How to connect an iPod Touch to an ethernet port

May 23, 2009 5:24 AM

I have an iPod Touch (2nd gen) and a working ethernet port. If I buy an Airport Express, can I get internet access on the iPod? Note that I don't (currently) have access to a computing device other than the iPod to run any setup/admin utilities.

Although I do have an iPod/USB cable, if that helps.

posted by robtoo to computers & internet (12 comments total)

Normally you configure the wireless router through a web browser, so you should be able to just use the iPod.
posted by dunkadunc at 5:42 AM on May 23

Normally you configure the wireless router through a web browser, so you should be able to just use the iPod.

This is wrong vis-a-vis the Airport Express. Apple has a program, Airport Utility, that is used to configure its base stations on both PC and Windows, and there is no web configuration interface. I don't know that there is a version of Airport Utility for the iPhone/iPod Touch. Cursory searching indicates "no."
posted by The Michael The at 5:53 AM on May 23

I stand corrected. I do know that the standard Linksys routers can be configured this way, though.
posted by dunkadunc at 5:54 AM on May 23

Oh, that said, if you want internet access, I'd suggest buying a cheap linksys/netgear/whatever router that does have a web configuration interface. I love my Airport Expresses, but they just can't do what you want, unfortunately, whereas the cheap generic router will.
posted by The Michael The at 5:55 AM on May 23

Out-of-the-box, the Airport Express comes configured with default settings that, if you connect it to most ISP cable modems/DSL modems, is usable as a router. The default settings, however, are not secure. There is no password on your wireless network, for instance and no password set for the administration of your Airport Express. I do not recommend you set up any wireless router with the default, insecure settings.

The SSID (or wireless network name) in the default settings of an Airport Express is going to be "Apple Network XXXXXX" where the X's are the last six digits of the wireless MAC address on the device.
posted by mrbarrett.com at 6:19 AM on May 23

Thank you, mrbarrett.com. Can the security settings be changed via a browser, or is the Airport Utility required?
posted by robtoo at 7:17 AM on May 23

The Airport Utility is required for all configuration (barring a physical reset to factory defaults which do with a little button).

I'd agree you probably need a generic wireless router.

We're all assuming that you have internet access of some kind on the other side of that ethernet port ...
posted by galaksit at 7:35 AM on May 23

If you want to go this route, can you borrow a laptop from a friend to configure it for you? You only really need to do this once.
posted by defcom1 at 7:40 AM on May 23

Seconding defcom1. Just have a buddy with a mac come over for 5 minutes and you're golden.
posted by Aquaman at 7:46 AM on May 23

Airport Utility is available for windows too
posted by gregjones at 7:53 AM on May 23

> You only really need to do this once.

Well, unless you forget the password, or your friend comes round and wants to get on the internet but you've set up WPA2 and the friend's device only does WEP, etc., etc.

An iPod Touch can't currently (I am prepared to be corrected) take advantage of any of the AirPort Express's unique features anyway, so it's probably overkill.
posted by galaksit at 8:24 AM on May 23

Yes, I don't see any benefit to an Airport Express for $100 vs. any standard router for $40. Particularly since Netgear routers have a very Apple design aesthetic nowadays, for instance this one.
posted by smackfu at 9:22 AM on May 23