Apple AirPort Express Base Station 802.11n

Faster is better.

Now with blazing 802.11n, the affordable AirPort Express is powerful enough to run a home Wi-Fi network, yet small enough to take on the road.

Features:

Connect up to 10 users
With AirPort Express connected to your DSL or cable modem, up to 10 people can all share the same Internet connection, exchange files with the file-sharing capability built into Mac OS X or Windows, access local and remote file servers, annihilate the competition in multiplayer games—anything a typical network user can do, plus a number of things that are decidedly not typical, such as wireless music streaming and printing.

More than the web.
AirPort Express connects people to each other as well. You can wirelessly share photos, movies, and other files without having to worry about slow data transmissions. Nor do you have to concern yourself with a difficult network setup. AirPort Express uses the Bonjour technology in Mac OS X to allow your AirPort-equipped Mac computers running Mac OS X to find each other with no effort on your part—they discover each other just by virtue of being in range of the network.

Extended range.
If you already have a wireless network in your home and would like to extend its range, AirPort Express is the answer. For example, suppose you want to extend the range of your current AirPort-based network to your backyard, garage, or attic. You can use AirPort Express as a wireless bridge to extend the range of your primary base station.2There's no need for extra wires or cables. Just place AirPort Express in range of your primary base station (either an AirPort Extreme Base Station or another AirPort Express Base Station) and near the area where you want your wireless connection. With its easy portability, you can even move AirPort Express from place to place. So if you want to connect wirelessly from your basement one day and your garage the next, just plug it in within range of the primary base station and in a spot near those areas.

Print from anywhere.
Print documents, photos, and more from any room in the house to one central printer. Here's how simple it is to set up: Just plug the printer into the USB port on the AirPort Express Base Station, add it to the printer list on your Mac or PC, and you're good to print—without a single cable tethering anyone's computer to the printer.If all you want to do is access your USB printer wirelessly, you don't even need a broadband Internet connection. You can just set up your AirPort Express for wireless printing and that's it.

Stream your music.
Play iTunes music through your stereo or powered speakers using AirTunes. AirTunes takes the music from the iTunes library on your computer and sends it wirelessly to any stereo or speakers in your home. All you have to do is plug an AirPort Express into an electrical outlet near those speakers, then connect them with an audio cable.In iTunes, you can choose which speakers you want your music to play on—in your den, living room, or bedroom. If you have more than one AirPort Express connected to speakers, you can play the same music on all your speakers at the same time to create a whole-house musical experience.

Party central.
If you already have a wireless network in place, you can use AirPort Express to add music to its capabilities. Let's say, for example, you have AirPort Extreme set up in your den. There's no need to scrap this setup and create a whole new network. Simply connect AirPort Express to your stereo in your favorite music room and plug it into an electrical outlet—it wirelessly links to your existing network, letting you play your music in your room of choice without moving anything or connecting anything else.

Wireless to go.
Compact and portable, AirPort Express is also a great way to share Internet access when you go on the road. Say your hotel suite offers only a wired network connection. Just plug it into your AirPort Express and set up the wireless network with the simple AirPort Utility.

Security.
The AirPort Express Base Station takes strong measures to keep your online world as safe as possible—from securing your base station to preventing outside intruders. Worry-free networking.It starts with the industry-standard encryption technologies built into AirPort Express, including WPA/WPA2 and 128-bit WEP.1 When you turn on encryption—easy to do using AirPort Utility—you’ll ensure that only people with the correct password can join your wireless network.

AirPort Express includes a built-in firewall that creates a barrier between your network and the Internet, protecting your data from malicious Internet attacks. When you set up the base station, the firewall is automatically turned on to keep the bad guys out. For computers with a cable or DSL modem, using AirPort is actually safer than being directly connected to the modem.

Compatible with 802.11a/b/g.
Most currently shipping Mac systems support the next-generation 802.11n technology in the AirPort Express Base Station. And AirPort Express is compatible with Mac computers, PCs, and wireless devices such as iPhone and iPod touch that use 802.11a, b, or g technologies.

Airport Utility.
If you think setting up a wireless network is difficult, think again. AirPort Utility for Mac and Windows guides you through the process, and you'll have your network up and running in minutes. AirPort Utility does most of the work for you by stepping you through the setup process quickly and easily. In most cases, your wireless network can be up and running in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.

For the most basic setup, all you have to do is plug your AirPort Express into an electrical outlet and connect your DSL or cable modem. Then open the AirPort Utility software and just follow the onscreen instructions. The software takes you through step by step, asking for relevant information, setting up encryption and security, and configuring your computer to access your new network—all in plain English. Whether you use a Mac or a PC, the whole network can be ready to go in about five minutes. And if you want to do more—such as stream your music wirelessly or add a shared USB printer—it’s just as easy. An excellent wireless and audio device.