Connecting to a Wireless Network

WINV-2.2.2, WINV-2.2.3

Windows Vista provides updated wireless networking, enabling you to setup and manage wireless connections with a broad range of wireless hot spots that discover and connect to wireless networks (known as Wi-Fi). The Connection wizard makes it easy to setup a Wi-Fi network. You can quickly connect to an available wireless network with a security key or manually connect to one not recognized. As you walk through the manual process, you’ll specify a network name, called the SSID (Service Set Identifier) and use a USB Flash drive (UFD)—recommended—to transfer and configure your network settings to your other wireless computers or devices. The SSID is broadcasted from your access point (AP)—typically a wireless router—to your other wireless devices. Windows Vista also provides updated support for Bluetooth-enabled hardware devices, allowing you to take advantage of the latest wireless devices, including wireless keyboards and mice, wireless printers, and connections with cell phones and PDAs.

Connect to an Available Wireless Network

Click the Start button, and then click Connect To.

Click Set up a connection or network.

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Select the wireless network to which you want to connect.

Click Connect.

Type the security key or pass-phrase or if you have a USB flash drive with network settings for the wireless network, insert it now.

Click Connect.

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To save this network, select the Save this network check box, and then select or clear the Start this connection automatically check box.

Click Close.

Manually Connect to a Wireless Network

Click the Start button, and then click Connect To.

Click Set up a connection or network.

Click Manually connect to a wireless network, and then click Next to continue.

Type the network name.

Specify a security type, and then specify an encryption type, if necessary.

Type a passphrase (point to the box and use the ScreenTip for help).

Click Next to continue.

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Click Connect to or Change connection settings.

If necessary, click Close.

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Did You Know? You can perform a security check on your wireless network. After implementing lock down security measures, you can perform a security check. Install the free program NetStumbler available at www.netstumber.com onto a laptop or PDA.

Security Alert: Locking Down Your Wireless Network Wireless networks (Wi-Fi) are a popular way to network home and small office computers. Unless you lock it down, hackers can take advantage of unsecured Wi-Fi networks. The following security techniques can keep you safe: (1) disable the SSID (Service Set Identifier) broadcast, so you no longer tell computers near by that you have a wireless network, (2) change the password on your access point, (3) use encryption, either WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), which is older and less secure (uses 64- or 128-bit non-changing encryption), or WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access), which is much more secure (uses 256-bit constantly changes encryption), and (4) if necessary, enable Media Access Control (MAC) filtering, which tells your access point to grant access to only MAC addresses you enter. MAC is a unique address assigned to each wireless card.