Rename network on existing Airport Extreme

Question

Level 1

0 points

Rename network on existing Airport Extreme

I want to change the network name on my AE from my name to an alias. I opened Airport Utility, clicked on the "network name", put in a new name, then clicked next. The next screen is the set-up screen. which option do I choose?

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.6)

Posted on Feb 27, 2009 11:25 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Tesserax

Level 10

158,076 points

Feb 27, 2009 2:07 PM in response to mlcshellz

Hello mlcshellz. Welcome to the Apple Discussions!

I assume that you are using the "Assist Me" mode of the AirPort Utility. On the first screen, you would enter both the name of the wireless network (Wireless Network Name) and then the name of the AirPort base station itself. As you see, the network name has a default value of "Apple Network XXXXXX" where the Xs are the last six digits of the base station's AirPort ID (which happens to be printed on the label on the bottom of the base station).

The next screen should be the one which asks for the country that the base station will be used in and the radio mode you wish it to operate in. Is this not the case?

Reply

Answer 2

mlcshellz Author

Level 1

0 points

Feb 27, 2009 2:36 PM in response to Tesserax

Hi Tessarex,

No, I'm not in "assist me". I have accessed the Airport Utility in the applications file of my hard drive.
It's the Airport Utility - Network Setup. The first screen shows that the Airport Utility has found my Airport Extreme 801.22n. The next screen (when I click next), shows the Network name and password.
I want to change the Network name, so I type the new name into the box and click next.
The next screen says "Airport Utility has discovered existing wireless networks. Do you already have a wireless network? I have 3 choices as follows:
1) I have a wireless network and want to add Airport Extreme or want to replace existing device on my network.
2) I don't have a wireless network and want to create one
3) I want to connect Airport Extreme to my computer or network using Ethernet

It is obvious I do not want choice #3. Which of the other two do I choose?

I have 3 computers currently using this wireless network, an iMac, a Macbook Pro and a Macbook. I just want to change the name of the network so it isn't identified as me, which it currently does.

thank you!

Reply

Answer 3

Tesserax

Level 10

158,076 points

Feb 27, 2009 3:07 PM in response to mlcshellz

No, I'm not in "assist me". I have accessed the Airport Utility in the applications file of my hard drive.
It's the Airport Utility - Network Setup. The first screen shows that the Airport Utility has found my Airport Extreme 801.22n. The next screen (when I click next), shows the Network name and password.

Hmm, unless you selected "Manual Setup" you will be in "Assist Me" mode. Regardless, I just want to be sure that we are seeing the same thing. Typically the "Assist Me" mode will take you through the configuration page by page. Whereas "Manual Setup" allows you to pick and choose which items you want to configure ... so I'm going to still assume that you are referring to pages within the AirPort Utility when going through "Assist Me."

The next screen says "Airport Utility has discovered existing wireless networks. Do you already have a wireless network? I have 3 choices as follows:
1) I have a wireless network and want to add Airport Extreme or want to replace existing device on my network.
2) I don't have a wireless network and want to create one
3) I want to connect Airport Extreme to my computer or network using Ethernet

It is obvious I do not want choice #3. Which of the other two do I choose?

Okay, here is where you really would rather go through the Manual Setup instead since all you want to do is change the Network Name. I suggest closing the Utility and not save any changes. Then follow these instructions to change the network name on your AEBSn:

Either connect to the AEBSn's wireless network, or temporarily connect your computer directly (using an Ethernet cable) to one of the LAN ports of the AEBSn, and then, using the AirPort Utility in Manual Setup, check these settings:

AirPort - Wireless
o Network Name: <Enter the preferred Network Name (SSID)>
o Click "Update" to write the new setting to the AEBSn and restart the base station.

Reply