Get Wireless Enabled
To go wireless with an existing laptop, first check to see if it is wireless LAN enabled. You can have wireless through either a PC Card or an integrated solution. If wireless isn't built in, you'll need to purchase a wireless LAN Card (either PCMCIA or a mini-PCI). This card fits neatly in the PC Card slot of your laptop.
Make the Connection
Wi-Fi-enabled laptops can send and receive data indoors and out -- anywhere within the range of a wireless LAN hotspot. There are actually two steps to making a connection. The first is to have your laptop "talk" to the hotspot, which means that the hardware and hotspot must recognize each other. This should happen automatically as long as your wireless hardware is turned on. On most laptop models, you will see some sort of signal icon on the bottom right hand corner of your screen or a lit indicator on the laptop itself, which will give you feedback for "On" and signal strength (a red screen means your radio is Off; a green screen indicates it is On).
You can also see the quality of the signal by clicking on the radio icon (may vary by system):
Your next step is to sign up with FreeNET and configure your laptop according to their instructions. This is a matter of simply launching your browser. It will automatically go to the wireless service provider's sign-in page.
Once you have signed in to the network , you can now get access to the Internet. You may be able to access your company's intranet as well, but you should check with your IT department for availability and instructions.
Log on to FreeNET
You should now be on the FreeNET log-on page. If so, simply follow the instructions to sign up for the service, or enter your user name and password if you already have an account.
If you were not automatically directed to the service provider's login page, your browser homepage may be set to an Intranet site (for example, on your company's network). Try browsing to an external site, then click on the refresh icon or the home icon (in your browser's toolbar) to go to the service provider's log-on page.
Congratulations! You should be successfully logged on. Check the internet connection icon in your tool bar, which will indicate whether the connection has been made or not.
View a step-by-step guide about wireless connectivity
PDF format
