base station can act as a bridge between the computers using wireless devices and your wired network.)
A port that can connect to the existing wired network switch
Fully integrated wired switch (which means you can sell your old wired Ethernet switch to your sister in Tucson)
And of course, the base station can simply act as a central switch for your wireless network (with no wired network support).
You can use either a fancy Apple base station or a boring generic 802.11n wireless base station; However, Apple devices require less configuration and modification.
Apple Base Station models
Your MacBook can work with four wireless networking Apple Base Station models:
AirPort Extreme: You should use AirPort Extreme if your network needs an improved antenna that provides greater range.
Time Capsule: The Apple Time Capsule (External Wireless Backup) isn’t just a wireless remote hard drive. It can also function as a complete AirPort Extreme base station. In fact, the wireless specifications of the Time Capsule unit and the AirPort Extreme base station are almost identical.
AirPort Express:Use AirPort Express if you want to
Carry your wireless base station with you. Express is much smaller than other Apple Base Station models. (Think of a “yard party” or a LAN gaming meeting at a friend’s house.)
Extend the range of your existing wireless network. If your network signal is fading by your pool or storage shed, consider adding an AirPort Express at the edge of your existing range to extend the reach of your wireless network.
Connect your home stereo or speakers to wirelessly stream music using AirPlay. You can connect a pair of speakers to AirPort Express and use AirPlay to play music from your MacBook’s iTunes library. (Well, you’re not just limited to playing music on your laptop—you can also stream music from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch!)
AirPort (discontinued):You may find an original 802.11b or 802.11g AirPort base station on eBay or at a garage sale. Go ahead and collect it if you want to save cash, unless you’re thinking about playing multiplayer games or using high-speed file transfers over your wireless network.
The 802.11n standard used in AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule, and AirPort Express base stations provides a connection several times faster than the 802.11b / 802.11g standards of the legacy AirPort base station. 802.11n is also compatible with all older standards – 802.11b/a/g – so it is highly recommended to stick to 802.11n in the future. It plays well with others, and is quick to turn to boot!
The names of Apple base stations are annoyingly similar;Apple usually does a better job of differentiating their product names. Jot down your model’s name on a sticky note on your laptop desktop just so you don’t get confused.
Installing the Apple Base Station is simple. Follow these steps:
If you have a DSL or cable modem, connect it to the WAN port on the base station using an Ethernet cable.
If you have a wired Ethernet computer network with a switch or router, connect it to the Ethernet LAN port on the base station using an Ethernet cable.
If you have a USB printer, connect it to the USB port on the base station.
Older AirPort base stations do not have USB ports.
Connect the power cable from the AC adapter.
The AirPort Express and Time Capsule units have a built in AC adapter, so if you’re using one of these models, just plug the cord from the same device into the wall.
Run your base station.
Run the Apple-provided installer on your laptop.
Non-Apple base stations
If any company other than Apple manufactures your wireless base station, the installation procedure is almost certainly the same.
Note, however, that Apple wireless devices use a slightly different security encryption standard than most PC wireless devices, which creates an additional hurdle to connecting to a non-Apple base station or access point with your laptop.