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Connecting to the Wireless Internet Network

Connecting to the network requires a laptop computer with a wireless Internet card that supports the WiFi standard (also known as IEEE 802.11b/g).

Configure your computer to automatically accept an IP address by Right clicking "My Network Places/Network Neighborhood."

Finding Library Hot Spots

To find the Library's hot spots, click on your wireless icon in the taskbar. If no icon is present:

  1. Click Start, Settings, then Network Connections
  2. Right click Wireless Network Connection and then click View Available Wireless Networks (a list of wireless access points appears in the Available Networks box)
  3. Click the SFPL-WIRELESS wireless connection
  4. Click Connect

Connecting with Different Operating Systems

Windows OS

  1. Right click My Network Places/Network Neighborhood
  2. Go to Properties
  3. Double click Wireless Adapter (or simply click on your vendor icon for the wireless adapter in the lower right hand tool bar)
    • SSID (network name) = SFPL-WIRELESS and a DHCP address will be allocated automatically
    • WEP = disable WEP encryption
    • Mode or Network Type = Infrastructure mode or access point
    • Restart (reboot) the computer (this is not a requirement with Windows XP)
    • Open a Web browser

MAC OS

  1. Click on System Preferences from the Apple Menu
  2. Double click the Network logo
  3. Under Show Menu select AirPort
  4. Close window
  5. Open Internet Connect and turn on AirPort
  6. From Network Menu select SFPL-WIRELESS
  7. Open a Web browser

Internet Explorer Tips

(Depending on your version of software, there may be variations in these procedures.)

  1. From Control Panel, select Internet Options > Connections tab
  2. For those with a dial-up connection, do not set it to Always dial my default connection
  3. LAN Settings should be Automatically detect settings and leave the Proxy server settings blank

Windows Vista & Windows 7

(You may need administrative access to your laptop to change these settings)

  1. From Control Panel, select Network and lnternet > Network and Sharing Center > Change
    adapter settings
  2. Right click Wireless Network Connection or Local Area Connection; click Properties
  3. Locate lnternet Protocol Version 4 (TCPJIPv4) and get into its Properties (if more than one
    TCPIIP protocol is listed, look for the one associated with your wireless adapter)
  4. Select Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically
  5. From Control Panel, select Network and lnternet > Network and Sharing Center > Connect to a network
  6. Select the name of the wireless network SFPL-WIRELESS and click Connect

Windows 2000 & XP

(You may need administrative access to your laptop to change these settings)

  1. From Control Panel, select Network and Dial-up Connections or Network and Internet Connections > Internet Connections
  2. Right click Wireless Network Connection or Local Area Connection; click Properties
  3. Locate the TCP/IP protocol and get into its Properties (if more than one TCP/IP protocol is listed, look for the one associated with your wireless adapter)
  4. Select Obtain an IP address automatically and Obtain DNS server address automatically
  5. For XP, right click Wireless Network Connection and select View Available Wireless Networks
  6. Select the name of a wireless network SFPL-WIRELESS and click Connect

Windows NT

(You may need administrative access to your laptop to change these settings)

  1. From Control Panel, select Network
  2. Locate the TCP/IP protocol and get into its Properties (if more than one TCP/IP protocol is listed, look for the one associated with your wireless adapter)
  3. Select Obtain an IP address from a DHCP server and click OK

Windows 98

  1. From Control Panel, select Network
  2. Locate the TCP/IP protocol and get into itsProperties (if more than one TCP/IP protocol is listed, look for the one associated with your wireless adapter)
  3. For IP Address, select Obtain an IP address automatically
  4. For DNS, select Disable DNS
  5. For WINS, select Use DHCP for WINS Resolution

Macintosh

Network Settings (OS X)

  1. Select Apple Menu > System Preferences > Network button
  2. Select TCP/IP tab and configure Using DHCP (above the TCP/IP tab, you may need to configure via AirPort or other wireless (WiFi) ethernet)
  3. Leave Domain Name Servers and Search Domains blank

Network Settings (OS 8 & 9)

  1. Select Apple Menu > Control Panel > TCP/IP
  2. Connect via AirPort or other wireless (WiFi) ethernet
  3. Configure Using DHCP Server
  4. Leave Name Server and Additional Search domains blank

Main Library WiFi Locations (PDF)