Question:

There are several wireless networks operating at work, but how can I choose the one that is best for my Windows XP laptop?

The best connection is usually the fastest, so select the wireless network that offers the best signal strength.

First, right-click the wireless network icon in your System Tray and select Status from the menu. A dialog box will illustrate the connection and report on signal strength as a series of green bars. The strongest connections will have five green bars. Close the dialog box.

If your signal strength is low, right-click the wireless network icon again and select View Available Wireless Networks from the menu. A dialog box appears and lists all of the wireless networks that your laptop detects.

Select one of the available wireless networks and click Connect. After a moment, you’ll receive a new IP (Internet Protocol) address and notification of your connection strength. Check the connection status again. If you have better strength, you can stay with that new connection (or try another available wireless network if you like).