I've never dealt with wireless, so bear with me please...
I'm planning a trip and want to take my new toy (MBP) along. If I want to use it to access the internet on the road and/or hotel, do I need an Airport Express or something else to pick up a signal? And how do I set it up?
Your "new toy" has a built-in wireless adapter. Apple calls it "Airport," but it is a standard 802.11x transceiver. This allows you to pick up any wireless network that is also 802.11x compliant, including a home wireless network router, or a hotel's wireless router.
That doesn't mean that you'll be allowed on a given network. Most networks are encrypted and password-protected, but some are not. Many hotels provide wireless internet access, some free of charge, some not. In some cases where there is a charge for access, you can get on free if you belong to the hotel's "rewards club" or some such. Some hotels require a password just to connect to the network, and some use a "gateway" where you'll need to enter some type of credentials (room #, password provided at the front desk, etc.). Even some "free" hotels require that you access the internet through the gateway, and confirm your agreement to their stated regulations and disclaimers. There are as many "routines" as there are hotels. Suffice it to say that internet access is widely available at hotels.
If you want to access the internet on your own, without connecting to someone's wireless network, you'll need a cellular data plan from one of the carriers. For example, I connect to the internet using my Sprint mobile phone. I can connect it directly to my MBP with a USB adapter, or I can connect via Bluetooth.
Another way to connect through your cellular provider is by using an Expresscard or USB "dongle" mobile data card. These are a more expensive alternative, and the plans for their use are generally more expensive, too ($60/month for unlimited access with an accompanying voice plan, $80/month without). In all cases, you must sign a contract for one of these plans, and there are usually hefty early termination fees.
Sprint offers unlimited access for only $40/month, when using a cellular phone as a modem. As far as I know, they are the only carrier to do so. Check with your own carrier for plans and rates.
An Airport Express can
sometimes be a handy thing to have on the road, but only in specific circumstances. If, for example, you are staying at a hotel that only provides "wired" internet access (via ethernet), you can use an Airport Express to create a wireless "bridge" to the hotel's network, thereby allowing you to connect wirelessly. In many cases, this works well.
Your "new toy" has a built-in wireless adapter. Apple calls it "Airport," but it is a standard 802.11x transceiver. This allows you to pick up any wireless network that is also 802.11x compliant, including a home wireless network router, or a hotel's wireless router.
That doesn't mean that you'll be allowed on a given network. Most networks are encrypted and password-protected, but some are not. Many hotels provide wireless internet access, some free of charge, some not. In some cases where there is a charge for access, you can get on free if you belong to the hotel's "rewards club" or some such. Some hotels require a password just to connect to the network, and some use a "gateway" where you'll need to enter some type of credentials (room #, password provided at the front desk, etc.). Even some "free" hotels require that you access the internet through the gateway, and confirm your agreement to their stated regulations and disclaimers. There are as many "routines" as there are hotels. Suffice it to say that internet access is widely available at hotels.
If you want to access the internet on your own, without connecting to someone's wireless network, you'll need a cellular data plan from one of the carriers. For example, I connect to the internet using my Sprint mobile phone. I can connect it directly to my MBP with a USB adapter, or I can connect via Bluetooth.
Another way to connect through your cellular provider is by using an Expresscard or USB "dongle" mobile data card. These are a more expensive alternative, and the plans for their use are generally more expensive, too ($60/month for unlimited access with an accompanying voice plan, $80/month without). In all cases, you must sign a contract for one of these plans, and there are usually hefty early termination fees.
Sprint offers unlimited access for only $40/month, when using a cellular phone as a modem. As far as I know, they are the only carrier to do so. Check with your own carrier for plans and rates.
An Airport Express can
sometimes be a handy thing to have on the road, but only in specific circumstances. If, for example, you are staying at a hotel that only provides "wired" internet access (via ethernet), you can use an Airport Express to create a wireless "bridge" to the hotel's network, thereby allowing you to connect wirelessly. In many cases, this works well.
