Wireless Radio Hardware and Software Switches
Some of the information from my experience and knowledge base for wireless radios switches.
For Windows Based Computers
If the drivers for the wireless adapter contain a setting to toggle wireless radio, it can be located using the
following path: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Right click Wireless Network Connection Icon > Properties >
Configure > Advanced tab
Here you will find a textbox with a list of selectable properties that are populated by the device driver. Once you
select a property there will be a value field with a dropdown box containing configuration options that apply to that
specific property. The name of the wireless radio property may vary because the listed properties are dependent on
each specific device driver. It should be fairly intuitive to determine the correct property if you simply have the user
read all the listed properties to you.
Many laptop manufacturers will place a physical switch on the outside casing of the laptop, so that the user can
easily toggle wireless radio. Sometimes these switches get accidentally turned off, or intentionally turned off and the
end user forgets to switch it back. The best practice in these situations is to ask the user to look for a physical switch
on the case of the laptop, possibly with a symbol of a radio tower next to it. After turning the wireless switch on, the
user will probably need to refresh their network list.
Laptops built by certain manufacturers may have a specific keystroke set up to toggle wireless radio.
Below are some examples of wireless radio software and hardware toggles that we have been able to
document:
Acer (General) - FN,F5
ASUS (General) -The F5R has a toggle switch to turn on and off the WIFI; it is located on the left side of the
notebook
Dell (General) - FN,F2 or FN,F8 or FN,F12
Dell d630 (D6xx?) latitude: toggle switch on the left side towards the front by the PCMCIA slots and headphone
jack
E-machine (General) - FN,F2
Fujitsu (General) - FN,F10
HP/Compaq (General Older models) - Button on upper left on keyboard deck
HP/Compaq (General Newer models) - Button on lower left below keyboard
IBM thinkpad (General) - Most have software switch or button on left hand side.
IBM thinkpad (model not further identified) with wireless switch on front edge of case.
Sony Vaio (General) - switch on front left
Toshiba (General) - FN,F5 or FN,F8 or switch
Toshiba Satellite has a physical switch on front of case. FN+F8 shows whether wireless communications is
enabled or disabled.
For MAC/Apple Based Computers
MAC OS X 10.4.x (Tiger & Earlier)
Open MAc Hard Drive > Applications > Utilities folder > Set the Configure pull-down to Airport.
Make sure the "Airport Power:" says on. (This is the status or your Mac's Airport card.)
If not, click "Turn Airport On" button.
MAC OS X 10.5.x (Leopard)
Click on the: Apple Icon > System Preferences > Network > Airport > Airport Power - On/Off
For Windows Based Computers
If the drivers for the wireless adapter contain a setting to toggle wireless radio, it can be located using the
following path: Start > Settings > Control Panel > Right click Wireless Network Connection Icon > Properties >
Configure > Advanced tab
Here you will find a textbox with a list of selectable properties that are populated by the device driver. Once you
select a property there will be a value field with a dropdown box containing configuration options that apply to that
specific property. The name of the wireless radio property may vary because the listed properties are dependent on
each specific device driver. It should be fairly intuitive to determine the correct property if you simply have the user
read all the listed properties to you.
Many laptop manufacturers will place a physical switch on the outside casing of the laptop, so that the user can
easily toggle wireless radio. Sometimes these switches get accidentally turned off, or intentionally turned off and the
end user forgets to switch it back. The best practice in these situations is to ask the user to look for a physical switch
on the case of the laptop, possibly with a symbol of a radio tower next to it. After turning the wireless switch on, the
user will probably need to refresh their network list.
Laptops built by certain manufacturers may have a specific keystroke set up to toggle wireless radio.
Below are some examples of wireless radio software and hardware toggles that we have been able to
document:
Acer (General) - FN,F5
ASUS (General) -The F5R has a toggle switch to turn on and off the WIFI; it is located on the left side of the
notebook
Dell (General) - FN,F2 or FN,F8 or FN,F12
Dell d630 (D6xx?) latitude: toggle switch on the left side towards the front by the PCMCIA slots and headphone
jack
E-machine (General) - FN,F2
Fujitsu (General) - FN,F10
HP/Compaq (General Older models) - Button on upper left on keyboard deck
HP/Compaq (General Newer models) - Button on lower left below keyboard
IBM thinkpad (General) - Most have software switch or button on left hand side.
IBM thinkpad (model not further identified) with wireless switch on front edge of case.
Sony Vaio (General) - switch on front left
Toshiba (General) - FN,F5 or FN,F8 or switch
Toshiba Satellite has a physical switch on front of case. FN+F8 shows whether wireless communications is
enabled or disabled.
For MAC/Apple Based Computers
MAC OS X 10.4.x (Tiger & Earlier)
Open MAc Hard Drive > Applications > Utilities folder > Set the Configure pull-down to Airport.
Make sure the "Airport Power:" says on. (This is the status or your Mac's Airport card.)
If not, click "Turn Airport On" button.
MAC OS X 10.5.x (Leopard)
Click on the: Apple Icon > System Preferences > Network > Airport > Airport Power - On/Off
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