How to Find a Wireless Internet Signal

You can easily connect to the Internet by accessing an available wireless network.

Whether you are connecting to the Internet at a "hotspot" using a laptop or at home on your desktop, you'll want to know how to find a wireless Internet signal. Several factors determine your ability to connect to the Internet, including required hardware and available signals. To connect to the Internet using a wireless signal, the computer must be equipped with either an internal wireless adapter or a USB adapter that plugs into your computer. Once you determine that your computer is ready for a wireless connection, you can view and connect to available networks.

Things You'll Need

• Internal or external wireless adapter

Instructions

Check Wireless Ability

1. Click on your computer's "Start" button. Many keyboards are equipped with a key labeled with the Start icon for easy accessibility.

2. Open the "Control Panel" from the Start menu and select "Hardware and Sound." Click on "View Hardware and Devices" under the Device Manager heading.

3. Double-click "Network Adapters" to view installed adapters. If none are listed, your computer is not wireless ready and a USB adapter or network card will need to be installed.

Find Wireless Network

1. Access available network connections by clicking "Connect to a Network" from the Start menu. If this option is not available, you can select "Network," then open "Network and Sharing Center" to connect to a network.

2. Choose "Wireless" from the drop-down menu for a listing of available wireless networks in the area. Note the security level associated with each network.

3. Select the wireless network that offers the greatest signal strength as indicated by the colored bars and click "Connect."

4. Utilize the Diagnose and Repair function if your computer is unable to detect any wireless networks or if you are unable to successfully connect to an available network. There may be a problem with your computer's hardware or the signal strength of the selected network may be too low.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are having trouble accessing the Internet using your own wireless router, you may need to relocate the router closer to your computer to receive a signal.

References

• Microsoft At Home: 10 Tips for Improving Your Wireless Network