Manuals

Connecting to a Basic Network or Creating an Ad Hoc Network Using the Wireless Network Wizard: Dell Wireless WLAN Card User Guide

  Overview

  Using the Wizard

Overview

The Wireless Network Wizard enables you to easily connect to the following types of networks or to create an ad hoc network:

• A broadcasting infrastructure network
• A nonbroadcasting infrastructure network
• An ad hoc network

To connect to a network or to create an ad hoc network, you must first create a network connection profile. The wizard guides you through this process. The profile comprises the network name and the network security settings required (if any) by the network.

When you create a connection profile for an infrastructure network, your computer adds the profile to the top of the Preferred network connections list on the Wireless Networks tab of the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility and automatically attempts to connect to the network using that profile. If the network is in range, the connection is made. If the network is out of range, the profile is still added to the top of the list, but your computer uses the next profile in the list to attempt a connection until it finds a listed network that is in range. Later, you can control which type of profiles are listed by changing the network access settings.

NOTE: When you have finished creating a network connection profile, you can print the profile or save it to a file.

By default, infrastructure networks are preferred over ad hoc networks. Therefore, if you have created connection profiles for one or more infrastructure networks, the connection profile for an ad hoc network is listed below the connection profiles for the infrastructure networks.

You can arrange the profiles in the order you prefer by moving any connection profile up or down in the list. To attempt to connect to a network that is not at the top of the list, you can use the Connect command on the menu that is available when you right-click the name of the network.

You can tell if you have successfully connected to a network by the appearance of the network type icon. The infrastructure icon changes to , and the ad hoc icon changes to .

Before you proceed, be sure you have reviewed "Before You Begin" in "Introduction."

Connecting to an Infrastructure Network

You can connect to a basic infrastructure network entirely within the wizard if the network has any of the following security settings:

• WPA-PSK or WPA2-PSK authentication
• WEP (open or shared authentication)
• None

NOTE: The WPA-Personal (PSK) network authentication setting in the wizard uses either the WPA-PSK protocol or the WPA2-PSK protocol based on the WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK security protocols available on the AP.

To connect to an advanced infrastructure network (one that uses some form of EAP, or 802.1X, authentication), you can begin with the wizard, but you must use the Wireless Network Connection Settings component of the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility to complete the process. The wizard automatically transitions to the Wireless Network Connection Settings tool at the appropriate point in the process. Alternatively, you can immediately start using the Wireless Network Connection Settings tool by clicking Manually connect to an advanced network. For instructions, see "Connecting to an Advanced Network Using the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility."

NOTE: If the AP for the infrastructure network is not in range, you can still create a connection profile for the network. If you click Next after the message reporting that the network was not found is displayed, Wireless Network Connection Settings opens, and you can use this tool to create the connection profile. For instructions, see "Connecting to an Advanced Network Using the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility."

Creating or Connecting to an Ad Hoc Network

• WEP (open or shared authentication)
• None

NOTE: See 'IBSS Allowed," "IBSS 54g(tm) Protection Mode," and "IBSS Mode," and "WZC IBSS Channel Number" in "Setting Advanced Properties" for more information about ad hoc networks.

Using the Wizard

• Click the utility icon in the notification area.

  NOTE: If you have already connected to a network, the utility opens to the Link Status tab. Click the Wireless Networks tab, click Add, and then click Use Wizard.

• Right-click the utility icon, and then click Open Utility. On the Wireless Networks tab, click Add, and then click Use Wizard. If the icon is not available, open Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility in Control Panel.

NOTE: For you to use the utility and the Wireless Network Wizard, the Let this tool manage your wireless networks check box must be selected.

By default, the wizard opens the Connect to a network task window, which displays the following information about all broadcasting networks that are within range:

• Type (infrastructure or ad hoc )
• Network Name
• Security icon (if the network has security settings)
• Signal strength indication

To begin using the wizard, click the network task that describes what you want to do, click Next, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

Example 1: Connecting to a broadcasting network

In this example, the network is an infrastructure network that is in range and has WPA-Personal (PSK) security settings.

1. Click the network name (wireless), and then click Next.
2. Click Connect.

Example 2: Connecting to a nonbroadcasting network

In this example, the network is an infrastructure network that is in range, is not broadcasting, and has WPA-Personal (PSK) security settings.

1. Type the network name in the Network name box, and then click Next.
2. Click Next.

   NOTE: If the network cannot be found, you are instructed to search for a different network or to use Wireless Network Connection Settings to create the connection profile.

3. Type the network key in the Network key box and again in the Confirm network key box, and then click Next.

   NOTE: It is recommended to select the Hide characters as I type check box to prevent others from viewing your network key.

4. Click Connect.

Example 3: Creating an ad hoc network

In this example, the ad hoc network is created with no security settings, and the computer is already connected to an existing infrastructure network.

1. Give the network a name by typing the network name in the Network name box.
2. Click Next.
3. Click Next to accept the default setting of No security.
4. Click Connect.
5. In the utility, right-click the network name (adhoc1), and then click Connect.

Back to Contents Page