Today, all Macs have a wireless network card build-in. Otherwise, it's easy to add one; you only need to put in a so-called 'Airport Card' (made by Apple or third party manufacturer).
Every Mac is prepared for WiFi; it already has an antenna inside.
Note: WiFi' means 'Wireless Fidelity'. With your Mac, which is WiFi certified, you can connect to any wireless network in the world.
Do I need to install additional software?
No specific software has to be installed. Mac OS X will recognize the Airport card and display its settings in System Preferences => Network, just like with a modem or ethernet connection. However, it is wise to check if there are any software-updates after installing an Airport card.
Security
There are some things you should know first before connecting to or establishing a wireless network.
To prevent others to read the data that's being send through the air with radio signals, there are several security protocols available. The Mac can connect with WEP and WPA secure connections.
Note: WEP isn't very secure anymore. It can be hacked in minutes.
Why security, the Mac is a secure system, isn't it?
WiFi is a radio connection. Anyone with a suitable receiver can receive these radio waves and download the information that is being send. That means also your credit card number and bank account data. So this is why you'll need to encrypt the data to prevent others from reading it. The encrypt and decrypting software comes with your Mac. You only need to choose some passwords.
An encrypted WiFi network
To connect to an encrypted WiFi network you need to know the following things:
- the kind of encrypting protocol that's being used
- the password to the network, called a 'key' => WEP key or WPA key
A closed WiFi network
Every network has a name. In a closed WiFi network the name, SSID (Service Set Identifier) is not being send. To connect to a network like that, you 'll need to know the network's name. In other words: the SSID-code.
You can log on to a wireless network in case that:
1. your Mac's equipped with an airport card
2. your Mac's within reach of the WiFi base station***
3. you know the kind of encryption (if there is any), password and the name of the network (in case the network is a closed one)
Connecting to a wireless network
Go to the WiFi icon in the Menu Bar and select the right network.
Then fill in the correct password - if needed.
In case the network name is hidden, choose 'Join Other Network'.
Type in the correct network's name and choose the right security level.
Note: You may also go to System Preferences => Network => Airport/Wifi:
Connection quality
The little wireless icon in the Menu Bar shows the quality of the network. When all rays are black: the connection is excellent, when (all) most rays are gray, the connection is (very) bad. Connection quality can be influenced by:
- distance to the wireless modem/router
- obstacles like reinforced concrete, piping, microwaves, water-tanks etc
- an other wireless network at the same radio channel
- anything that can act like a Faraday Cage
WARNING
Connecting to an open, non-secured WiFi network is quite easy. However, an open network is not secure. So, beware not to use it to send confidential data, for example credit card numbers, passwords or accessing internet banking accounts.
Configuring an Airport or Airport Express base-station.
For this, we use the Airport Setup Assistant program, which we find in Applications/Utilities:
You can also use this program to change* the configuration of an existing Airport base station. * Off course you need its password
Connect the base station to WAN or LAN
In case your Airport base-station is connected to a modem or router. Usually, "Configure though DHCP" will do the trick (default). Imagine your base-station is just another Mac hanging on a modem/router:
TIP
Secure by using the Mac addresses
You can also choose to let a WiFi Base-station recognize a unique computer by the MAC address** of it's WiFi card and give it a certain IP address. This is another security measure: to only let certain computers use the network:
A MAC address** is the unique hardware number of your network card. To find the MAC address, go to the Apple Menu => 'About this Mac' => 'More info...':
=> 
Configuring a third party WiFi router or modem.
Most routers and modems can be configured with their build-in web-pages.
First, connect your Mac to the modem by wire. Then, type the modem's IP address into your browser to log on. The manufacturer has that information and also log-on information for you. Remember to change the default password of your modem/router!
Every Mac is prepared for WiFi; it already has an antenna inside.
Note: WiFi' means 'Wireless Fidelity'. With your Mac, which is WiFi certified, you can connect to any wireless network in the world.
Do I need to install additional software?
No specific software has to be installed. Mac OS X will recognize the Airport card and display its settings in System Preferences => Network, just like with a modem or ethernet connection. However, it is wise to check if there are any software-updates after installing an Airport card.
Security
There are some things you should know first before connecting to or establishing a wireless network.
To prevent others to read the data that's being send through the air with radio signals, there are several security protocols available. The Mac can connect with WEP and WPA secure connections.
Note: WEP isn't very secure anymore. It can be hacked in minutes.
Why security, the Mac is a secure system, isn't it?
WiFi is a radio connection. Anyone with a suitable receiver can receive these radio waves and download the information that is being send. That means also your credit card number and bank account data. So this is why you'll need to encrypt the data to prevent others from reading it. The encrypt and decrypting software comes with your Mac. You only need to choose some passwords.
An encrypted WiFi network
To connect to an encrypted WiFi network you need to know the following things:
- the kind of encrypting protocol that's being used
- the password to the network, called a 'key' => WEP key or WPA key
A closed WiFi network
Every network has a name. In a closed WiFi network the name, SSID (Service Set Identifier) is not being send. To connect to a network like that, you 'll need to know the network's name. In other words: the SSID-code.
You can log on to a wireless network in case that:
1. your Mac's equipped with an airport card
2. your Mac's within reach of the WiFi base station***
3. you know the kind of encryption (if there is any), password and the name of the network (in case the network is a closed one)
Connecting to a wireless network
Go to the WiFi icon in the Menu Bar and select the right network.
Then fill in the correct password - if needed.
In case the network name is hidden, choose 'Join Other Network'.
Type in the correct network's name and choose the right security level.
Note: You may also go to System Preferences => Network => Airport/Wifi:
Connection quality
The little wireless icon in the Menu Bar shows the quality of the network. When all rays are black: the connection is excellent, when (all) most rays are gray, the connection is (very) bad. Connection quality can be influenced by:
- distance to the wireless modem/router
- obstacles like reinforced concrete, piping, microwaves, water-tanks etc
- an other wireless network at the same radio channel
- anything that can act like a Faraday Cage
WARNING
Connecting to an open, non-secured WiFi network is quite easy. However, an open network is not secure. So, beware not to use it to send confidential data, for example credit card numbers, passwords or accessing internet banking accounts.
Connection information
At the Network you can see your IP address and the IP address of your Wireless router. At 'Advanced' you can enter explicit details like proxy servers and stuff.
At the Network you can see your IP address and the IP address of your Wireless router. At 'Advanced' you can enter explicit details like proxy servers and stuff.
Configuring an Airport or Airport Express base-station.
For this, we use the Airport Setup Assistant program, which we find in Applications/Utilities:
You can also use this program to change* the configuration of an existing Airport base station. * Off course you need its password
Connect the base station to WAN or LAN
In case your Airport base-station is connected to a modem or router. Usually, "Configure though DHCP" will do the trick (default). Imagine your base-station is just another Mac hanging on a modem/router:
TIP
Secure by using the Mac addresses
You can also choose to let a WiFi Base-station recognize a unique computer by the MAC address** of it's WiFi card and give it a certain IP address. This is another security measure: to only let certain computers use the network:
A MAC address** is the unique hardware number of your network card. To find the MAC address, go to the Apple Menu => 'About this Mac' => 'More info...':
=> Configuring a third party WiFi router or modem.
Most routers and modems can be configured with their build-in web-pages.
First, connect your Mac to the modem by wire. Then, type the modem's IP address into your browser to log on. The manufacturer has that information and also log-on information for you. Remember to change the default password of your modem/router!