Can I just add that I've found an Ethernet cable to be a valuable travel addition as many hotels charge a fee for WiFi access, but offer a free plug and socket connection in the room. Many will lend a cable, but sometimes don't have one available at the time of asking.
One chain offered free WiFi in public areas, but charged for bedroom level access.
I've stayed in a few hotels like that... free wifi in the lobby, but either no option or charge for access in the room. It works, but it's a little inconvenient.
Definitely bring along an ethernet cable just in case, or make sure that the hotels you choose offer free wifi in all rooms. 🙂
Ethernet cable it is; getting an Airport Express apparently is not necessary as long as I have the cable, and buying a plan isn't really worthwhile for one trip, so I'll just keep my fingers crossed that the hotels will have either free or inexpensive wireless access (and sit in the lobby if I have to).
If you have some idea about the hotels in which you will be staying, I suggest you call ahead to find out about internet access. As I have mentioned, in some cases you might get access free of charge only if you belong to their "club." There is generally no charge for joining, and you'll have the added benefit of (potentially) racking up "points" toward a free stay.
In practice, I have found it difficult to acquire enough "rewards points" to make any significant difference, but your habits might be different than mine. At the very least, it is worth looking into.
When you do get the equipment to set up your own wireless network at home (wireless router, cable/DSL modem, etc.), make sure you secure it. This is good advice for anyone, and it is unfortunate that many people with home networks simply take their router out of the box, plug it in, and turn on its wireless network with no protection, no encryption, no password required, etc. Because of this, one can find at least a couple "open" wireless networks in almost any neighborhood. I mean, any passer-by like you or me can simply drive into the neighborhood, find that open network, park in some location with a decent signal, and surf wirelessly all day long. It's just too bad that this sort of free broadband access is so common.
Thanks for the additional info regarding the hotels.
As for the wireless at home, it seems I don't need to get a wireless router (see link to my other post below). I've tried it twice now and it works like a charm without any additional equipment.
But, for now, I've not turned on any safeguard - the "network" created is from "computer to computer" (I didn't do that, it was just there), so I didn't think anyone could access that. Although I did see the option to create a password under Internet Sharing / Airport options:
Channel: Automatic
Enable encryption (using WEP) - currently not checked
Option for password - none at the moment
WEP key length - currently 40-bit (more compatible); other option available: 128 bit.
Would it be better to check encryption and set password?
Yes, I do recommend you secure your network, and I recommend you use "WPA2 Personal" encryption. WEP is an older standard, and less secure.
If what you currently have does everything you need, then I see no reason to "upgrade" at this time. Keep in mind that an inexpensive router would obviate the need to have one machine (the iMac) "awake" in order to access the internet with the other (the MBP). Although wireless "N" routers can be pretty expensive (and this includes the Airport Express), you don't really need "N" speeds unless you are doing large file transfers across the network. For internet access, wireless "G" routers provide more than enough speed, and these can be had for under $50. Another consideration is wireless range; any real router ("G" or "N") will provide better coverage than your iMac.
So, there are benefits to having a router, but if you are happy with your current setup, there's no reason to change.
Thank you, I will set it up. Right now, I really don't think I need a wireless router - I'm in the livingroom, 50 ft and several walls away from the iMac which is in sleep mode, and I have all 4 bars showing most of the time for the past hour. Seems to me that this is as good as it gets!
unfortunately, tonight I could not get it to work. I didn't change any settings on either the iMac or MBP and when I turned Airport on, the network status on the MBP gave me the following message:
"Airport is connected to the network (my assigned name). Airport has a self-assigned IP address and may not be able to connect to the internet."
So, I thought I can fix that, and tried the following (under Network->TCP/IP):
default was: using DCHP (didn't work)
tried using DCHP with manual address (copied numbers from iMac - didn't work)
tried manually - didn't work
tried off - didn't work
I finally gave up and, as an afterthought, it occurred to me that my cable provider may be hindering my efforts? Maybe they think someone is trying to gain free access?
