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84 Setting Up a Home and Office Network
Enabling/Disabling the Wireless Network Card
NOTE: If you are unable to connect to a wireless network, ensure that you have all the components for
establishing a WLAN (see "What You Need to Establish a WLAN Connection" on page 80), and then verify that your
wireless network card is enabled by pressing <Fn><F2>.
You can turn your computer’s wireless networking function on and off by pressing the <Fn><F2> key
combination. If the wireless networking function is turned on, press <Fn><F2> to disable it. If the
wireless networking function is turned off, press <Fn><F2> to enable it.
Monitoring the Status of the Wireless Network Card Through Dell™ QuickSet
The wireless activity indicator provides you with an easy way to monitor the status of your computer’s
wireless devices. Right-click the Dell QuickSet icon in your taskbar to select or deselect Wireless Activity
Indicator Off to turn the wireless activity indicator on or off.
The wireless activity indicator displays whether your computer’s integrated wireless devices are enabled
or disabled. When you turn the wireless networking function on or off, the wireless activity indicator
changes to display the status.
For more information about the wireless activity indicator, see the Dell QuickSet Help file. For
information about QuickSet and how to access the Dell QuickSet Help file, see "Dell™ QuickSet
Features" on page 49.
Mobile Broadband or Wireless Wide Area Network
Much like a WLAN, a Mobile Broadband network (also known as a WWAN) is a series of interconnected
computers that communicate with each other through wireless technology. However, a Mobile
Broadband network uses cellular technology and therefore provides Internet access in the same varied
locations from which cellular telephone service is available. Your computer can maintain the Mobile
Broadband network connection regardless of its physical location, as long as the computer remains in the
service area of your cellular service provider.
What You Need to Establish a Mobile Broadband Network Connection
To set up a Mobile Broadband network connection, you need:
• A Mobile Broadband ExpressCard
NOTE: For instructions on using ExpressCards, see "ExpressCards" on page 71. Also, see the Quick Start Guide that
came with your ExpressCard.
• Activated Mobile Broadband ExpressCard or activated Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) for your
service provider