Help Installing Airport Express & Securing Network

blackdogsdad · Nov 12th, 2008, 01:28 PM

Hi, I am a new here and really could use a step-by-step installation guide. I am not technically educated

and here is what I wish to do, hopefully you can lend a hand, or direct me to a book or web site. Here goes.

How can I set my Airport Express up to give me a secure connection (keeping out the neighbors)
I have no clue what I am doing, technical words get garbled and are so confusing to me, so I could really use a STEP-BY-STEP MAC/ Airport Express wireless for dummies how to guide :-)

I installed everything I think (I have a green light on the Airport Express unit), in the Menu?Bar It shows that Airport is on. I can see my neighbors wireless and it shows it's locked, mine??? There is not a lock next to it. What can I do to make it secure where it can not be used by anyone else without a password, yet allow my iMac 24 and iPod Touch 32gb access 24/7 without having to use a password each time?

Did any of this make sense?

I sure hope so. Like I said I am very technically challenged, simple words and pictures are best :-)
Thank you SO MUCH!
Leslie

winwintoo · Nov 12th, 2008, 08:02 PM

Does anyone have an Airport Express? Could someone answer this question for Leslie? Please.

Margaret

Macified · Nov 12th, 2008, 09:37 PM

I have made a quick screen-grab video which shows where to enter security information for the Airport Express. The video clipped off the bottom of the window and the "update" button is not showing but it is at the bottom right of the window.

Once you have entered the security info and the Airport Express has reset, connect from the Airport menu on iMac. You will be prompted for the password you entered during the setup. Make sure you check the box that will store your password for future access. Do the same from the iPod Touch and you will be all set.

Good luck.

http://www.schiedel-webb.com/security.m4v

blackdogsdad · Nov 12th, 2008, 10:19 PM

Thank you SO Very Much! The video was EXTREMELY helpful!

May I ask, when you have a secure network should I see in the available networks my network with a lock next to it? I see others have lock icons next to them. I think I will remove the set up that I first made (when I created the network???) and do it again, I'll write my steps down and post them to make sure I did this correctly.

I wish also to take a moment here to thank Margaret for recommending this site to me - Thank you!

And Macified for you taking the time to video this for me. How ever did you do that? Video that is?

Sincerely, Leslie Hill

winwintoo · Nov 12th, 2008, 10:39 PM

You're welcome Leslie. Hope this helps. I don't know about the lock. My network is a wireless cable modem and it has a lock, I don't know if they all do or not.

Take care, Margaret

Macified · Nov 12th, 2008, 10:40 PM

One your network is locked, outsiders will see the lock. You might not see it once your password is entered into your system.

I don't see other networks from my location so I can't compare them.

If you are concerned about your security, you can go even further by restricting network access to only your iMac and iPod Touch. This uses something call MAC addressing (which has nothing to do with the fact that you are using a Mac computer). It's not absolutely necessary but it does set an additional barrier on the path to your network.

As for the video file, it's from an application I use called iShowU. It lets me designate an area of the screen (or the entire screen) and then captures a video of that area just as if I were pointing a camera at that area. Audio can come from the microphone or from the system audio). It does make large video files but they are easily compressed using other tools.

Glad it helped.

ewak · Feb 12th, 2011, 04:22 PM

I am having trouble putting a lock on my airport express and the link http://www.schiedel-webb.com/security.m4v no longer works. I opened my airport express on my imac, Mac OS X 10.5.8 to wifi to my Wii and iphone. Now I can't figure out how to put a lock on it, my neighbor just told me it wasn't locked.

doglips · Feb 12th, 2011, 04:43 PM

Perhaps this will work:

-open airport utility
-express should be in column on left of window
-double click on it
-choose "wireless" tab in resulting window
-using drop down menu in "wireless security" choose "WPA2 Personal"
-put in password and click "update"

HTH.

p.s. the link probably didn't work as that post was over 2 yrs ago

ewak · Feb 12th, 2011, 05:33 PM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by doglips
	Perhaps this will work: -open airport utility -express should be in column on left of window -double click on it -choose "wireless" tab in resulting window -using drop down menu in "wireless security" choose "WPA2 Personal" -put in password and click "update" HTH.

OK, I don't understand the term airport utility. I get to airport by system preference, network, then clicking on the airport wifi. Is this the same? There is no wireless tab or drop down window or WPA2 choices. There is an "advanced tab" which I didn't see before. So I checked the box that says "Require Administrator password to control AirPort". I rebooted but my iphone still doesn't have a lock on it and my Wii didn't require a password to use it. Is there a way I can check to see if my wifi network is locked? Ahhhhh Or am I way off base with what I did. Thanks for your help!

Lawrence · Feb 12th, 2011, 05:44 PM

This video from Apple support should make everything easier to understand,
It explains how to setup up your wireless network step by step through the Airport Utility.

Apple - Find Out How - Mac Basics