No, your ISP shouldn't have anything to do with it. Your iMac is still online, yes? If so, it may just be that your "network" needs to be reset. This is one of the disadvantages to using a computer to broadcast a wireless network; if and when that computer goes to sleep (actually sleeping, not just putting the display to sleep), it can play havoc with the network. Airport may not come back to "active" status in the expected manner.
Try starting from scratch again. Turn Internet Sharing and "Personal Web Sharing" off on the iMac, then set it all up again (it shouldn't take more than a few moments). Then, find the network with the MBP. It should work fine. While you're at it, set up your encryption!
I've been enjoying your posting, and Scott you've clarified several points that I was unclear about, thank you.
I would add my voice to Scott's recommending an Airport Express at home, as an always on and secure link for both the iMac and any portables (or iPhones!). I have an AE which has been on night and day for a year or more and works simply and reliably. This allows the iMac to take a rest, or be shut down securely without compromising laptop use. Friends use my WiFi link and I don't have to worry about the iMac being compromised especially if I am not here at the time.
I did take a second Express away to a hotel in Hungary and enjoyed wandering about WiFi in my own suite (a room really) but in truth it was just as simple to plug in with the aforementioned Ethernet cable. The hotel did have WiFi but it was a very weak signal in room 4012.
I did turn Airport and personal web sharing off/on last night without success, but will give it another try later today when I have time. And both get shut down every night. The one different behavior I noticed on the MBP last night was that, unlike the first night, it did not give me an option (under Menu->Airport) to "join a network", it already had "my name" network checked.
Maybe I should trash the MBP's Airport preferences?
Fortunately, you can plug the ethernet cable directly to your modem and by-pass the Airport and have good connectivity. This has been going on for over a week now so, hopefully, Apple will have it sorted out SOON! There are a lot of very upset MBP users out there - most of whom travel and, therefore, rely on their Wi-Fi connection to stay connected to their business.
Thanks for the links to the posts; oddly enough though, every one of them mentions 10.5.2 and I'm running 10.4.10 on the MBP (although I do have a bootable 10.5.2 on my external, but I wasn't using that).
I thought Comcast could have something to do with it because
(a) they've been in the news a lot lately about restricting/managing network access at will (there is an investigation going on) and
(b) they configure the DHCP/IP settings (they're blank on my iMac until I actually connect) and the MBP's Airport apparently assigns them itself before trying to access the internet, so they don't "match".
I had no trouble getting the two to connect/talk to each other (had 4 bars on the MBP), it just wouldn't connect to the internet.
And yes, I have a very long ethernet cable (50 ft) and that works, but I was so elated about not having to unplug/plug in/reset modem every time plus the fact that I didn't have to worry about tripping over the cable; but, after reading all the other posts, I will wait buying any wireless router (Airport Express or otherwise) until I hear/read something positive about the problems having been resolved.
In the meantime, I will try it again (and will trash the Airport prefs to see if that may help) and may also call Applecare when I have time . So, I'll mark this as solved (again) for now; may resurrect it later or start another thread.
Thanks to all for your helpful suggestions and time!
I trashed the Airport preferences (had to dig for them, they're in HD->Library-> Preferences->System Configuration, and had to enter my password in order to trash them) and, when turning on Airport and checking network status, for about 1 second, I had a message that "Airport does not have a self-assigned IP address and may be able to connect to the internet"; immediately thereafter, it changed to the "has an IP address and may not be able to connect..." message. And, sure enough, it did not work when I tried.
So, I think a call to Apple is in order when I have time. There should be a way to turn that IP address assigning off, change it, or whatever if it is the cause. I'm also wondering if that self-assigned IP address might have anything to do with the fact that other people are having Airport problems. Anyway, will report whatever Apple has to say; that may be a few days, I'm scheduled for several tests shortly.
