Using iMac as base station

First, forgive me as I new to Apple (former PC).
I have the new iMac 27" i7 and was told that it has a built-in Airport Extreme. I just purchase an Airport Express and can't figure out how to get the AirPort Utility to recognize my iMac as the Base Station.
I have DSL (through ATT) hardwired from the DSL modem to my iMac. I would like to use the AirPort Express as a bridge so I can connect my Directv HD-DVR to the network, wirelessly.
I've heard that this is possible but I just can't get this to work.
Thanks

MrMetrx, Welcome to the discussion area!
I would not recommend doing this. You will get much better control and flexibility by using any inexpensive wireless router.
If you want your Mac to act as a base station, you need to go to System Preferences-> Sharing preference pane and enable Internet sharing to AirPort.

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How do I set up a wireless network using my iMac as the Base Station and boosting the signal through an Airport Extreme?
Physical connection would be DSL Modem> (ethernet) iMac >(wireless) Airport Extreme (as a wireless router for other Apple products i.e. TV, iPhone, etc.)

How do I set up a wireless network using my iMac as the Base Station and boosting the signal through an Airport Extreme?
Unfortunately, the wireless network that is setup from the iMac cannot be "extended".
Your setup will need to include two Apple routers and look like this:
                                                     > Ethernet to Imac
DSL Modem > Main Apple Router    >>>Wireless to nearby wireless devices
                                                     >>> Wireless to Extending Apple router
You may also connect the iMac to one of the Ethernet ports on the Extending Apple router if you wish

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I have a Netgear N900 wireless router and and an Airport Extreme Base Station.I used my N900 to create a high speed wirelss network. I would like to use my Extreme Base Station as an access point on this network, in order to get AirPlay and some extra ethernet ports in another part of the house. Is this possible to do, and if so how?
The "extend your current network" option from the Wireless Mode menu does not work. There is no "join your current network" option, like on the Airport Express. What am I missing?
Thank you in advance,
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The Extreme *does not* let you joint an existing network
Yes it does. Please open up AirPort Utility 5.6, select the Extreme and click Manual Setup
Click the Wireless tab below the row of icons
Hold down the option key on your Mac while you click on the Wireless Mode selection box.
What happens? Now you see the "Join" selection.
Problem is, only the USB port is enabled if you configure the Extreme to "join".......as I already stated. The Ethernet ports are not enabled.
The AirPort Express 802.11n has a special feature that allows it to "join a wireless network" and the Ethernet port can be enabled.
The AirPort Extreme does not have this feature.....which might be the reason why Apple hides the "Join" setting for the Extreme.

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I have the following items
1 Airport base satiation (new)
1 Graphite Airport bas station
1 iMac 350 – does not support airport card
1 MacBook w/airport card installed
1 Modem
I am currently using the new Airport base station to distribute my internet to my MacBook.
The Question
Can I set-up the iMac with the Graphite base station so that it receives a signal from the new base station, essentially, making my no-airport ready iMac able to be on the wireless network?
Thank you and let me know if you need any additional information.
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No, the graphite AirPort base station (ABS) has no ability to join a wireless network.
Which iMac 350 MHz do you have?
The Blueberry iMac 350 MHz has an internal slot for the original AirPort card.
The Indigo iMac 350 MHz does not have the slot.

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I have two iMac's with airport extreme cards in them. Can I network them together without having a base station? If yes, where can I read how to do this?
If I can network them together without the base station and just airport to airport in each iMac, can the one iMac without internet gain internet access if the 2nd one does have internet and the sharing feature for internet is turned on. My goal is to get internet access on a iMac in another room via and airport to airport connect with no base station.
Thanks
tj

To meet your goal, you can use Internet Sharing to share the wired Internet connection of first Mac wirelessly with the other.
To setup for Internet Sharing (Wired to Wireless):
Enable Software Firewall
System Preferences > Sharing > Firewall
- Click Stop to start the software firewall
Setup the Network
Cable Modem > (Ethernet cable) > [Ethernet port] Mac_#1 > (wireless) > Mac_#2
Setup Port Order
System Preferences > Network > Show > Network Port Configurations
- Verify that "AirPort" and "Built-In Ethernet" are enabled.
- Verify that "Built-In Ethernet" is at the top of the list, followed by "AirPort".
- Click "Apply Now."
Configure the Internet Connection
System Preferences > Network > Show > Built-In Ethernet > TCP/IP
- Configure IPv4: Using DHCP
- Configure IPv6: Automatically or Off
Enable Internet Sharing
System Preferences > Sharing > Internet
- Share your connection from: Built-in Ethernet
- To computers using: AirPort (checked) (Note: Uncheck all other entries in the list.)
- AirPort Options
-- Network Name: <anything you want>
-- Channel: Automatic
-- Enable encryption (using WEP) (optional)
-- Password: (optional)
-- Confirm Password: (optional)
-- WEP Key Length: (optional)
-- Click OK
- Click Start

