Mini as Airport Base station?

Hey this is just a quick question about the mac mini

I was just considering buying a new airport to replace my microsoft base station. But what i just read about the mac mini is that it has an airport built in, now this may sound like a stupid question but there is nothing specifically saying it on the apple site.

Can I set up the mac mini as an airport base station for my wireless network?

i dont think you can, since the airport in the mac mini is a receiver, not a transmitter. but im sure i'll be proven wrong by some of he geniuses in here.

I wouldn't think so. You would need a router to provide an internet connection.

Yes, actually this is possible. But the mini has to always be on...
Plug in your ethernet cable from the modem and go into System Preferences>Sharing>Internet Sharing. Pick share through AirPort and turn it on. It will give you some kind of warning, just click OK.

Yup, you can get the mini to transmit a wireless signal and do as ardillo9344 said. Of course, it will only work when the mini is on.

Is this unique to the mini, or can all Airport equipped Macs do this?

All Mac with a AirPort card can using Tiger or Leopard. I don't know Panther well enough to know if it also has the internet sharing/ broadcast preference.
I used to do it on my original Core Duo iMac. I would hook up the iPhone and other little things to it without a problem.

Thanks for the replies guys, it seems like I should be able to set it up, the only concern in the other forum I posted on is the range of the signal.

But I got my answer, Thanks

thats awesome. good to know.