How to Configure a Wireless Card

A wireless card, also called a wireless adapter, is an external device designed for laptops. It receives and transmits signals to and from a Wireless Access Point (WAP), such as your wireless router at home or work, that communicates with wireless devices so that they can log on to its wireless network. While most new laptops come equipped with an internal wireless card, older and less expensive laptops are not, requiring you to separately buy and configure a wireless card to access wireless networks.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Setup software Wireless access point

1. Install the wireless card's software or drivers. Insert the software CD into your laptop's CD-ROM drive and wait for the installation wizard to load. If the CD does not automatically begin the installation process, browse the CD and double-click the "autorun.exe" file. Follow the installation wizard's instructions. If you do not have the CD, check the website of your wireless card's manufacturer to see if you must download and install drivers.

2. Insert the wireless card into the CardBus slot. Insert the wireless card, face up, into one of your laptop's CardBus slots (usually on the side of the laptop). Make sure that it is securely inserted. Wait for the "Found New Hardware Wizard" screen to load, then click the "Install the software automatically" radio button and click "Next." Follow the on-screen instructions, then click the "Finish" button. You may be asked to restart your laptop.

3. Set up a wireless connection. Use your wireless card's software or your operating system's Wireless Network Connection tool to set up a wireless connection. To log on to a wireless network for which you already know the SSID, type in the SSID in the designated text box. If the wireless network is a secured network (password/passcode is required), select the type of security setting the network uses (WEP, WPA or WPA-PSK) and type in the password/passcode. If you do not know the SSID of the network you want to access or if you want to see all available networks in range of your wireless card, such as Wi-Fi hot spots, select the "scan for available wireless networks" option. If a network is password-protected, you must know and enter its password in order to connect to it. Click "Apply" or "Connect" to connect to the wireless network.

4. Test your wireless connection. After setting up a wireless connection, test that you can successfully access the Internet. Open a browser and enter a website address. If the website loads, you have successfully connected to the wireless network. If the browser displays an error message, disconnect from the network and reconnect or try connecting to another wireless network. Your wireless card's software or your operating system will also indicate in a status bar or system tray icon the strength of the wireless signal and your connection speed.

5. Save your network settings. Your wireless card's software may allow you to save and name your configurations or set priorities for certain networks. To do this, click the "Save Profile" button or "Save Settings" button. In your operating system, you can set connection priorities by right-clicking the connection and setting it to "Automatic" or "Preferred" status.

Tips & Warnings

• To use your wireless card, you must first have access to a wireless network. A wireless notebook card is not a self-contained network, but is merely an antenna that receives and transmits signals to and from a Wireless Access Point (WAP). A WAP is a hub that communicates to wireless devices, allowing them to log on to its wireless network. A WAP can be a wireless router or it a Wi-Fi hot spot (a "lilly pad" of wireless networks) offered by a coffee shop, university or other establishment.
• You should not use your wireless notebook card to log on to another person's unsecured wireless network without his knowledge and permission. Avoid sending confidential information or data using unsecured, public WAPs, as this data is especially susceptible to interception by hackers.

Resources

• How Wi-Fi Works
• 10 Tips for Improving Your Wireless Network
• Wireless Network Buying Guide