Connecting to Wireless Network

You can connect to a wireless network at home or at the office to access the information and equipment available on the network without using any cables. If a wireless network is connected to the Internet, connecting to the network will also allow you to access the Internet. Wireless networks are also known as wi-fi or wireless fidelity networks.

When you want to connect to a wireless network, Windows provides a list of all the wireless networks that are within range of your computer. Windows also indicates if each network is secure and the signal strength of each network.

When connecting to a wireless network, you may need to provide a network key, or password, that will help protect your connection from unauthorized access by encrypting the information transmitted on the network. If you are connecting to a network at work, ask your network administrator for the network key you need to type.

You only need to connect to a wireless network once. The next time you are within range of a wireless network you previously connected to, Windows will automatically connect you to the network.

When connecting to a wireless network, the strength of the radio signal used to connect to the network is very important. For the best signal, try to avoid obstacles between your computer and the wireless router or wireless access point, which is the device that allows computers on a network to exchange data using radio signals. Also try to avoid devices that use the same frequency as your wireless network, such as a cordless phone.

Increasing numbers of public places, such as coffee shops, hotels and airports, are allowing people to connect to the Internet through wireless networks set up on their premises. These locations are called wi-fi hotspots, or wireless hotspots, and provide a convenient way of accessing the Internet while you are away from home or the office.