Connect Wirelessly with Enterprise Computers

Wi-Fi, short for Wireless Fidelity, is networking technology that allows you to connect to the Internet. If you have a wireless-enabled computer (either built-in or via a PC card) you can connect to the Internet when in range of an access point called a hotspot. This may be in a hotel, restaurant, bookstore, your own home, or somewhere on a Penn State Campus, check Penn State wireless network locations (Access Account login required).

This How To provides general guidelines for Wi-Fi use with an Enterprise computer. You can also go to Penn State's ITS site and their Wireless page for assistance as well. IT also provided an eNews article entitled Wireless Networking - Terms Explained in Oct 2007.

These steps are written for Windows XP Professional computers that are part of the AG Enterprise network.

Enable/Disable the Dell's Wireless Device
Determine your Wireless Device
Connecting with Wireless
Performance and Connectivity Problems

Enable/Disable the Dell's Wireless Device

If your Dell notebook shipped with a built-in wireless card you will have a "Wireless Network Connection" listed in your Network Connections folder. To verify that this connection exists in your notebook, you should:

Click Start, click Control Panel, and then Double click on Network Connections.
From the View menu, choose Details.
Look for the Wireless Network Connection icon.

Note: Look for the Status column. You will see either Enabled or Disabled. If the card is Enabled, Wi-Fi is ON. If the choice is set to Disabled, Wi-Fi is OFF.
To DISABLE the card (it is set to Enable), Right Click on the Wireless Network Connection icon and choose Disable.

To ENABLE the card (it is set to Disabled), Right Click on the Wireless Network Connection icon and choose Enable.

Note: Some Dell Latitude models (ex: D830) have a extra wireless switch on the left side. If you are unable to enable the wireless card using Step 4, be sure that the wireless switch is in the ON position, see picture here.

NOTE: IT recommends that you disable the Wireless Network Connection when not in active use. Having the Wi-Fi enabled will slow down the notebook as you work since it will always be looking for active networks. In addition, if Wi-Fi is enabled and you turn the notebook on while not in the office, the notebook will attempt to run the AG domain startup scripts and domain policies. During this time, the computer does not respond to your commands. This behavior occurs because the wireless network card driver may not respond immediately when Windows XP initializes the network components and associates the wireless network card driver with the Client for Microsoft Networks feature. If you use wireless at home, you should not enable the Wireless Network Connection until the machine is completely started up at home. Here is a set of sample actions that you might take:

At work, Wireless should already be disabled. Shut down the notebook for the trip home.
At home, turn on the notebook. Wait until it boots completely.
Enable the Wireless card. Connect to your wireless network. If needed, connect with the Cisco VPN client to the PSU network. At this point you can access the Internet and/or Email.
When finished, close all applications. Disconnect and Exit from the Cisco VPN client.
Disable the Wireless card. Shut down the notebook for the trip to the office.

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Determine your Wireless Device

Depending on your Dell model, you may use a Dell or Intel PROSet wireles device. In order to determine what you have, you will check the notebook's Device Manager.

Right Click on the My Computer icon and choose Manage.
Click the Device Manager icon.
Expand, if needed, the Network adapters listing by clicking the plus sign beside its name.
Look for the Wireless adapter. Write down the name. This should tell you the manufacturer and model of the device.
Close the Device Manager window.

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Connecting with Wireless

IT recommends that you use the wireless utility (ex: Intel PROSet Wireless, Dell Wireless WLAN Utility or TrueMobile Wireless Utility) that shipped with the Dell Enterprise Computer to manage the wireless connection. After all, this software was designed to use the card that is installed in the notebook. Some staff have had better success with using Windows XP to manage the wireless connection. The choice is up to you.

The Dell Support site lists all the Wireless Network Adapters used in their notebooks. Below are steps to help you find your adapter and its Guide. You can then follow its steps to connect with Wireless.

Click the appropriate link for your Wireless Network Adapter.

- Dell Wireless Network Adapters (use for Dell Wireless or Dell TrueMobile)
- Other Wireless Network Adapters (use for Intel PROset)
Click the link for your Wireless Network Adapter.
To open the User Guide, click English.

Note: At this point you will see a number to choices. To connect with the notebook's wireless utility, look for the words Software or Utility in the link name (ex: 'Use Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless Software', 'Using the Intel® PROSet Utility' or 'Using the Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility'). To connect with the built-in Windows XP software, look for Windows in the link name (ex: 'Making a Basic Network Connection in Windows XP' or 'Connecting to an Advanced Network Using Windows WZC')
Click the link at the top of User Guide to go to that section.
Follow the steps in the Guide to connect and manage the device.

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Performance and Connectivity Problems

Cannot Connect to the Network.
If your Card appears to be functioning properly but you cannot connect to the network, the problem may be that there is a mismatch between the network key information used to configure the network profile on the computer and the network key information of the network you are trying to connect to. This information is case sensitive. Verify that the spelling and case of this information are correct and that the network key information settings are exactly the same on all computers on the network.
Data transfer is sometimes very slow.
Microwave ovens, some baby monitors, cordless game controllers, and some cordless phones operate at the same radio frequency as the wireless device. When these devices are in use, they interfere with the wireless network. Therefore, keep computers at least 20 feet away from your microwave oven and any other devices that operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz.
Data transfer is always very slow.
Some homes and most offices are steel-framed structures. The steel in such buildings may interfere with your network's radio signals, thus causing a slowdown in the data transmission rate. Try moving your computer to different locations in the building to see if performance improves.
Starting and stopping the Wireless Zero Configuration service.

NOTE: These steps are for use only if you are letting Windows XP manage the wireless connection.

If the Wireless Zero Configuration gets confused in any way, wireless connectivity may appear as unavailable. When there is a genuine hardware failure, the icon displays a small red X to indicate that the connection was lost. But with mysterious disconnections, the icon continues to show a connection. The icon indicates that you are associated with an access point. It is possible for you to be associated without having (Internet) connectivity. These steps will allow you to stop and then restart the Wireless Zero Configuration service in Windows XP.

Click Start, then Control Panel.

If Control Panel is in Category view, click the Switch to Classic View link on the left and then Double click the Administrative Tools control panel.
If Control Panel is in Classic view, Double click the Administrative Tools control panel.

Double click on Services. A two-pane window comes up.

In the right-hand pane, scroll down and Double click on Wireless Zero Configuration.

In Service status, click Stop. A progress bar may come up briefly.

In Service status, click Start. Again, a progress bar may come up.

Click OK. Close the Services window.

Close the Administrative Tools control panel. Close the Control Panel window.

At this point, the connection should come back.

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