Apple AirPort Express

Multiple Personalities

If you travel, or plan to move your AirPort Express between a home and an office, you can set up multiple configuration profiles, which can be saved and quickly downloaded using the AirPort Admin utility. Just click on the Profiles icon to bring up the menu of previously saved profiles, and note that you can create a new profile from scratch, or duplicate and modify individual settings. More sophisticated Wi-Fi users who want to set up firewall and other capabilities of the AirPort Express can do so using this utility.

Reducing Interference and Range

Two additional features available in AirPort Admin include interference robustness and transmitter power adjustment. The first option can make your Wi-Fi communication more stable when other 2.4GHz devices, such as telephones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens, are nearby. In addition, you can reduce the transmit power and effective range of the AirPort Express, which can be handy if you want to set up an open network for more than one computer in your hotel room but keep the network contained inside your room.

The Missing Remote

The AirPort Express is not a self-contained music player. As such, it has no remote control. However, if you have a Bluetooth cell phone or PDA -- and you use Mac OS X on a Bluetooth-equipped Mac -- you can install a shareware utility called Salling Clicker (download now) which gives you complete control over iTunes and many other Mac functions, such as advancing slides in PowerPoint. This utility can also be programmed to do neat tricks like pause your iTunes playback when you walk away with your phone in your pocket, and resume playback when you return. Bluetooth does not reach as far as Wi-Fi, but it will get you into the next room, at least.