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# Setting up your AirPort network

Use the Wireless pane to set options for your wireless network.

## Wireless options include:

- Setting the wireless mode to create a new wireless network or extend a wireless network.

- Giving your network a name. This is the name that appears in the AirPort status menu in the menu bar on computers using Mac OS X, and above the wireless network icon in the status tray on a Windows computer.

- Setting the radio mode. Choose the frequency for your wireless network that is the most compatible with the computers joining your network.

- If you expect computers that use 802.11b or 802.11g to join your network, choose “802.11n (802.11b/g compatible)” from the Radio Mode pop-up menu.

- If you expect computers that use 802.11a to join your network, choose “802.11n (802.11a compatible).”

- If you expect only computers using 802.11n to join your network, choose either “802.11n only (2.4GHz)” or “802.11n only (5 GHZ)” from the Radio Mode pop-up menu.

- Choosing a channel for your network. In most cases, using the Automatic setting is the most efficient, though there may be instances when you want to choose a specific channel for your network. If you’re using 802.11n only, in the 5 gigahertz (GHz) range, you cannot set your channels manually.

- Password-protecting your network. Choose WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or WPA2 Personal, WPA or WPA2 Enterprise, or choose WEP (Transitional Security Network) depending on the base station you’re setting up, and the capabilities of wireless client computers that will join your network.

- Setting additional wireless options. Click Wireless Network Options to set the multicast rate, transmit power, or region, create a closed network, and turn on interference robustness. If your base station supports it, and you’re using the 802.11n only (5 GHz) radio mode, you can also select to use wide channels, which provide higher data throughput in your network.

### Related Topics

AirPort security

Setting up an AirPort network