Setup Guide

This guide covers the installation and configuration of Wi-Fi for connection to hotspots and access points -- commonly referred to as “infrastructure” mode. For ad-hoc operation, also known as "peer-to-peer”, refer to your wireless card's documentation. Ad-hoc will not provide access to any hotspot location.

Your operating system
Access is available to most modern operating systems, including Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows 98/Me/95 as well as Macintosh OS 9 and OS X. If you’re using Windows XP or Mac OS X, these operating systems feature easy-to-use client software and plug-and-play drivers for many popular Wi-Fi networking cards. If you're using an older version of Windows, or you're using an older Mac or Mac OS 9, there are a number of steps you may have to do to get everything to work.

Step 1 – Installing the software and wireless card

The first step to accessing any wireless network is to install the wireless software and network card. If your computer or device came pre-installed with this hardware, this step may not be necessary.

To get started, locate the driver software for your adapter and install it. Do this before you connect or install the hardware. If you're adding a PCI or ISA-based wireless adapter to a desktop PC, be sure to shut down your computer before installing the card, otherwise you could damage the card or your system. If your adapter is a PC card or USB adapter, simply connect the device to your computer once the driver software has been installed.

Once the drivers have been installed, shut down the computer and install the hardware. For specific instructions on doing this, refer to your device’s documentation.

Go to Step 2…