Certain web address not available when using Airport Extreme Base Station

Hello. To access my "secure" account at the local library, I must use a web address that contains a colon followed by a number. I believe that this is a port number, but I confess that all the discussions here regarding ports are going well over my head, and I may be incorrect with this assumption.
My problem is that while I CAN access this site by connecting to my DSL router directly via ethernet cable from my iMac G5, I cannot access the site when connecting to the internet in the mode: iMac Airport to Airport Extreme Base Station to DSL router via ethernet.
The format of the web address is: http://xxxx.yyyy.net:####/zzzzz/, where #### is the number I guess may be specifying a port and causing my problem.
Can anyone advise me, in simple terms, how to get to this address when in the Airport--internet connection mode? Will the solution have any adverse side effects?
Regards and Thanks
iMac G5, 2.5 year old AEBS Mac OS X (10.3.9) Westell 327W 4-port DSL Modem, not using wireless feature.

Very likely the embedded firewall that comes with your AirPort blocks the port you are trying to use.
In order to solve this, best way is to modify the AirPort settings (open the AirPort maintenance app):
Click at the tab "port forwarding" and add the desired port as "public port" to the list. "private IP" is the IP of your Mac and for "private port" type in the port number again.
If you are unsure about the IP of your Mac, look at the network maintenance application.
Well, one side-effect is that you have an open port in your configuration which could cause security issues... but only if you are paranoid So there is nothing to care about (note that without the AirPort inbetween your Mac and your modem, this port would be not blocked and freely accessible

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Hi everyone,
I have just bought an Airport Extreme Base Station. I connected it to my cable modem (Surfboard 3100) through the WAN port and my iMac G4 is connected to it through the Ethernet port. Installed the Airport Utility, and configured the base station with the normal settings of DHCP for Internet and DHCP for internal network.
After restarting the base station, my Internet connection from the iMac through the base station is very slow and most of the time will time-out. My Internet connection through my PowerBook G4 using wireless through the base station is ok though.
My question is, is there some setting which I should set for the Ethernet portion of the base station to make my wired connections to the Internet work?
Thanks in advance for any help!
regards,
Weiming
iMac G4 Mac OS X (10.4.10)

Hi,
My iMac G4 does not have an Airport card. I did not physically restarted the base station, its part of the sequence when we update the configuration, that the base station will restart on its own.
regards,
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I have PC running Windows 2000. For my job, I access a hospital VPN at home. In my home, I am able to set up the Extreme Base Station for wireless conductivity with computers in my home and all have access internet wirelessly. No problem.
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I currently have WEP 128 on. The computer used for VPN is hardwired to the base station. Even with security turn-off, I cant access the VPN via base station set up as it is.
help!
PC Windows 2000

I recently got my roommate's Lenovo t43p with VPN to finally work with my Airport Extreme.
1. Open the Airport Utility
2. Double click on your Airport Express on the left side to open up the panel.
3. Click on the "Internet" tab and then select the "DHCP" tab.
4. Click the "+" sign under "DHCP Reservations"
5. Create a name for the profile like "XP Work Laptop" or whatever, and then click Continue
6. You'll need to get your Windows laptop's MAC address which is sometimes under your laptop on a sticker, or you'll have to dig through XP's ridiculous Control Panel to find it.
7. Enter your laptop's MAC address in the field.
8. Lastly, in the 'IPv4 Address" field designate an IP address for your XP laptop that is within your router's range, if you're not sure of the range, the "IPv4 Address" range should be auto-populated with an IP address and you can just try it with that, or if it doesn't work you can change the last number to something higher but no more than like 4-5 digits more.
Hope this helps, Good luck!!

Can't create a working Wireless Network using Airport Extreme Base Station

I don't know what I'm doing wrong...
I've got the cable from the modem going to the base station. I follow ALL on screen instructions. I select "Using DHCP" because when I plug the ethernet cable into my MBP it automatically does everything for me, and has that as its setting as well.
I get to the stage where it asks whether or not I'd like it to share an IP or go into bridge mode, I'm not sure what either of these two mean...I've tried both and both result in no wireless internet.
On several occasions I get to the end, and after I do the "final" update is comes back with one problem - internet connection, saying the router doesn't have a valid IP.
I'm totally lost on what to do here...
If you need more information just ask...please...

