Being able to connect to the Internet any time, anywhere is part of how I do business. When I can't log on and file stories before deadline, I'm doomed. So the prospect of being without an Internet connection recently while I was moving into a new apartment nearly sent me into a panic attack.
At my previous apartment I had a basic DSL set-up via my telephone landline from Verizon. While it was slow and not particularly versatile (I never bothered to set up a wireless network so I was pretty much tied to my Ethernet cable at all times) it got the job done. With the new apartment though I vowed to create a wireless network so my fiancé and I could both get on the Internet at the same time. I've read about wireless networks but have never set one up myself and was a little intimidated by the process.
Getting the Hook Up
After the move to the new apartment was complete, my local cable company hooked me up with a cable modem as part of their service. They were in and out in about half an hour and I was back online, losing just a day's work.
I had been doing research on wireless routers in the weeks before the move and decided to go with what Apple had to offer since I have a Macbook and Apple's products always seem like the easiest choice.
The router that interested me was their new Apple Airport Extreme which had received largely positive reviews and seemed like a simple way to wirelessly network our new apartment. It's also able to harness the power and speed of the new 802.11n standard which is the fastest Wi-Fi protocol available.
All Aboard
So armed with my charge card, I headed down to the Apple store fully expecting to walk out with a new Airport Extreme. After grabbing one from the shelf and heading to the checkout line, one of the Apple store's bright young staffers asked if I was setting up a wireless home network. Yes, indeedy, I told him. When he learned I was just going to network me and my fiancé, he suggested I put back the Airport Extreme and get an Apple Airport Express instead.
I'm glad he made that suggestion. The Airport Express is about $100 cheaper than the Extreme, as small as a deck of cards, and can network up to ten people. While the Extreme can network up to 50 people and has 802.11n (the Express uses the slightly slower 802.11g), I don't need that much firepower, especially 802.11n which I discovered my slightly older Macbook is not even capable of handling.
Magic in the Air
Another plus to the Airport Express is that I can connect it to my stereo and wirelessly stream music from laptop via iTunes. (My fiancé thinks this is magic!) There's also a USB port on the Express so I can wirelessly network in a printer. Since the Express is small, I can easily bring it on the road with me and create a wireless network via a hotel room's DSL connection. (It's so much better to check email while lying on a comfy hotel bed than sitting at a desk!)
As expected, getting the Airport Express up and running was incredibly easy. I plugged the device into the wall, connected the cable modem's Ethernet cable to it, opened the Airport Setup Assistant software which was already on my computer (there's also a CD with the software in the box), created a password, and my little wireless network was born.
Now wherever I go in my home office or on the road I can always make the connection.