First things first: I’m not suggesting you try to use your neighbour’s wireless broadband – at least, not without asking first! This article explains how to join another wireless network such as at a friend's house or in a bar or shopping mall.
When you want to connect to someone else’s wireless broadband, there are two things you need: the name of the wireless network (which is technically known as the network’s ‘SSID’) and the network’s password (sometimes referred to as a ‘network key’ or a ‘security key’).
If you take your computer to a hotel, library, coffee shop or somewhere else that offers Internet access to its customers, these details may be posted on a wall or the reception desk, or you may have to ask a member of staff for them.
Armed with these two pieces of information, the rest should be plain sailing. That’s the case whether you’re using a laptop or tablet PC with some version of Windows on it, or any other portable device that can connect to wireless networks – some other kind of tablet computer, a smartphone, an e-book reader – you name it. Your device will be able to display a list of all the wireless networks it can detect nearby, one of which should be the one you want to connect to. You select that network, enter its password, and Bob’s your mother's brother.
Here’s a quick run through how this is done in the various versions of Windows:
Windows 8: on the taskbar, click the wireless network icon near the clock. In the panel that appears at the right of the screen, click the name of the network you want to connect to. Tick the box beside Connect automatically and then click the Connect button. Enter the password and click Next. Finally, if this is a network in someone’s home, you could click Yes, turn on sharing and connect to devices. For any other kind of network (or if you’re in any doubt about which to choose), click No, don’t turn on sharing or connect to devices.
Windows 7: on the taskbar, click the wireless network icon near the clock. In the panel that appears, click the name of the network you want to connect to, tick the box beside Connect automatically and click Connect. Enter the password when prompted and click OK. Finally, click Home network if this is a network in someone’s home; for all other networks click Public network.
Windows Vista: on the taskbar, click the wireless network icon near the clock and choose Connect to a network from the little pop-up panel. Click the name of the network you want to connect to, then click the Connect button. In the next dialog, type the password and click Connect, then make sure there are ticks beside Save this network and Start this connection automatically and click Close. Finally, click Home if this is a network in someone’s home; for all other networks, click Public location.
Windows XP: on the taskbar, double-click the wireless network icon. Click the name of the network you want to connect to, then click the Connect button. In the next dialog, type the password and click Connect.
When you’ve done this once, Windows remembers the details of this network and connects to it automatically whenever you’re within range. So, every time you go to your favourite coffee shop which offers Free WiFi, your PC or tablet will recognise the wireless network and connect to it automatically, just as it connects to your own network whenever you’re at home.
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