Wireless (Select Models Only) Document Part Number: 384463-002 October 2005
Contents 1 Integrated wireless devices 2 Wireless controls Wireless button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2 Wireless Assistant software (select models only) . . . 2–3 Operating system controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4 3 Bluetooth devices (select models only) 4 WLAN devices (select models only) Identifying a WLAN device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Setting up a WLAN in your home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Connecting to a WLAN in your home. . . . .
1 Integrated wireless devices Wireless technology makes a computer mobile by transmitting data across radio waves instead of wires. Your computer may be equipped with one or more of the following integrated wireless devices: ■ Bluetooth® device—Creates a personal area network (PAN) to connect to other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as computers, phones, printers, headsets, speakers, and cameras.
Integrated wireless devices ■ Wireless wide area network (WWAN) device—Provides access to information anytime and anywhere you have cellular (data) coverage. In a WWAN, each mobile device communicates to a public carrier’s base station. Public carriers install networks of base stations (similar to cell phone towers) throughout large geographic areas, effectively providing coverage across entire states, regions or even countries. computer may look different from the illustrations in this ✎ Your guide.
2 Wireless controls You can control the wireless devices in your computer using one of three methods: ■ Wireless button ■ Wireless Assistant software (select models only) ■ Operating system controls Wireless (Select Models Only) 2–1
Wireless controls Wireless button Your computer has a wireless button 1 that will enable or disable all integrated wireless devices simultaneously. In addition, a wireless light 2 indicates the computer’s overall wireless state (enabled or disabled). The wireless light does not reflect the status of individual devices (unless the computer has only one wireless device). When the wireless light is on, one or more of the wireless devices are on.
Wireless controls You can enable and disable the wireless devices with the wireless button or through the Setup Utility. cannot use the wireless button to control the wireless ✎ You devices if they have been disabled in the Setup Utility. For more information, refer to the Wireless Assistant online Help. a wireless device does not automatically connect the ✎ Enabling computer to a network or to a Bluetooth-enabled device.
Wireless controls When a wireless device is enabled, it can be turned on or off using the Wireless Assistant software. Once a wireless device is disabled, however, it must be enabled before it can be turned on or off using Wireless Assistant. To view the state of the wireless devices, place the pointer over the Wireless Assistant icon ( ) in the notification area (at the far right of the taskbar) or open Wireless Assistant by double-clicking the icon in the notification area.
3 Bluetooth devices (select models only) A Bluetooth device provides short-range wireless communications that replace the physical cable connections that traditionally link electronic devices such as ■ Network access points. ■ Computers (desktop, notebook, PDA). ■ Phones (cellular, cordless, smart phone). ■ Imaging devices (printer, camera). ■ Audio devices (headset, speakers).
4 WLAN devices (select models only) With a WLAN device, you can access a wireless local area network, which is composed of other computers and accessories linked by a wireless router or a wireless access point. terms wireless access point and wireless router are often ✎ The used interchangeably. ■ A large-scale WLAN, such as a corporate or public WLAN, typically uses wireless access points that can accommodate a large number of computers and accessories and can separate critical network functions.
WLAN devices (select models only) Computers with WLAN devices may support one or more of three IEEE physical layer industry standards: ■ 802.11b, the first popular standard, supports data rates of up to 11 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. ■ 802.11g supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. An 802.11g WLAN device is backward compatible with 802.11b devices, so they can operate on the same network. ■ 802.
WLAN devices (select models only) Setting up a WLAN in your home Microsoft® Windows® XP supports WLAN with the Wireless Network Connection feature. In addition, on select computer models, Wireless Assistant provides a link to the Wireless Home Network Setup utility to help you set up your wireless network.
WLAN devices (select models only) Connecting to a WLAN in your home After your WLAN is set up, each computer must be connected to it. To connect to a WLAN: ■ Verify that the WLAN device is turned on. If it is on, the wireless light is on. If the wireless light is off, turn on the wireless device. For information about turning on and turning off a wireless device, refer to “Wireless controls.” ■ Verify that your router is correctly installed and configured.
WLAN devices (select models only) Connecting to a public or corporate WLAN Contact your ISP or search the Web for a list of public WLANs near you. Web sites that list public WLANs include Cisco Hotspot Locator, Hotspotlist, and Geektools. Check with each public WLAN location for cost and connection requirements. Contact your network administrator or IT department for information on connecting your computer to a corporate WLAN.
5 WWAN devices (select models only) WWAN devices enable your computer to access the Internet from more places and over larger areas than WLANs. Using a WWAN device requires a network service provider, which in most cases will be a mobile phone network operator. Coverage for WWAN is similar to the mobile phone voice coverage.
© Copyright 2005 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Microsoft and Windows are U.S. registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Bluetooth is a trademark owned by its proprietor and used by Hewlett-Packard Company under license. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services.
