Airport Express to Connect to City-wide WiFi

There is a city-sponsored wifi connection to the internet where I live.

I currently use dialup for my access to the internet, so the wifi most
likely will be a lot faster if it works at all for me.

I have never used wifi in any form, so I would like to find out about
hardware and software requirements, and also about how to be as secure
as possible in connecting to this wifi.

I have a Quicksilver Mac, 867 MHz with OS 10.5.8.

This computer was built in late 2002, and is "Airport Ready", that is it
will take an airport card, but does not now have it.

Some folks have claimed that the Apple Airport Express will connect to the
city-sponsored wifi, being used *instead* of that airport card - something
about "client mode". The people at the Apple on-line store say that the
airport card is necessary and that the Airport Express is just a wireless
router.

Any info, including where to get more info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

--- Joe

In message
<none-(E-Mail Removed)>
someone claiming to be (E-Mail Removed) (Joe) typed:

>There is a city-sponsored wifi connection to the internet where I live.
>
>I currently use dialup for my access to the internet, so the wifi most
>likely will be a lot faster if it works at all for me.

Most likely.

>I have never used wifi in any form, so I would like to find out about
>hardware and software requirements, and also about how to be as secure
>as possible in connecting to this wifi.
>
>I have a Quicksilver Mac, 867 MHz with OS 10.5.8.
>
>This computer was built in late 2002, and is "Airport Ready", that is it
>will take an airport card, but does not now have it.
>
>Some folks have claimed that the Apple Airport Express will connect to the
>city-sponsored wifi, being used *instead* of that airport card - something
>about "client mode". The people at the Apple on-line store say that the
>airport card is necessary and that the Airport Express is just a wireless
>router.
>
>Any info, including where to get more info would be appreciated.

The easiest/best approach is to get an Airport card, this will allow you
to connect to any or all wifi hotspots as desired without needing
external dongles and cables.

An Airport Express *might* do the trick, but it depends somewhat on the
wifi network (at least in my experience it can act as a client in most
wifi networks, but I had trouble in at least one place when I was
traveling with one)

I'd also guess that an Airport Express will cost more, although I
haven't researched it lately.

In article <(E-Mail Removed)>,
DevilsPGD <Still-Just-A-Rat-In-A-(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> In message
> <none-(E-Mail Removed)>
> someone claiming to be (E-Mail Removed) (Joe) typed:
>
> >There is a city-sponsored wifi connection to the internet where I live.
> >
> >I currently use dialup for my access to the internet, so the wifi most
> >likely will be a lot faster if it works at all for me.
>
> Most likely.
>
> >I have never used wifi in any form, so I would like to find out about
> >hardware and software requirements, and also about how to be as secure
> >as possible in connecting to this wifi.
> >
> >I have a Quicksilver Mac, 867 MHz with OS 10.5.8.
> >
> >This computer was built in late 2002, and is "Airport Ready", that is it
> >will take an airport card, but does not now have it.
> >
> >Some folks have claimed that the Apple Airport Express will connect to the
> >city-sponsored wifi, being used *instead* of that airport card - something
> >about "client mode". The people at the Apple on-line store say that the
> >airport card is necessary and that the Airport Express is just a wireless
> >router.
> >
> >Any info, including where to get more info would be appreciated.
>
> The easiest/best approach is to get an Airport card, this will allow you
> to connect to any or all wifi hotspots as desired without needing
> external dongles and cables.
>
> An Airport Express *might* do the trick, but it depends somewhat on the
> wifi network (at least in my experience it can act as a client in most
> wifi networks, but I had trouble in at least one place when I was
> traveling with one)
>
> I'd also guess that an Airport Express will cost more, although I
> haven't researched it lately.

How did you get the Airport Express to work as a client? I'm willing to
bet that the particular WiFi network I'm planning to try will work okay,
IF the Airport Express is capable of "client mode".

My general idea is to use ethernet from my Quicksilver Mac to the
Airport Express and then to have the Airport Express serve the same
purpose as the Airport Card, without having an Airport Card installed in
my Mac. Would this work at all?

What computer and OS did you use with the Airport Express, and how was
it all connected - ethernet from your computer to the Airport Express?

The reason I'm so interested in things other than the Airport Card is
that in order to try for better reception, the Airport Card would
require me to move the entire 40 pounds+ computer. Compared to, I'm
guessing, just using a long enough ethernet cable to move the 1 or 2
pound Airport Express around.

