User Guide - Windows 7

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
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 (select models only)—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. Select Start > Help and Support
Using the wireless controls
You can control the wireless devices in your computer using these features:
●
Wireless button, wireless switch, or wireless key (referred to in this chapter as the wireless
button)
●
HP Connection Manager software
●
Operating system controls
Using the wireless button
The computer has a wireless button, one or more wireless devices depending on the model. All the
wireless devices on your computer are enabled at the factory.
Because the wireless devices are enabled at the factory, you can use the wireless button to turn on or
turn off the wireless devices simultaneously. Individual wireless devices can be controlled through HP
Connection Manager.
Using HP Connection Manager (select models only)
HP Connection Manager provides a central location for managing your wireless devices, an interface
for connecting to the Internet using HP Mobile Broadband, and an interface for sending and receiving
SMS (text) messages. HP Connection Manager allows you to manage the following devices:
●
Wireless local area network (WLAN)/Wi-Fi
●
Bluetooth
16 Chapter 3 Connecting to a network