WIFI-TIPS

By Becky Waring

Wi-Fi Basics: Getting Connected

Once you try Wi-Fi, we guarantee you'll be hooked on the freedom and mobility. There are more than 120,000 worldwide public hotspots, and that doesn't even count home and office Wi-Fi nets, which are even more numerous, or the burgeoning municipal Wi-Fi movement, which seeks to cover entire cities with Wi-Fi clouds. Wi-Fi truly brings broadband Internet access to the masses -- much of it free of charge. And with this guide, you'll learn how to get connected, find a nearby hotspot, and work securely once you're there.
What You'll Need
The first thing you'll need to do is make sure you have an appropriate laptop and Wi-Fi adapter. Almost every new laptop sold in recent years comes with Wi-Fi built-in, Windows and Macs alike. If you have one of these machines, you can skip on to the next section. On Windows laptops, look for a Centrino logo on the case (a Wi-Fi chipset from Intel), or a reference to Wi-Fi 802.11b or g in your laptop specifications. You can also check to see if you have built-in Wi-Fi by opening the Network Connections Control Panel, and looking for a "Wireless Network Connection" under the LAN or High-Speed Internet heading. The Control Panel will tell you the name of your adapter (such as Intel PRO/Wireless), and whether the adapter is presently enabled or disabled. If it's disabled, double click on it to enable it.
On Mac laptops, check for an AirPort heading on the Network Preferences panel, or the AirPort icon (four rays) toward the right of the menu bar. Make sure AirPort is "turned on" from this menu. If you see AirPort in Networks, but not in the menu bar, click Configure in Networks, and then check the box to show AirPort in the menu bar.
If you don't already have a Wi-Fi card, or if the one you have doesn't give you adequate range to connect at the hotspots you prefer, check out our Mobile Warrior's Guide, which has the scoop on the latest wireless laptops and adapter cards.
Making the Wi-Fi Connection
Now that you've got a Wi-Fi-equipped laptop at the ready, it's time to venture out to your nearest hotspot. We recommend going to a place like Starbucks or McDonald's for your first try; they are everywhere, and connecting is easy.
When you get there, find a nice table near a power outlet if you need one, and as close to the back as possible. These types of hotspots usually have their Wi-Fi access points positioned at the rear of the store in an office or other employee area, and the farther you move to the door (or out to the patio), the weaker the signal. Now open your laptop and turn it on. In Windows XP (unless you are using a third-party adapter card, in which case follow their directions), there will be a system tray icon that looks like a little computer with three waves coming out of it. Right click on this, and choose "View Available Wireless Networks." This will bring up a list of Wi-Fi access points in the area, which may be surprisingly long! Look for the SSID (access point name) that corresponds to the hotspot provider at that location. For example, at Starbucks, T-Mobile Hotspot is the provider, and the SSID is "tmobile." At McDonald's, most, but not all, U.S. Wi-Fi locations are run by Wayport, and have the SSID "Wayport_Access." Usually, there will be a sign on the door or window of a hotspot with provider information that will help you choose the right SSID. Another hint that you are choosing the right SSID will be that it is listed as "unsecured," as in the illustration below. Public hotspots are generally unsecured, so that no encryption key is needed to connect to them.

After you've selected the hotspot SSID, click the Connect button, and the word "Connected" should appear next to the SSID in the above window. Close this window. You can check your connection at any time by double-clicking on the system tray icon, which brings up the Wireless Network Connection Status box. Here you'll see signal strength, throughput rate, the network SSID you are connected to, and so on. On the Mac, all this is much easier, just select the SSID from the AirPort menu and that's all there is too it.

Congratulations! You've made a successful Wi-Fi connection to the hotspot. But there's one more thing you need to do to seal the deal. You need to open a new Internet browser window, ideally using Explorer on Windows or Safari on Mac since they are the most widely compatible. (You can always switch to your preferred browser later.) This window will then bring up any login screen that might be needed to connect at the hotspot. For paid hotspots, you'll need to enter your subscription information or a credit card, but even free hotspots often ask you to click a button to agree to their usage terms. Once you've logged in, you are done! You can now surf, use email and IM programs, chat on Skype or other VoIP services, watch streaming video, and download to your heart's content.

Troubleshooting Tips: What if you've opened a new browser window and still don't see a login screen? Try typing a known web site address into your address bar, such as www.google.com, which will usually force the hotspot's login screen to load. (If the hotspot network has a lot of users, you may have to do this several times before the login screen will appear.) Also it's a good idea before you set out to be sure your system is updated with the latest Service Packs and Software Updates (SP2 handles Wi-Fi much better than SP1). You may also need to simply get closer to the access point (your signal may be too weak to connect).
Finding and Securing Hotspot Connections
Now that you've seen how easy it is to connect at hotspots, it's time to take the next step, and learn how to locate hotspots when you travel, as well as keep your connection secure. Read on to find out how.

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