User's Guide

3 Connecting to a network
Your computer can travel with you wherever you go. But even at home, you can explore the globe
and access information from millions of websites using your computer and a wired or wireless
network connection. This chapter will help you get connected to that world.
Connecting to a wireless network
Your computer may be equipped with one or more of the following wireless devices:
●
WLAN device—Connects the computer to wireless local area networks (commonly referred to as
Wi-Fi networks, wireless LANs, or WLANs) in corporate offices, your home, and public places
such as airports, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, and universities. In a WLAN, the mobile
wireless device in your computer communicates with a wireless router or a wireless access
point.
●
HP Mobile Broadband Module—Gives you wireless connectivity over a wireless wide area
network (WWAN), a much larger area. Mobile network operators install base stations (similar to
cell phone towers) throughout large geographic areas, effectively providing coverage across
entire states, regions, or even countries.
●
Bluetooth device—Creates a personal area network (PAN) to connect to other Bluetooth-
enabled devices such as computers, phones, printers, headsets, speakers, and cameras. In a
PAN, each device communicates directly with other devices, and devices must be relatively
close together—typically within 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) of each other.
For more information about wireless technology, the Internet, and networking, see the information
and website links provided in Help and Support.
▲
From the Start screen, type help, and then select Help and Support.
‒ or –
From the Windows desktop, click the question mark icon in the notification area, at the far right
of the taskbar.
Using the wireless controls
You can control the wireless devices in your computer using one or more of these features:
●
Wireless button or wireless key (also called the airplane mode key) (referred to in this chapter as
the wireless button)
●
Operating system controls
Wireless button
The computer has a wireless button, one or more wireless devices, and, on select models, one or two
wireless lights. All the wireless devices on your computer are enabled at the factory. If your computer
has a wireless light, the wireless light is on (white) when your computer is on.
The wireless light indicates the overall power state of your wireless devices, not the status of
individual devices. If the wireless light is white, at least one wireless device is on. If the wireless light
is off, all wireless devices are off.
14 Chapter 3 Connecting to a network