Joining and Managing Favorite Wireless Networks

By default, when wireless network connections are enabled, NWAM attempts to connect to any available network in the favorites list, without asking, in the priority order in which the connections are listed. If no favorite networks are available, the Wireless Chooser dialog opens. In this dialog you can choose which wireless network to join.

You can also modify the way in which connections to wireless networks are attempted in the Wireless tab of the Network Preferences dialog's Connection Properties view. If required, you can manually connect to a different wireless network by accessing the Network Status notification icon right-click menu.

How to Join a Wireless Network

Wireless networks are joined by choosing the Join Wireless Network option that is available by right-clicking the Network Status notification icon. The Wireless Chooser dialog is where you select a wireless network to connect to, from the list of available networks that is displayed.

1. To manually connect to a different wireless network, you can do one of the following:
   • Select an available wireless network from the Network Status notification icon's right-click menu.
   • Select the Join unlisted wireless network option from the Network Status notification's icon menu.

     An unlisted wireless network is one that has been configured so that it does not broadcast its network name, yet is still available to join.

   • Select an available wireless network from the Wireless Chooser dialog. This dialog is displayed automatically, when there is a choice of available wireless networks to join.
     
2. If the Join Wireless Network dialog opens, provide all of the necessary information for the wireless network you have chosen.

   For more details about the information that you might need to provide, refer to the NWAM GUI online help.

Managing Favorite Networks

By default, when you join a wireless network for the first time, a check box that is labeled, Add to List of Favorite Networks on Successful Connection, is displayed in the Join Wireless Network dialog.

• To add the wireless network to your list of favorites, if the connection is successful, select this box. If you do not want the network to be added to your list of favorites, deselect the box. The box is selected by default.

• To add a wireless network that is not currently available, or not currently broadcasting its network name to your favorites list, go to the Wireless tab of the Connection Properties view, then click the Add button. To add the network, you will need to know its network name, security type, and security key.