Thanks for the info.

--- Joe

In article <none-(E-Mail Removed)>, Joe
<(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> > An Airport Express *might* do the trick, but it depends somewhat on the
> > wifi network (at least in my experience it can act as a client in most
> > wifi networks, but I had trouble in at least one place when I was
> > traveling with one)
> >
> > I'd also guess that an Airport Express will cost more, although I
> > haven't researched it lately.
>
> How did you get the Airport Express to work as a client?

pick join existing network in the setup.

> I'm willing to
> bet that the particular WiFi network I'm planning to try will work okay,
> IF the Airport Express is capable of "client mode".

the current 802.11n model is.

> My general idea is to use ethernet from my Quicksilver Mac to the
> Airport Express and then to have the Airport Express serve the same
> purpose as the Airport Card, without having an Airport Card installed in
> my Mac. Would this work at all?

more than likely.

> What computer and OS did you use with the Airport Express, and how was
> it all connected - ethernet from your computer to the Airport Express?
>
> The reason I'm so interested in things other than the Airport Card is
> that in order to try for better reception, the Airport Card would
> require me to move the entire 40 pounds+ computer. Compared to, I'm
> guessing, just using a long enough ethernet cable to move the 1 or 2
> pound Airport Express around.

exactly. you can put the airport express in a window and then run a
cable to the computer. it's also only 7 ounces.

<http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/>

In article <250320110855560645%(E-Mail Removed)>,
nospam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> In article <none-(E-Mail Removed)>, Joe
> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>
> > How did you get the Airport Express to work as a client?
>
> pick join existing network in the setup.

In talking with "tech support" people at a couple of vendors, doing it
this way requires me to know some technical details about the particular
equipment being used to create this city-wide wifi. Also, have you
actually joined one of these widespread networks this way? How exactly
did you do it, equipment and cables wise? Did you have to do a new
setup for *each particular* existing network that you wanted to join?
How did you obtain the necessary info to set up for any particular
network that you wished to be a client of?

The info that some of these tech people are giving me is that it *might*
be able to do it, but it's doing it the hard way. I sure wish I could
look over the shoulder of someone who has successfully done it. So far,
I am even handicapped by not being familiar with some of the terminology.

I have looked over a bunch of FAQs on the apple web site, but none seem
to come close to asking about the stuff I would like to do. Most are
about stuff with people's own LANs and how to stream music wirelessly to
their speakers - sheesh!

Please give details of what type of computer hardware and software you
used to get success, and what type of network that you joined in "client
mode".

Thanks.

--- Joe

>
> > I'm willing to
> > bet that the particular WiFi network I'm planning to try will work okay,
> > IF the Airport Express is capable of "client mode".
>
> the current 802.11n model is.
>
> > My general idea is to use ethernet from my Quicksilver Mac to the
> > Airport Express and then to have the Airport Express serve the same
> > purpose as the Airport Card, without having an Airport Card installed in
> > my Mac. Would this work at all?
>
> more than likely.
>
> > What computer and OS did you use with the Airport Express, and how was
> > it all connected - ethernet from your computer to the Airport Express?
> >
> > The reason I'm so interested in things other than the Airport Card is
> > that in order to try for better reception, the Airport Card would
> > require me to move the entire 40 pounds+ computer. Compared to, I'm
> > guessing, just using a long enough ethernet cable to move the 1 or 2
> > pound Airport Express around.
>
> exactly. you can put the airport express in a window and then run a
> cable to the computer. it's also only 7 ounces.
>
> <http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/>

In message <none-(E-Mail Removed)>
someone claiming to be Joe <(E-Mail Removed)> typed:

>In article <250320110855560645%(E-Mail Removed)>,
> nospam <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>
>> In article <none-(E-Mail Removed)>, Joe
>> <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>
>>
>> > How did you get the Airport Express to work as a client?
>>
>> pick join existing network in the setup.
>
>In talking with "tech support" people at a couple of vendors, doing it
>this way requires me to know some technical details about the particular
>equipment being used to create this city-wide wifi.

You typically need to know the SSID (name of the network) and encryption
key (if any)

In general, the Airport Express will be able to detect the security
method being used (if any), encryption method being used (if any),
channel, network mode, etc.

>Also, have you
>actually joined one of these widespread networks this way? How exactly
>did you do it, equipment and cables wise? Did you have to do a new
>setup for *each particular* existing network that you wanted to join?

