How to Connect a Laptop to a Wireless Modem

Connecting your laptop to a wireless modem is easy to do.

Wireless modems can allow you to create a Wi-Fi network or hotspot anywhere you want, without having to physically connect your computer to a modem. Wireless modems are particularly useful with laptop computers, allowing you to move around freely in your home or office while still being able to maintain your Internet connection and surf the Web. If you've recently purchased a wireless modem, connecting your laptop to the device can be done in just a few minutes.

Instructions

1. Power on your wireless modem, and place your laptop near the modem.

2. Press the "Start" button on your desktop and then select "Connect To" from the available options to launch a list of the available wireless networks around your computer. If "Connect To" is not an option for you, select "Control Panel" and then "Network and Internet Connections" or "Network and Sharing Center," followed by "Network Connections" to launch the same menu.

3. Select your wireless modem from the list of devices on the screen, and then click "Connect" on the bottom of the window. In some versions of Windows, you will need to click the "Wireless Networks" tab in order to launch a list of available networks.

4. Enter the security key into your computer when prompted. If you have set a password on your wireless modem, your computer will ask you to enter that password in order to complete the connection. If you do not have a password selected on your wireless modem, your laptop will connect to the modem automatically.

References

• Windows: Setting Up a Wireless Network
• Microsoft: Using a Wireless Laptop at Work and at Home