[sxltrex]

Hello!

I'm getting high speed internet access installed this weekend. However, there is no way to run an ethernet cable from the cable jack to where I have my iMac, so I need to set up a little WiFi network, and I've got a few questions.

First, what's the difference between an access point and a router? I see both advertised (except for the AEBS, and I can't tell what it is). I'm leaning towards the AEBS, but I want to make sure it's what I need.

Secondly, I also have a PC laptop which I would like to also connect to the network. Using the AEBS, can I connect to the internet via the cable modem as well as share files with the iMac? And can anyone recommend a good WiFi card for the laptop?

Finally, my printer is directly connected to the iMac via USB. Can I send print jobs from the laptop to that printer?

Thanks!

[ghporter]

An access point is simply a bridge between the wireless and wired networks-it connects the two together. A wireless router includes a wired router to allow sharing an Internet connection with multiple wired computers as well as wireless ones.

While the AEBS is a great product for some, it has some drawbacks that haven't been ironed out yet. It is also very expensive compared to other vendors' products. Technically, the AEBS is a wireless router, but it only has one LAN port, so it's very limited. At $300, you don't get as much as you might for your money. My recommendation is to look at other companies' WiFi wireless routers. I have NOTHING against Apple, or Apple equipment (well, DUH!), but in this case the AEBS is not the best product for the job.

Any WiFi (IEEE 802.11b and/or 802.11g) product will work with any other WiFi product, though if both aren't "G" devices you'll only get 11Mbps max. That means that an SMC wireless card will work with an AEBS, and an AirPort or AirPort Extreme card in an iBook or iMac will work with an SMC access point, a Linksys wireless router, or any other brand.

Note that these other brands (including Netgear, D-Link and others) sell their products for significantly less than AirPort products cost-you don't get Apple's cool styling, but is that styling worth the premium?

[sxltrex]

Thanks for the tips, GH! I won't have any wired nodes on my little network, so the lack of LAN ports isn't a big deal. However, I do have an older wired router. Can you plug a router into the LAN port? (Kind of like a USB hub plugged into a USB port?) Also, since I don't need the internal modem, I'd be getting the $200 AEBS. Yeah, Linksys and others are cheaper, but $200 isn't too bad.

Thanks again!

[ghporter]

In your case (for various reasons including security and privacy), I'd plug the base station into the router. That allows you to use the router to isolate your LAN from the rest of the world, and simplifies what the base station does-you won't need to "distribute IP addresses" and so on, just bridge between wireless and wired networks, which simplifies everything...