Typically large networks like this use an identical configuration across
multiple access points, so you can "roam" between individual access
points. Once you set up at one location, it "just works"

>How did you obtain the necessary info to set up for any particular
>network that you wished to be a client of?

The network operator provides the information.

>The info that some of these tech people are giving me is that it *might*
>be able to do it, but it's doing it the hard way. I sure wish I could
>look over the shoulder of someone who has successfully done it. So far,
>I am even handicapped by not being familiar with some of the terminology.

Why are you focusing on the Airport Express rather than an Airport card?

On 3/24/2011 3:25 PM, Joe wrote:
> There is a city-sponsored wifi connection to the internet where I live.
>
> I currently use dialup for my access to the internet, so the wifi most
> likely will be a lot faster if it works at all for me.
>
> I have never used wifi in any form, so I would like to find out about
> hardware and software requirements, and also about how to be as secure
> as possible in connecting to this wifi.
>
> I have a Quicksilver Mac, 867 MHz with OS 10.5.8.
>
> This computer was built in late 2002, and is "Airport Ready", that is it
> will take an airport card, but does not now have it.
>
> Some folks have claimed that the Apple Airport Express will connect to the
> city-sponsored wifi, being used *instead* of that airport card - something
> about "client mode". The people at the Apple on-line store say that the
> airport card is necessary and that the Airport Express is just a wireless
> router.
>
> Any info, including where to get more info would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
> --- Joe
In my local area the neighboring city just announced they were going to
do the same thing. They are calling it WiFi but in digging deeper it
appears that they are going to use some sort of 3g or 4g wireless in
order to utilize the cellular antenna's and facilities already in place.

You really need to contact the people driving the install in your area
and find out if they are using the traditional WiFi like in a coffee
shop or are they going city wide wireless using cellular frequencies.

Try calling people at your City Hall and keep asking until you get to
the correct department that has the information you need.

Only then would I consider purchasing any equipment in order to access
the new service.

In <(E-Mail Removed)> DevilsPGD <Still-Just-A-Rat-In-A-(E-Mail Removed)> writes:

[snippeth]

>Why are you focusing on the Airport Express rather than an Airport card?

You might not have seen the original poster's followup but bascially
he's got miserable reception where his desktop sits, but he could run
the Airport Express (or any similar unit) to his window and it would
pick up a much better signal there.


--
__________________________________________________ ___
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
(E-Mail Removed)
[to foil spammers, my address has been double rot-13 encoded]

Joe <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

> Some folks have claimed that the Apple Airport Express will connect to the
> city-sponsored wifi, being used *instead* of that airport card - something
> about "client mode". The people at the Apple on-line store say that the
> airport card is necessary and that the Airport Express is just a wireless
> router.
>
> Any info, including where to get more info would be appreciated.

<http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1731>

Joe <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

<snip>

> I have a Quicksilver Mac, 867 MHz with OS 10.5.8.

<http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/quicksilver-power-mac-g4.html>

> This computer was built in late 2002, and is "Airport Ready", that is it
> will take an airport card, but does not now have it.

Late 2002 and 867 MHz, not this one?

<http://www.lowendmac.com/ppc/quicksilver-2002-power-mac.html>

Anyway. Airport cards, the only ones that will fit into your Airport
Ready Quicksilver's Airport slot are no longer made and the used ones
you can buy are expensive. Here's one solution for that:

<http://www.lowendmac.com/ed/royal/09sr/airport-hack.html>

> Some folks have claimed that the Apple Airport Express will connect to the
> city-sponsored wifi, being used *instead* of that airport card - something
> about "client mode". The people at the Apple on-line store say that the
> airport card is necessary and that the Airport Express is just a wireless
> router.

Possible? See below. Anyway, also expensive.

> Any info, including where to get more info would be appreciated.

Cheaper, and greater choice would be a Game Adapter, that bridges your
Ethernet card and the wireless network.

Here are a few - old, and probably outdated - models:

Belkin F5D7330 Wireless Ethernet Bridge.

D-Link DWL-G700AP, in Repeater Mode.

D-Link DWL-G730AP Pocket Router, in Client Mode.

ASUS WL-330gE Portable Wireless Access Point, in Client Mode.

But you get the idea? Look for something similar. Many Access Points can
be configured to bridge Ethernet and wirelass networks "the other way".


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