How to Connect to a Wi-Fi Hotspot

Posted on May 20th, 2009 by Marck

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Wireless Internet is a must-have for people on the go and want to stay connected. Thanks to wi-fi and mobile Internet devices, many people can now connect to the Internet without the hassle of cables and external peripherals. Here are some steps and tips to help you connect to a wi-fi hotspot.

Wi-Fi Devices

To get wireless Internet, you need a wi-fi ready device. The first choice would be a notebook computer, although many phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs) now have the chips and modem devices needed to connect to wi-fi. Remember to keep your devices in good condition to prevent any connection problems.

Where to Get Wi-Fi

The good news is that many shopping malls, coffee shops, hotels, airports, and other commercial establishments now offer wireless Internet access as part of the services they offer. There are two kinds of wireless access provided for by businesses:

Free Access

Shopping centers and communities may provide unlimited free wireless Internet access to consumers. A very large area becomes a giant wi-fi hotspot, where wireless routers and access points are placed all over buildings and other strategic locations to provide the free service to anyone with a laptop or a wi-fi device. The downside is that the network can get loaded very easily and result in poor connectivity. Another disadvantage to free access is that the network is not secure, making you prone to attacks over the network.

Secure Access

Some establishments may use wi-fi to generate profit, yet offer a faster and more secure connection than free insecure wi-fi. To access the network, a customer is usually given a one-use ID or the password to the wireless access point as part of a purchase, which he or she can use to access the network. The store may offer unlimited wi-fi, or limit Internet access to a limited number of hours.

Connecting to Access Points

To connect to a wireless access point from Windows, follow these steps:

Locate the Network Connections icon on your system tray. The icon looks like two computer monitors.
Right-click on the icon and select “Open Network Connections.”
Right-click on the “Wireless Network Connection” option and set up the ID numbers, passwords, and other configurations needed to access the wireless network.
The network may not be activated until you open a browser window. Test to see if you have live Internet access through wi-fi. If you don’t, you may need to move to a location with a stronger signal, or you may need to reconfigure the wireless connection settings.

Thanks to wi-fi, Internet access is now more convenient and widespread for everyone to use. With these tips, you can access the Internet just about anywhere at any time you choose.