The below procedure is described in your AirPort setup manual, but it can be a little confusing. Here is my step-by-step procedure for an AEB setup for the system you describe:
A. Setup the 'Main' Base Station:
1. Do a factory reset of your AEB (main), then turnoff the DSL Modem and the AEB (main).
2. Check ethernet cable connections:
- DSL Modem > AEB (main) WAN port;
- AEB (main) > Mac computer running OS X 10.5.x.
3. Power-on DSL Modem and wait for it to initialise.
4. Power-on the AEB (main) and start your Mac computer.
5. Open AirPort Utility and select the AEB (main) in the LH pane. Click 'Continue' and give the AEB (main) a name and an admin password (twice). Click 'Continue'.
6. Select 'I don't have a wireless network and I want to create one', click Continue.
7. Give your network a name, select WPA/WPA2 Personal and insert the wireless network password (twice) - use 13 alpha/numeric characters for password. Tick 'Remember this password in my keychain'. Click 'Continue'.
8. Select 'I connect to the Internet with a DSL or cable modem using DHCP. Click 'Continue'.
9. Click 'Update' and wait for the AEB (main) to restart.
10. Disconnect the ethernet cable between your Mac and the AEB (main).
B. Setup Client computer
1. Open System Preferences/Network/AirPort.
2. Against 'Network Name:' select your network (the name you gave it at A7).
3. Click 'Advanced' and select TCP/IP. Against 'Configure IPv4:' select 'Using DHCP', then click 'OK'.
4. Click 'Apply' and exit System Preferences.

Using Airport Extreme Base Station As A Wireless Card?

Hi,
I don't know if this is even possible but here's what I'd like to do:
I've started to share an internet connection with a cousin of mine that lives in my apartment building. The connection is in her apartment and as far as I can tell the wireless signal is coming from the modem she has, there is no stand alone router/ base station. So far I've just been connecting using my iBook with the aiport card in it. No problems. I just had to get the ip number and password from her and I was hooked right up.
Here's my real question:
I also have a G4 Mini with no wireless card in it at all and an Airport Extreme base station from before we started sharing a connection. In the time that we've been sharing I haven't connected to the internet at all using the Mini. Now I'm wondering if there is a way I can hook the Airport Extreme to the Mini and somehow use it as a replacement for a wireless card in the Mini. Thus using the Mini connected to the Airport to connect just the Mini to the internet.
I'm not worried about the iBook and do not wish to reconfigure the way I'm using/ connecting with it. Everything is peachy with that.
If this is possible, how can I do it?
Thank you in advance for any help with this.

Ernest Lohrer wrote:
Hi,
I don't know if this is even possible but here's what I'd like to do:
I've started to share an internet connection with a cousin of mine that lives in my apartment building. The connection is in her apartment and as far as I can tell the wireless signal is coming from the modem she has, there is no stand alone router/ base station.
She has an "integrated" modem/router/access point.
So far I've just been connecting using my iBook with the aiport card in it. No problems. I just had to get the ip number and password from her and I was hooked right up.
Here's my real question:
I also have a G4 Mini with no wireless card in it at all and an Airport Extreme base station from before we started sharing a connection. In the time that we've been sharing I haven't connected to the internet at all using the Mini. Now I'm wondering if there is a way I can hook the Airport Extreme to the Mini and somehow use it as a replacement for a wireless card in the Mini. Thus using the Mini connected to the Airport to connect just the Mini to the internet.
I'm not worried about the iBook and do not wish to reconfigure the way I'm using/ connecting with it. Everything is peachy with that.
If this is possible, how can I do it?
Set up the AEBSn as a "bridge" and connect the G4 Mini to one of the "wired" internet connections.

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No connection after waking from sleep using Express as base station

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The Airport Express is connected to a wired Linksys router. I am using the Airport Express as my main base station. The Powerbook is joining my preferred network, but I am unable to get any in- or outbound Internet traffic.
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I have the channel switching set to Automatic, but I've also tried running the Airport Express at different channels to no avail.
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Since you have an Airport Express connected to a separate router, start by disabling the router built into the Airport Express. To do this - run the Airport Admin Utility, select your Airport Express, click Configure, click the Network tab, and uncheck the setting to "Distribute IP addresses". Update settings to the Airport Express. Then - very important - restart all wireless computers.

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I am trying to use a free graphite base station as an airport card.
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Hello,
I am still trying to use Adobe PageMill 3.0 to upload to my website.
It worked fine with the old dial up modem.
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It does open the website folder but fails to establish a data connection.
Also it doesn't find the printer attached to the base station.
Any ideas please.
Thank you.
Regards,
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Glyn,
Money!
Thanks for the ideas. The 802.11b/g compatible setting was correct and I should have written that in my original post.
The original channel was 11. I manually changed it to 6 and, lo and behold, the older MacBook could see the network.
Thanks for the ideas and the help.
Spongy II

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I am considering getting an 802.11ac Airport Time Capsule to help, even though I currently only have devices with 802.11n wireless connectivity (future-proof a little).
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Will this work?

Will this work?
Unfortunately, no. WDS is a older, very inefficient way to extend the wireless network signal.
As such, newer operating systems like Lion, Mountain Lion and Mavericks do not even offer settings for this older WDS type of network.
In addition, the new Time Capsule has no capabilities to use WDS settings at all, even if you used a Mac with another operating system to try to set things up.
Even if it were possible to set up a WDS network, the speed on the network would be incredibly slow. As you know, WDS only operates at "g" wireless speed levels. Each "relay" or "remote" that you add to the network each cuts that bandwidth or speed in half.
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Using iMac as base station

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