Mac Client Settings
Connecting to Orange County Library System's Wi-Fi Network
using Mac OS 10.3
INTRODUCTION:
Wi-Fi technology allows a computer to wirelessly connect to the Internet through an Access Point (or "Hot Spot"). OCLS supports the two common flavors of Wi-Fi - 802.11b and 802.11g. The main difference between them is download speed (802.11g is up to 5 times faster than 802.11b). Apple Computer makes two versions of the Wi-Fi card for Macintosh laptops. They're called AirPort Wi-Fi Card (802.11b) and AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi Card (802.11g). See http://www.apple.com/airport/
This tutorial illustrates how to connect wirelessly to the Internet at any of OCLS's 14 Library locations using a Macintosh laptop computer running Mac OS 10.3 ("Panther"), various pre-installed Apple Software, an Apple AirPort Wi-Fi Card and a Web Browser. No passwords or pass phrases are needed for free access to OCLS's Wi-Fi Network once you are registered with OCLS.
NOTE: the basic concepts in this tutorial apply to earlier versions of Mac OS 10.x (10.2 "Jaguar" & 10.1 "Cheetah") and manufacturers of Wi-Fi Cards beside Apple Computer (Belkin, DLink, Cisco, Linksys, etc.).
5 STEPS to ACCESS OCLS's Wi-Fi Network with Mac OS 10.3
- Find your AirPort Wi-Fi Card MAC Address
- Register your computer with OCLS
- Open Apple's "Internet Connect" software
- Use Apple's AirPort Setup Assistant to create an "OCLS" Location
- Configure your Network settings
1. Find your AirPort Wi-Fi Card MAC (Media Access Card) Address (also known as Wi-Fi Ethernet Address or Wi-Fi Card Identifier)
(Why do this? - Because this MAC Address (a unique identifier) is needed for Step #2)
Using Mac OS 10.3, Go to the Apple Menu (blue Apple icon, top left of the screen), go to "About this Mac", click on the "More Info" button. In the "System Profile" window click on "Network". Under "Configuration Name" click on "AirPort", Click on "Network", the screen will display the Ethernet Address of your Apple Wi-Fi Card - 6 pairs of characters separated by colons. This is the MAC Address you'll submit to OCLS's web page in Step #2 (Under Mac OS 10.2 "Jaguar" the path to this information is slightly different - About this Mac -> More Info ->System Profile -> Network Overview -> Airport -> Ethernet Address)
2. REGISTER with OCLS for Wireless Access
(Why do this? - Because once registered, your unique MAC Address will allow you to access OCLS's Wi-Fi network).
Register your MAC Address by completing the OCLS Wireless Access form and click "Submit". NOTE: each Library patron can register up to two MAC Addresses per each Library card in good standing. Once you receive email confirmation from OCLS that your MAC Address has been entered into OCLS's system, proceed to Step #3.
The final 3 Steps in this tutorial are best done at an OCLS Library location, so that your computer can "see" and "talk" to the OCLS Wi-Fi network during final Wi-Fi setup.
3. Open Apple's "Internet Connect" software
(Why do this? - Because you want to make sure your computer "sees" OCLS's Wi-Fi Network before proceeding with the Network setup in Steps 4 & 5)
On your Macintosh Hard Drive, Open the "Applications" folder, Open the "Internet Connect" software. If a "Connection Window" is not showing in "Internet Connect", go to "File" -> "New Connection Window". Turn AirPort On. You should see "Network: PublicWireless" (if not, select it from the drop-down menu) and a "Signal Level" of several bars (Wi-Fi signal strength). Your computer now "sees" OCLS's "PublicWireless" Wi-Fi Network. NOTE: If you do not have "PublicWireless" available in the "Internet Connect" window, then your Wi-Fi Card is not installed correctly or the OCLS Wi-Fi network is down.
4. Use Apple's AirPort Setup Assistant to create an "OCLS" Location
(Why do this? - Because the AirPort Setup Assistant will auto-configure your computer to OCLS's Wi-Fi Network and you'll create a "Location" with unique OCLS Wi-Fi Network settings).
On your Macintosh Hard Drive, Open the "Applications" folder, Open the "Utilities" folder, Open "AirPort Setup Assistant" software. In the first window of AirPort Setup Assistant, name your new Location "OCLS". Follow the prompts to connect "Wirelessly" to OCLS's "PublicWireless" network.
5. Configure your Network settings
(Why do this? - Because there are specific network settings needed to access OCLS's Wi-Fi network and your laptop will "talk" to the OCLS Wi-Fi Network after completing this step).
Go to the Apple Menu, go to "System Preferences...", Click on "Network", in the resulting "Network" window, change the "Location" drop-down menu to "OCLS", (created in Step #4). Change the "Show" drop-down menu to "AirPort".
In the "Network" window, enter this information in the following 4 "Tabs"...
AirPort Tab: By default join: A specific network, Network: PublicWireless
TCP/IP Tab: Configure IPv4: Using DHCP (Mac OS 10.2 will have "Configure:" only)
AppleTalk Tab: Not Applicable
Open your web browser and wirelessly connect to the Internet at OCLS!
NOTE: The next time you come to a Library location, make sure AirPort is turned on (Step #3 above) and make sure your Location is "OCLS" (Apple Menu -> Location -> OCLS).
Apple HARDWARE & SOFTWARE used in creating this tutorial:
Apple Macintosh PowerBook G3 & G4 laptop
Mac OS 10.3 ("Panther") & Mac OS 10.2 ("Jaguar")
Apple AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi Card (802.11g, Firmware Version 3.1.2b3 (3.30.15.p3)
Apple AirPort Wi-Fi Card (802.11b, Firmware Version 3.0.3)
Apple Internet Connect software (version 1.2 & 1.3)
Apple AirPort Setup Assistant (version 2.1 & 3.1.2)
Web Browser: Internet Explorer 5.2.3 for the Mac, Apple's Safari 1.1
FEEDBACK:
To report errors in this document or to suggest improvements, please email MacWi-Fi@ocls.info
Wi-Fi FAQs:
go to http://xyz.com
Written By: Mark Regnier
This document revised May 12, 2004
