Apple AIr-Port Express Question

[Hazzard101]

Has anyone ever owned or used an Apple Air-Port Express. I am considering buying on for use with my printer at home and would really like to use it when I am staying at Disney for wireless.

How easy is it to use and is it powerful enough for a good connection?

Any info will be appreciated.

 

[Tara]

Has anyone ever owned or used an Apple Air-Port Express. I am considering buying on for use with my printer at home and would really like to use it when I am staying at Disney for wireless.

How easy is it to use and is it powerful enough for a good connection?

Any info will be appreciated.

Very easy to use - I always take one with me when I travel!

 

[Dean]

I use apple, but not the Airport Express. One of the main reasons is I travel with a work computer and cannot put any programs or files on it so that rules out the AE as you must have a config program on the computer from what I'm told. I did recently buy a small travel router that seems more versatile than the AE in that it'll work as an Access Point, regular router or Client. It comes in a soft case about the size of a paperback book. It does have an external power supply but will also power off a USB cable.

 

[jekjones1558]

I use an AE for travel at WDW. I configured it with my computer but use it with both my computer and iPhone. I like the size--and it just works!

 

[jco_direwolf]

First the OP's question. There are several theads about using the Airport Express, including several posts from me. They are awesome. I use an Airpot Basestation at home as my 802.11n access point, and IPv6 router. I have a different router a WRT54G, loaded with open-wrt to filter my broadband connection. So I don't need my Airport Express at home. But when I go on trips for work or play my airport express comes with me.

I do install an Apple cord on my Airport express so I'm not plugging it right into the wall. (The apple power supply cords fit.)

But it's a great design (it's by apple you'd expect that.) everything is self-contained no external antennas or power supply/wall wort or anything. It's pretty straight forward to setup. Using the Apple Configuration utility you can save different configurations. So if you need to change something from home to WDW you can just save your home configuration and change it for WDW then save that one and reload it with home config when you leave.

I use apple, but not the Airport Express. One of the main reasons is I travel with a work computer and cannot put any programs or files on it so that rules out the AE as you must have a config program on the computer from what I'm told. I did recently buy a small travel router that seems more versatile than the AE in that it'll work as an Access Point, regular router or Client. It comes in a soft case about the size of a paperback book. It does have an external power supply but will also power off a USB cable.

The Airport only requires the program to "set it up" it uses SNMP (Simple Network Management protocol) instead of a web interface to configure it. So there are two sides.

First you don't need any special software to use the Airport, but you do need special software to configure it (you say you use Apple, MacOSX comes with the software, it's in the Applications/Utilities/Airport Utility. I would NEVER walk out the door, or suggest to anyone else to walk out, with a device like an airport without the ability to re-configure it on the road.

johno

 

[Dean]

The Airport only requires the program to "set it up" it uses SNMP (Simple Network Management protocol) instead of a web interface to configure it. So there are two sides.

First you don't need any special software to use the Airport, but you do need special software to configure it (you say you use Apple, MacOSX comes with the software, it's in the Applications/Utilities/Airport Utility. I would NEVER walk out the door, or suggest to anyone else to walk out, with a device like an airport without the ability to re-configure it on the road.

johno

I should have added that while I use apple, my company uses Ford (Fix or repair daily) otherwise known as Windows Vista with a Fujitsu name plate. So I couldn't make any adjustments, changes, fixes on the road if needed. Plus, our encryption won't work with WPA, it requires WPA 2, which I've heard can be a problem with AE. Plus the AE is actually bigger, heavier and bulkier than the D link if you add the power cord to it.

 

[jco_direwolf]

I should have added that while I use apple, my company uses Ford (Fix or repair daily) otherwise known as Windows Vista with a Fujitsu name plate. So I couldn't make any adjustments, changes, fixes on the road if needed. Plus, our encryption won't work with WPA, it requires WPA 2, which I've heard can be a problem with AE. Plus the AE is actually bigger, heavier and bulkier than the D link if you add the power cord to it.

Just FYI...

The Airport implements WPA 2. WEP is useless, and WPA was designed so it could be a software upgrade to WEP equipment. But I can tell you've never had an issue with the WPA2/Personal. I've not used the the WPA2/Enterprise, because I don't want to bother setting up and maintain the radius server/database.

Assuming you have the Dlink Pocket Router. It is smaller, but as you said you have to carry around the wall wort. Also the Airport Express also has a number of features, like 802.11n in addition to b/g, you can also stream music to it if you hook up speakers, and you can plug in a printer or other USB device to share (or use it as an iPhone charger which is what I do.)

But I'm glad you are happy with your Dlink.

johno

 

[GILL-WDW]

We used the AE on our last couple trips and it worked great. We also used the USB port on the AE to charge our Cell Phones and iPods while we were traveling.... That way we did not have to take our other chargers.