Apple Airport Utility how to display more information
While doing a Wi-Fi scan at work to get better reception and optimize the location and channel selection using NetSpot Wi-Fi Reporter, I had a problem. Our wireless network is set up with roaming, so when NetSpot Manager displays the scanned Wi-Fi device, it only shows the MAC address. So identifying an AirPort Extreme wireless router can be difficult, especially since Apple has simplified the user interface of AirPort Utility and removed a lot of information. One of them being what MAC address the AirPort unit has. So I needed a solution.
Here’s the main window in AirPort Utility. When you click one of the routers, you get access to an Edit button.
Here’s how the window looks like when pressing the Edit button after selecting an AirPort device in AirPort Utility.
I found a “hidden” screen within AirPort Utility, which you can get to by holding down the ALT key when pressing the edit button. A new Summary screen is displayed. Here you can see your MAC address, both for the wired network, and more importantly, which MAC address the Wi-Fi interface has.
It also displays the serial number of the selected AirPort Extreme/Express, and the exact model version.
Very handy to know. Now I can finally name my routers with names without going and reading directly on the router to find out the information. And considering where some of those Routers are placed, would make me, a middle-aged man run for cover.
I’ll try to follow up with an article on how much better (or worse) the network got, and how I did it.
Matthew says
I like this feature. However, I can’t seem to enable it when connecting over WAN. I tried holding alt or option or any other mixture of modifiers down when getting into the remote router, but nothing seems to work. For now I have to run Win XP under parallels and Airport Utility 5.5 to get access to this info remotely. Crazy.
Jack Zimmermann says
Yeah, Apples strive to make everything simple makes it harder to use in a more advanced setting. Getting it into an equilibrium between “normal” users and more advanced users is a tightrope. I think that that Apple should have a checkbox for “Advanced Settings”, which would shield normal users from the more advanced settings.
Anon says
Oh no, god forbid someone on the internet can see the MAC address of your broadcasted networks. Lol
Anon says
Jokes aside, great article! Thanks for the tip.
qsdfqsdf says
Wow, you’re information is so .. nothing. A fart in the wind – gone! If you don’t know technology stick to baking cupckas asshole.
Jack Zimmermann says
Covfefe much?