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# Searching for WiMAX Networks

There are two types of network searches:

- Search for Your Preferred Network
- Search for All WiMAX Networks

## Search for Your Preferred Network

When WiMAX is turned on and you are not connected to a WiMAX network, the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility automatically searches for your preferred network (your last connected network). When your preferred network is found, the utility stops searching and you are invited to connect.

If your preferred network is not found, a message indicates so:

> <Network name> is not available to connect.

The utility will continue to periodically search. However you can begin an immediate search for your preferred network at any time. To do so, click Search on the main window. The search starts and as soon as your network is found, the search stops and you are invited to connect. Clicking Search only searches for your preferred network.

If you started the search by pressing the Search button, then you can also stop this search at any time; simply click Stop Search.

If you want to connect to a network other than your current preferred network, you can perform a Search for All WiMAX Networks.

## Search for All WiMAX Networks

If you want to connect to a network other than your current preferred network, you can perform a search for all WiMAX networks.

NOTE: A search for all networks is battery-intensive and should take less than a minute to complete.

To search for all WiMAX networks, perform these steps:

1. On the main window, click Expand .
2. Click Search for Networks.

3. A blue progress bar indicates search progress, and networks are listed as they are detected. From the networks list, you can select a network to connect to. You should only need to perform a search for all networks if you have not yet activated a WiMAX network for your computer, or if you are in a different city or area where you have not activated service and a preferred network has not been detected. In this case, see Subscribing for WiMAX Service.
4. You can stop a search that you have started anytime. To stop a search, click Stop Search. As the search discovers networks, they are added to the network list. Any network that you have connected with before is identified with this icon: This icon doesn't mean that you have an active subscription with this network service provider; it only means that you have connected with this network before.

5. To connect to a network in the list, either double-click on it, or select it and click Connect. If you do not have a subscription with the WiMAX network service provider, then when you open an internet browser, your laptop will connect to a portal where you can subscribe for WiMAX service with that provider. The exact process for registering and subscribing may vary, based on the service provider. Once the subscription process is complete, you will have access to the internet via WiMAX.

   > NOTE: During this process, your firewall application may ask your permission to allow communication between the WiMAX activation and provisioning site, and your computer. To complete the activation process, you will need to permit this communication.

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