Apple AirPort Networks manual Choosing the Radio Mode, Changing the Channel

Choosing the Radio Mode

Choose 802.11a/n - 802.11b/g from the Radio Mode pop-up menu if computers with 802.11a, 802.11n, 802.11g, or 802.11b wireless cards will join the network. Each client computer will connect to the network and transmit network traffic at the highest possible speed.

Choose 802.11n - 802.11b/g if only computers with 802.11n, 802.11b, or 802.11g compatible wireless cards will join the network.

Note: If you don’t want to use an 802.11n radio mode, hold down the Option key and chose a radio mode that doesn’t include 802.11n.

Changing the Channel

The “channel” is the radio frequency over which your wireless device communicates. If you use only one device (for example, at home), you probably won’t need to change the channel frequency. If you set up several wireless devices in a school or office, use different channel frequencies for devices that are within approximately 150 feet of each other.

Adjacent wireless devices should have at least 4 channels between their channel frequencies. So if device A is set to channel 1, device B should be set to channel 6 or 11. For best results, use channels 1, 6, or 11 when operating your device in the 2.4 GHz range.

Choose Manually from the Radio Channel Selection pop-up menu, and then click Edit to set the channels manually.

AirPort-enabled computers automatically tune to the channel frequency your wireless device is using when they join the AirPort network. If you change the channel frequency, AirPort client computers do not need to make any changes.

Password-protect Your Network

To password-protect your network, you can choose from a number of wireless security options. In the AirPort pane of AirPort Utility, click Wireless and choose one of the following options from the Wireless Security pop-up menu:

ÂNone: Choosing this option turns off all password protection for the network. Any computer with a wireless adapter or card can join the network, unless the network is set up to use access control. See “Setting Up Access Control” on page 47.

ÂWEP: If your device supports it, choose this option and enter a password to protect your network with a Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) password. Your Apple wireless device supports 40-bit and 128-bit encryption. To use 40-bit WEP, don’t use an 802.11n radio mode.

Chapter 3 AirPort Network Designs

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