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Mac Mini / Airport - connect laptops
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Richard Clark
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Join Date: Apr 2000
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Feb 16, 2009, 11:23 AM
 
Mac Mini
1.83 GHz
1 GB SDRAM
Airport Card

My wife has a laptop at school that has wireless card installed and wants to access our home computer which has an airport card.

Can I set things up so she can wirelessly access the internet from our home computer?

Do I need to have a wireless router in order to do this?

Any information, tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!
"Tough Little Ship" - Riker
"LITTLE?" - Worf after having the Defiant salvaged by the Enterprise (First Contact)
     
Laminar
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
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Feb 16, 2009, 11:35 AM
 
It's a piece of cake - assuming you're running OS 10.5 (Leopard) and that your Mini is connected to the internet via ethernet, here's what you do:

- Open System Preferences
- Go to "Sharing"
- In the list on the left, select (but don't check the box next to) "Internet Sharing"
- Share connection from: Ethernet
- To computers on: Airport
- If you'd like, you can set up a password to access your network, but I've found that Windows machines have trouble accessing the network if it's password protected, even when following the 5 or 13 character guideline
- Check the box next to "Internet Sharing" and you're good to go. The Airport icon on your menu bar should appear to have an arrow on it, and your computer's name should show up on her laptop's list of available networks

In this case, the Mini acts as your wireless router so you don't need one, you just need to leave the Mini running. I share my Mini's ethernet connection with my iPod Touch (Pandora anywhere in the house) and my work laptop without a problem.
     
Richard Clark  (op)
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Feb 16, 2009, 11:37 AM
 
I'm running 10.4. Is that going to be a problem?
"Tough Little Ship" - Riker
"LITTLE?" - Worf after having the Defiant salvaged by the Enterprise (First Contact)
     
Laminar
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Location: Iowa, how long can this be? Does it really ruin the left column spacing?
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Feb 16, 2009, 11:48 AM
 
Originally Posted by Richard Clark View Post
I'm running 10.4. Is that going to be a problem?
Nope, the idea is the same but the process is slightly different.

- Open System Preferences
- "Sharing"
- I believe there's an "Internet Sharing" tab
- Share from: Ethernet
- To: Airport
- Click "Start"

I haven't used Tiger in a while, but I believe that's how it works.
     
Richard Clark  (op)
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Feb 16, 2009, 12:02 PM
 
Cool!

I got it working. Thanks for your help!
"Tough Little Ship" - Riker
"LITTLE?" - Worf after having the Defiant salvaged by the Enterprise (First Contact)
     
ghporter
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Antonio TX USA
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Feb 16, 2009, 10:20 PM
 
Moved to Networking because that's where it belongs... Glad you got connected!

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
   
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