User's Manual

5
CHAPTER
1
1
Introduction to AirPort
AirPort is a simple, fast, affordable way to access the Internet from anywhere in your home,
classroom, or small office without cables, additional phone lines, or complicated networking
software. AirPort is a wireless local area network (LAN) technology that provides high-
performance wireless communication between multiple computers and the Internet. AirPort
allows you to share a single Internet connection with more than one computer at the same
time and share files between computers.
About the AirPort Base Station
The AirPort Base Station establishes a wired connection to the Internet and wireless
connections to AirPort-equipped computers. A 56K modem is built into the base station for
dialup (PPP) Internet access. One 10BASE-T Ethernet ( ) connection for cable or DSL
modem connections, and one10/100Base-T connection ( G ) for high speed access to your
LAN are built in. The base station manages communications between the Internet and the
AirPort-equipped computers.
The AirPort Base Station can connect to the Internet in the following ways:
m Using the internal modem
m Using 10BaseT Ethernet to connect a cable or DSL modem to the WAN ( ) port
m Using 10/100BaseT Ethernet to connect to an Ethernet LAN ( G ) with Internet access
Once the base station is connected to the Internet, AirPort-equipped computers can connect
to the Internet by joining the AirPort network. Computers connected to the network by
Ethernet can also share the base station’s Internet connection. See Chapter 2, “Setting Up
Your AirPort Base Station,” for instructions on how to set up the base station for Internet
access.
Note: To use AirPort to access the Internet, you must have an account with an Internet
service provider (ISP). Fees may apply. In addition, you need a traditional way to access the
Internet, through a phone line, cable or DSL modem, or Ethernet network.
LL1017.Book Page 5 Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:11 PM