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# Connecting to WiMAX

- Start Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility
- Subscribing for WiMAX Service
- Connecting to Your WiMAX Network
- Automatic Reconnection
- Disconnecting from a WiMAX Network
- Reconnecting to a WiMAX Network
- Connecting to Another Subscribed Network
- Connecting to a New WiMAX Network
- Unsubscribing from a Network Service Provider

## Connecting to Your WiMAX Network

After subscription is complete, that service provider's network will generally become your preferred network, meaning that your computer will connect to it first, whenever you decide to connect to WiMAX. The Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility will always prefer to connect to your last connected network. However, you can choose to connect to any available WiMAX network, and you can subscribe to more than one network service provider at a time.

The connection utility always remembers the last network you connected to, and if it is available, displays that network in the status area.

In the following image, the named network is your preferred network.

To connect to your preferred network, perform one of these steps:

- On the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility main window, click Connect.
- Right-click on the WiMAX icon in the taskbar and click Connect > <Network>. Here, <Network> is the network you last connected to, your preferred network.

## Automatic Reconnection

If your laptop computer is connected to WiMAX, but then becomes disconnected, perhaps due to a poor signal or another problem, the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility will continually try to reconnect to the WiMAX network you were last connected to. Conversely, whenever you intentionally disconnect from WiMAX, the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility will close that connection and leave it closed until you reconnect to WiMAX.

## Disconnecting from a WiMAX Network

When you intentionally disconnect from WiMAX, the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility will close that connection and leave it closed until you reconnect to WiMAX.

To disconnect from a WiMAX network, perform one of these methods:

- On the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility main window, click Disconnect. This action disconnects WiMAX, but leaves the WiMAX radio on and automatic periodic searching for WiMAX networks continues. Note that WiFi connection is not possible when WiMAX is on.
- Right-click on the WiMAX icon in the taskbar and click Disconnect. This action is the same as above. WiMAX is disconnected, but the WiMAX radio remains on and automatic, periodic searching for WiMAX networks continues. Note that WiFi connection is not possible when WiMAX is on.
- Right-click on the WiMAX icon in the taskbar and click WiMAX and WiFi Off. This action turns the adapter off; no WiFi or WiMAX network connections are possible. No searching for networks occurs. This option is good if you need to shut down both the WiFi and WiMAX radios, for example when boarding an airplane, or if you need to save battery power. Note that when you turn WiMAX back on, it will automatically attempt to reconnect to your last connected WiMAX network. However if you click Disconnect, WiMAX will remain disconnected until you manually reconnect to WiMAX.
- On the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility main window, click WiMAX: Off. This action turns off the WiMAX radio only. No searching for WiMAX networks occurs, however WiFi network connections are possible. Note that when you turn WiMAX back on, it will automatically attempt to reconnect to your last connected WiMAX network. However if you click Disconnect, WiMAX will remain disconnected until you manually reconnect to WiMAX.
- Set the hardware radio switch: Some computers have a hardware radio switch that lets you turn on and off the wireless radio, including WiMAX. This switch operates independently from the WiMAX On/Off button (however, if the radio switch is off, this is reflected by the WiMAX On/Off button in the taskbar and main window). To turn WiMAX back on, turn on the WiMAX radio hardware switch first. Then click WiMAX On at the taskbar or main window.

## Reconnecting to a WiMAX Network

When you intentionally disconnect from WiMAX, the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility will close that connection and leave it closed until you reconnect to WiMAX. See Disconnecting from a WiMAX Network.

The connection utility always remembers the last network you connected to, and if it is available, displays that network in the status area. To connect to your preferred network, perform one of these steps:

- On the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility main window, click Connect.
- Right-click on the WiMAX icon in the taskbar and click Connect > <Network>. Here, <Network> is the network you last connected to, your preferred network.

## Connecting to Another Subscribed Network

The Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility will always search for and list your preferred network, the network that you last connected to. However, you may have subscriptions to more than one network service provider. To connect to another subscribed network, perform these steps.

1. At the main window, click Expand .
2. Click Search for Networks. The utility will search for all networks. This includes your current preferred network, networks you have connected to in the past, and new networks. This search may take about 45 seconds, and the results are displayed as each network is detected. Progress is indicated by the blue progress bar. You are not required to wait for the search to complete before connecting; see the next step.
3. To connect to another subscribed network, select it and click Connect. Or just double-click the network. This WiMAX network now becomes your preferred network.

## Connecting to a New WiMAX Network

There may be a time when you want to connect to a WiMAX network that you have not connected with before. For example if you take your laptop to a new city or area, the WiMAX service provider in your previous location (your preferred network) may not be available. To connect to a new network, you will need to activate service with a new service provider, just as you did for the first WiMAX network service provider. To do this, see Subscribing for WiMAX Service.

> NOTE: Activating service with a new WiMAX network service provider does not cancel or change the agreement you have with your current service provider.

## Unsubscribing from a WiMAX Network Service Provider

To unsubscribe from a WiMAX service provider, you need to contact the service provider. You cannot unsubscribe using the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility. Your service provider's support web site may be listed in Support window.

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