How to Find Your SSID Number

SSID stands for Service Set Identifier, a rather elaborate substitute for "network name." It's the unique name that identifies the wireless network you use, differentiating it from all others. All wireless devices on a network must use the same SSID in order to communicate with each other. Imagine it as a non-secure password attached to the batch of packets sent over a network.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Identify your computer's taskbar. The taskbar is the bar usually at the bottom of the screen in Windows. It starts on the left with the "Start" button.

2. Take a look in your computer's task bar for an icon representing your wireless network. Look for a little computer icon with three green radio waves emitting from it; that's the Windows icon. Another version of the icon looks like four cascading horizontal bars, usually green; that's Dell's icon.

3. Double-click on the icon. In the case of the Windows icon --- the one with the green radio waves --- you'll see a dialog box marked "General." One of the tabs will be labeled "General." It's the default tab, so it should show immediately.

4. Look at the second line down under "Connection." It will indicate the name of the network or the SSID. The first line will be labeled "Status" and will be marked "Connected." The second line will be labeled "Network" and the text next to it is the name of the network, or the SSID.

Tips & Warnings

• Give the SSID to your friends or colleagues who want to access your wireless network. If they're asked for a key after entering the SSID, you'll need to ask your administrator for it. The administrator will have set encryption on the network. In the case of the Dell icon --- the one with the cascading bars --- the second tab along after clicking on the item will give you the Network Name or SSID; it's the third item down.

References

• Internet.com Webopedia Word Reference