HP Compaq Presario CQ40-601AX, Compaq Presario CQ40-603TU, Compaq Presario CQ40-605TU, Compaq Presario CQ40-606AX, Compaq Presario CQ40-606AU User Guide

Wireless (Select Models Only)

User Guide

© Copyright 2009 Hewlett-Packard
Development Company, L.P.

Windows is a U.S. registered trademark of
Microsoft Corporation. Bluetooth is a
trademark owned by its proprietor and used
by Hewlett-Packard Company under license.

The information contained herein is subject
to change without notice. The only
warranties for HP products and services are
set forth in the express warranty statements
accompanying such products and services.
Nothing herein should be construed as
constituting an additional warranty. HP shall
not be liable for technical or editorial errors
or omissions contained herein.

First Edition: August 2009

Document Part Number: 539901-001

Product notice

This user guide describes features that are
common to most models. Some features
may not be available on your computer.

Table of contents

1 Using wireless devices (select models only)

Identifying wireless and network status icons ...................................................................................... 2

Using the wireless controls ................................................................................................................... 3

Using the wireless button ..................................................................................................................... 4

Using Wireless Assistant software (select models only) ...................................................................... 5

Using HP Connection Manager (select models only) ........................................................................... 6

Using operating system controls .......................................................................................................... 7

2 Using a WLAN

Setting up a WLAN ............................................................................................................................... 9

Protecting your WLAN ........................................................................................................................ 10

Connecting to a WLAN ....................................................................................................................... 11

Roaming to another network .............................................................................................................. 12

3 Using HP Mobile Broadband (select models only)

Inserting a SIM ................................................................................................................................... 14

Removing a SIM ................................................................................................................................. 15

4 Using Bluetooth wireless devices (select models only)

Bluetooth and Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) .............................................................................. 17

5 Troubleshooting wireless connection problems

Cannot connect to a WLAN ................................................................................................................ 19

Cannot connect to a preferred network .............................................................................................. 20

Network icon is not displayed ............................................................................................................. 21

Current network security codes are unavailable ................................................................................ 22

WLAN connection is very weak .......................................................................................................... 23

Cannot connect to the wireless router ................................................................................................ 24

Index ................................................................................................................................................................... 25

iii

iv

1 Using wireless devices (select models

only)

Wireless technology transfers data across radio waves instead of wires. Your computer may be
equipped with one or more of the following wireless devices:

Wireless local area network (WLAN) device—Connects the computer to wireless local area

●

networks (commonly referred to as Wi-Fi networks, wireless LANs, or WLANs) in corporate offices,
your home, and public places such as airports, restaurants, coffee shops, hotels, and universities.
In a WLAN, each mobile wireless device communicates with a wireless router or a wireless access
point.

HP Mobile Broadband Module—A wireless wide area network (WWAN) device that provides

●

access to information wherever mobile network operator service is available. In a WWAN, each
mobile device communicates to a mobile network operator’s base station. Mobile network operators
install networks of base stations (similar to cell phone towers) throughout large geographic areas,
effectively providing coverage across entire states, regions, or even countries.

Bluetooth® device—Creates a personal area network (PAN) to connect to other Bluetooth-enabled

●

devices such as computers, phones, printers, headsets, speakers, and cameras. In a PAN, each
device communicates directly with other devices, and devices must be relatively close together—
typically within 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) of each other.

Computers with WLAN devices support one or more of the following IEEE industry standards:

802.11b, the first popular standard, supports data rates of up to 11 Mbps and operates at a

●

frequency of 2.4 GHz.

802.11g supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 2.4 GHz. An 802.11g

●

WLAN device is backward compatible with 802.11b devices, so they can operate on the same
network.

802.11a supports data rates of up to 54 Mbps and operates at a frequency of 5 GHz.

●

NOTE: 802.11a is not compatible with 802.11b and 802.11g.

802.11n supports data rates of up to 450 Mbps and may operate at 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, making it

●

backward compatible with 802.11a, b, and g.

For more information on wireless technology, refer to the information and Web site links provided in
Help and Support.

1

Identifying wireless and network status icons

Icon Name Description

Wireless (connected) Identifies the location of the wireless lights and the wireless buttons

Wireless (disconnected) Identifies the Wireless Assistant software on the computer and

HP Connection Manager Opens HP Connection Manager, which enables you to create a

Wired network (connected) Indicates that one or more of your network drivers are installed and

Network (connected) Indicates that one or more of your network drivers are installed, one

Network (disconnected) Indicates that one or more of your network drivers are installed and

Network (disabled/
disconnected)

on the computer. Also identifies the Wireless Assistant software on
the computer and indicates that one or more of the wireless devices
are on.

indicates that all of the wireless devices are off.

connection with an HP Mobile Broadband device (select models
only).

one or more network devices are connected to the network.

or more network devices are connected to a wireless network, and
one or more network devices are connected to a wired network.

wireless connections are available, but no network devices are
connected to a wired or wireless network.

Indicates that one or more of your network drivers are installed, no
wireless connections are available or all wireless network devices
are disabled by the wireless button or Wireless Assistant, and no
network devices are connected to a wired network.

Wired network (disabled/
disconnected)

Indicates that one or more of your network drivers are installed, all
network devices or all wireless devices are disabled in Windows®
Control Panel, and no network devices are connected to a wired
network.

2 Chapter 1 Using wireless devices (select models only)

Using the wireless controls

You can control the wireless devices in your computer using these features:

Wireless button or wireless switch (referred to in this guide as the wireless button)

●

Wireless Assistant software (select models only)

●

HP Connection Manager software (select models only)

●

Operating system controls

●

Using the wireless controls 3

Using the wireless button

The computer has a wireless button, one or more wireless devices, and one or two wireless lights,
depending on the model. All of the wireless devices on your computer are enabled at the factory, so the
wireless light is on (blue) when you turn on the computer.

The wireless light indicates the overall power state of your wireless devices, not the status of individual
devices. If the wireless light is blue, at least one wireless device is on. If the wireless light is off, all
wireless devices are off.

NOTE: On some models, the wireless light is amber when all wireless devices are off.

Because the wireless devices are enabled at the factory, you can use the wireless button to turn on or
turn off the wireless devices simultaneously. Individual wireless devices can be controlled through
Wireless Assistant software (select models only).

4 Chapter 1 Using wireless devices (select models only)

Using Wireless Assistant software (select models only)

A wireless device can be turned on or off using the Wireless Assistant software. If a wireless device is
disabled by the Setup Utility, it must be reenabled by the Setup Utility before it can be turned on or off
using Wireless Assistant.

NOTE: Enabling or turning on a wireless device does not automatically connect the computer to a

network or a Bluetooth-enabled device.

To view the state of the wireless devices, click the Show hidden icons icon, the arrow at the left of the
notification area, and position the mouse pointer over the wireless icon.

If the wireless icon is not displayed in the notification area, complete the following steps to change
Wireless Assistant properties:

1. Select Start > Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Windows Mobility Center.

2. Click the wireless icon in the Wireless Assistant tile, which is located in the bottom row of Windows®

Mobility Center.

3. Click Properties.

4. Select the check box next to HP Wireless Assistant icon in notification area.

5. Click Apply.

6. Click Close.

For more information, refer to the Wireless Assistant software Help:

1. Open Wireless Assistant by clicking the wireless icon in Windows Mobility Center.

2. Click the Help button.

Using Wireless Assistant software (select models only) 5