Connecting To A Network; Connecting To A Wireless Network; Identifying Wireless And Network Status Icons; Using The Wireless Controls - HP Computer User Manual

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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

Wireless technology transfers data across radio waves instead of wires. Your computer may be
equipped with one or more of the following wireless devices:
Wireless local area network (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.
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.

Identifying wireless and network status icons

Icon

Using the wireless controls

You can control the wireless devices in your computer using one or more of these features:
Wireless button, wireless switch, wireless key, or airplane mode key (referred to in this chapter
●
as the wireless button) (select models only)
Operating system controls
●

Using the wireless button

Depending on your model, the computer may have a wireless button, one or more wireless devices,
and one or more wireless lights. All of the wireless devices on your computer are enabled at the
factory, so the wireless light is on (white) when you turn on the computer.
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Name
Wireless (connected)
Network Connection
(connected)
Network Connection
(disconnected)
Description
Indicates that one or more wireless devices are on.
Indicates that the wired network is connected and active. If both
wired and wireless connections are active, the operating system
uses the wired connection because it is faster.
Indicates that wired and wireless networks are not connected.