Checking your wireless network card, Setting up a new wlan – Dell Latitude D520 User Manual

Page 52

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A wireless router or access point

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A wireless network card for each computer that you want to connect to your WLAN

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A network cable with the network (RJ-45) connector

 

Checking Your Wireless Network Card

Depending on what you selected when you purchased your computer, the computer has a variety of configurations. Use either of the following methods to
confirm that your computer has a wireless network card and to determine the type of card:

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The Start button and the Connect To option

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The order confirmation for your computer

 

Start Button and Connect To Option

 

1.

Click the Start button.

 

2.

Point to Connect To, and then click Show all connections.

If Wireless Network Connection does not appear under LAN or High-Speed Internet, you may not have a wireless network card.

If Wireless Network Connection appears, you have a wireless network card. To view detailed information about the wireless network card:

 

1.

Right-click Wireless Network Connection.

 

2.

Click Properties. The Wireless Network Connection Properties window appears. The wireless network card's name and model number are listed on
the General tab.

 

The Order Confirmation for Your Computer

The order confirmation that you received when you ordered your computer lists the hardware and software that shipped with your computer.

 

Setting Up a New WLAN

 

Connecting a Wireless Router and a Broadband Modem

 

1.

Contact your Internet service provider (ISP) to obtain specific information about the connection requirements for your broadband modem.

 

2.

Ensure that you have wired Internet access through your broadband modem before you attempt to set up a wireless Internet connection (see

Physically Connecting to a Network or Broadband Modem

).


 

3.

Install any software required for your wireless router. Your wireless router may have been shipped with an installation CD. Such CDs usually contain
installation and troubleshooting information. Install the required software according to the manufacturer's instructions.

 

4.

Shut down your computer and any other wireless-enabled computers in the vicinity through the Start menu.

 

5.

Disconnect your broadband modem power cable from the electrical outlet.

 

6.

Disconnect the network cable from the computer and the modem.

 

7.

Disconnect the AC adapter cable from your wireless router to ensure that there is no power connected to the router.

 

8.

Insert a network cable into the network (RJ-45) connector on the unpowered broadband modem.

 

9.

Connect the other end of the network cable into the Internet network (RJ-45) connector on the unpowered wireless router.

 

10.

Ensure that no network or USB cables, other than the network cable connecting the modem and the wireless router, are connected to the broadband
modem.

NOTE:

If your computer is set to the Classic Start menu option, you can view network connections by clicking the Start button, pointing to Settings,

and then pointing to Network Connections. If Wireless Network Connection does not appear, you may not have a wireless network card.

NOTE:

Wait for a minimum of 5 minutes after disconnecting your broadband modem before you continue with the network setup.

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