HOW TO
CONNECT TO A WIRELESS NETWORK (WiFi) by HARRY256
Editorial:
A lot of people,
students are asking me information on How to connect to a wireless network. Is
it easy? Is it hard? What do I need to make this connection possible?
Do I pay for WiFi and how
much do I pay?
Simple
questions with simple answers. All these and a lot of information and support are explained bellow.
What do I need to connect to a
Wireless Network?
Mainly you will need
any device with the 802.11b or 802.11g protocol installed/enabled such as a
Laptop computer, a PDA device or a Home PC with a Wireless LAN card.
The equipment is not expensive; a wireless LAN
card costs minimum 10 dollars/euros and a Receiver about 40-500 euros.
You will
also need the correct suitable Operating System such as Windows XP SP2 Pro
Edition.
Generally
the only economic problems occur with home Desktop PC users which many times
don’t have good signal. That is due to the fact that some large cement
buildings interfere with the transmitter and the receiver so they have bad and
limited connectivity or no connectivity at all.
Another
advantage of having a Laptop or a PDA is that all wireless technology is
supported and you rarely have to pay for anything while in Desktop PCs you need
to buy an equipment of 300 dollars/euros average.
Do I pay for Wireless
Networking?
Well, it
depends from the use of wireless technology.
For
example, in my experience I’ve witnessed that in
European
Union is setting up public wireless hotspots in big cities to increase
broadband use. In the centre of
It’s free
for everyone.
How do I connect to a Wireless
network?
STEP 1:
Read
carefully the handbook of use of your computer, so that you are certified that
it allocates possibility of connection in networks of type WiFi (compatibility
with model 802.11b/g). Usually the technical characteristics are reported to
the end of handbook. Attention! Certain portable computers (laptop) allocate
switch of activation of wireless networking. If your instrument has such
switch, you are certified that it is found in the suitable place.
STEP 2:
In
the system tray or taskbar, you double click the icon that appears in picture.
If you do not see such icon, you check that is activated the connection
"Wireless Network Connection" in the Control Panel - Network
Connections. In opposite case, the connection is activated with double click in
corresponding icon.
STEP 3:
It
should now show in the screen of the following window. In order to renew the
list with the wireless networks, you select the "Refresh network
list" that appears above. In this example I double left click in the
wireless network with name athenswifi
STEP 4:
A
new window will be shown, that will inform you for the process of connection. Wait until it
finishes. In the previous window the word "Connected" will be next to
the name of network.
Step 5:
Now go to
your internet browser and try to access the internet.
Some of the
wireless hotspots welcome you to their network and need you to confirm your
connection with them. By completing all these steps you will have access to
wireless technologies. Please make sure your firewall is adjusted properly.
NOTES:
1) You need to be near a wireless
hotspot, have access to it or in range.
2) The pictures shown in this tutorial
are for example only.
3) Wireless is Metropolitan and Campus
in my examples.
CREDITS:
1) BILL GATES AND MS OFFICE 2003
2) MY NEW MOBO GIGABYTE QUAD ROYAL SLI
If
you have any comments please e-mail me @ HARRY256_1@hotmail.com