Sometimes, though, the wireless network does not work properly when first
started or even more vexingly, may work intermittently. Try these troubleshoot-
ing steps to prepare a WiFi system:Getting on the bus ..............................................................................
Access points or WiFi cards need to be connected to the bus or ports of any
laptop, desktop, or device that expects to communicate over the wireless
system. (The busis the data superhighway that connects to and from the
microprocessor.) Preconfigured wireless-capable laptops are, by definition,
ready to go with internal connections. If using a WiFi card, it needs to be
properly attached to either a USB port or plugged squarely into the pins of
the PC Card socket. (Chapter 16 talks more about PC Cards and USB.)Powering up ........................................................................................
Make sure all components are properly powered. Access points need a
source of electrical power. That sometimes means an AC wall source; if
attached to a laptop from the battery, that means through the USB port or
through a special port for a wireless card.Chapter 14: Feeling Up In the Air 209
The flippin’ switch
I was frustrated at the inability of my brand-new
laptop to communicate using its built-in 802.11g
WiFi card. Windows reported to me that it rec-
ognized and was ready to work with the hard-
ware; T-Mobile confirmed to me that the hotspot
was live and operational, and that my account
was active. The instruction manual for the laptop
made brief mention of the need to “turn on” the
WiFi card, but I assumed that meant I needed to
activate the wireless facilities through Windows,
and this I had done.
And so I made a phone call to technical support
for the laptop, made by a reputable company
whose name begins with Toshiand ends with
ba.I reached a technician after a 20-minute
wait on hold during which I was regularly
thanked for my patience. (Why do companies
thank you for something you have not yet
offered?) We solved the problem in about 10
seconds: This model laptop (and as it turns out,
quite a few others from the same company and
others) has a tiny slide switch on the side that
turns on or off the wireless card. Turning it off
saves battery power and avoids interference
with other systems, which is good. Failing to
mention its existence in the instruction manual,
not so good.