Can an AirPort Extreme (5th, last "flat" model) not be setup via WiFi?

[silvarios]

billb wrote:
You shouldn't have had to use a cable ( I've never had to ) but if you got it working that's all that counts.

Don't the older models ship with WiFi enabled, but no encryption? As long as the Airport Utility properly saves your WiFi password, getting back into the Airport Extreme after enabling encryption shouldn't be too hard. However, I've always used Ethernet to make initial setup bullet proof. Owned both a 4th gen Airport Extreme and a non simultaneous dual band 802.11n Airport Express. Still have the latter in daily operation.

[OWC Jamie]

both my gen1 and gen4 had to have WPA2 turned on and a password chosen
my gen4 got zapped by lightning
I may have set up the Gen1 by cable as my G4 laptop didn't have a airport card at the time but I don't recall the menu being any different because of it

[silvarios]

Pretty sure the Airport Extreme did not original ship with WPA2 enabled. Did you buy them used? Every thing I can find online shows a setup screen with an unencrypted generic Airport name. That was my experience as well.