Connecting to a network | HP OMEN

4Connecting to a network

Your computer can travel with you wherever you go. But even at home, you can explore the globe and access information from millions of websites using your computer and a wired or wireless network connection. This chapter will help you get connected to that world.

IMPORTANT: Your computer does not include an RJ-45 (network) jack. To connect to a wired network, you must use a USB Ethernet adapter (purchased separately).

Connecting to a wireless network

Wireless technology transfers data across radio waves instead of wires. Your computer may be equipped with one or more of the following wireless devices:

●Wireless local area network (WLAN) device—Connects the computer to wireless local area networks (commonly referred to as Wi-Fi networks, wireless LANs, or WLANs) in corporate offices, your home, and public places such as airports, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, and universities. In a WLAN, the mobile wireless device in your computer communicates with a wireless router or a wireless access point.

●Bluetooth device (select models only)—Creates a personal area network (PAN) to connect to other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as computers, phones, printers, headsets, speakers, and cameras. In a PAN, each device communicates directly with other devices, and devices must be relatively close together—typically within 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) of each other.

For more information about wireless technology, the Internet, and networking, see the information and website links provided in Help and Support. From the Start screen, type help, and then select

Help and Support.

Using the wireless controls

You can control the wireless devices in your computer using one or more of these features:

●Wireless button, wireless switch, wireless key, or airplane mode key (referred to in this chapter as the wireless button) (select models only)

●Operating system controls

Using the wireless button

The computer has a wireless button, one or more wireless devices, and one wireless light. All the wireless devices on your computer are enabled at the factory, and if your computer has a wireless light, the wireless light is off when you turn on the computer.

The wireless light indicates the overall power state of your wireless devices, not the status of individual devices. If the wireless light is off, at least one wireless device is on. If the wireless light is amber, all wireless devices are off.

Because the wireless devices are enabled at the factory, you can use the wireless button to turn on or turn off the wireless devices simultaneously.

20 Chapter 4 Connecting to a network