HP AMC20493-001-KT5 manual Making Wireless Network Connections, To prepare for connections

Modem and Network Connections

Making Wireless Network Connections

Making Wireless Network Connections

If your computer includes a wireless on-off button—located on the right side of the front of the computer—you can connect by radio to an 802.11 wireless local area network (LAN) and access computers and other resources on the network.

A wireless network provides all the functions of a typical “wired” network, but also provides for “roaming.” Since your computer connects to the network by radio rather than through cables, you can move from place to place within the network—from your office to a conference room, for example—and remain on the network the entire time.

To prepare for connections

Before you can connect your computer to a particular 802.11 wireless network, you have to configure the computer for the specific wireless connection.

Connecting to an Existing Wireless Network

You can connect to an access point that gives you access to a local area network, or you can connect directly to other computers in an “adhoc” network.

1.Right-click the wireless network connection icon in the taskbar, and then select View Available Wireless Networks from the pop-up menu.

2.A list of available networks appears. Select the network you want, enter the encryption key if required, and click Connect.

If the network you want is not on the list, click Advanced, Configure, and enter the required network parameters. If the network is not using 802.1x authentication protocol, clear the automatic key option.

3.On the General tab, edit network settings as needed for your local network. See your network administrator. You can also display an icon in the taskbar when connected to a network.

4.On the Wireless Networks tab, view the wireless networks available within range. Each network SSID is listed. Click the network you want and click Configure.

5.If the wireless network uses standard encrypted communication, uncheck the automatic key option, and then select the following parameters—see your network administrator for the required settings:

∙ Key: ASCII passphrase or hexadecimal key string.

64 Reference Guide