OS 10.12.6

My son is bringing his laptop and he wants to know how he can get on the internet using WI FI.

I have no knowledge myself so if someone can explain in simple terms the procedure,
I would appreciate it. I believe that the password I gave the technician when he first setup my computer is required?

jaybass

To start, I assume you have Wi-Fi in the home which has been provided by your ISP. If so, your ISP will have given you two pieces of information:

1. The name of your Wi-Fi
2. A password to get into it

Everything should be pretty straightforward. Your son's laptop should be looking for Wi-Fi networks and will probably find a few (your neighbours, et cetera) and they will be listed on his laptop.

He will select the one that is the name of your Wi-Fi. Then, the Wi-Fi network will ask for the Password and he should enter the password provided by your ISP.

Once your son has been set up he should never have to go through the process again. Whenever he visits, his laptop should look for the network and sign in automatically because it already knows the Password.

Ryck,

I have been with bell only since last April and they never gave me the name of the Wi-Fi or a password.

I did go to sharing and net work and realized I couldn't do anything without that info.

I phoned bell and the rest as they say, "is history"

And as you say, he will not have to enter that info again. Thank for taking the time to answer me.

jaybass

Does your computer connect to the internet through Wi-Fi? Or wired with ethernet?

If your computer has been connected through Wi-Fi in the past, then you can look up its settings:

• The old defaults may be be stickered on (the bottom/back of) the wireless router/modem/“home hub”. (I changed it on my modem, for personalization and security.)
• The last used network login settings will be listed in Keychain Access. Use “AirPort network password” in the search field to filter on that kind of login. Sort by date to see the last ones used on top.

I am wired with ethernet. I have never used Wi-Fi mainly because I am not familiar with it.

Thanks for your response.

jaybass

Apple, System Preferences, Sharing

check Internet Sharing

on the right, select something like
Share your connection from: Ethernet
to computers using: [X] Wi-Fi

click WiFi Options and give your network a name, go with WPA2 Personal security, and set a password. Use that information to connect from the guest computer.

(after connecting an iPhone or iPad, you will see that listed in with WiFi, you can share your ethernet with your phone or iPad while connected with the dock cable to really speed up app downloads)

Thanks Virtual 1, I have screen shot of your reply for future reference.

I shall probably try it out this weekend.

jaybass

I don't know if you are using a laptop or a desktop but, in either case, you can access and use your Wi-Fi network in exactly the same way as your son did.

You look under the wi-fi symbol on your machine(top right corner of your screen) and you will see a list of wi-fi networks that your machine is picking up. Yours will be one of those and it will have a padlock beside it. That means the password is needed for you to join it.

If you are using a desktop, stick with the ethernet. That's what I use for my desktop too, whereas the iPads in the home and my daughters laptops when they visit all use the wi-fi.

If you are using a laptop you may wish to go with Wi-Fi as it will allow you to use your laptop anywhere in your home, rather than be constrained to the location of the ethernet cable.

I have the same iMac that you do. I just looked under the Wi-Fi symbol and the list of networks only appear for less than 2 seconds. To view them again, I have to switch Wi-Fi off and then on again. Is there a way for that list to remain until I can see the network I need? My Son will be here later today so maybe he will know something.
In case he doesn't, perhaps you know?
Thanks ryck,

jaybass

I am using a MBPro with High Sierra.

When I click on the WI-FI, the dropdown menu will remain visible as long as it is still finding/adding possible networks to join - which, for the area I am in, there are dozens.

When no more can be found - or one is selected - the dropdown menu disappears.

Look in your (Apple) SYSTEM PREFERENCES. Is the "Ask to join new networks" box checked?

That's very curious. My list remains in place, although I note that mine keeps searching, so I assume it is working the same as MG2009’s.


It’s likely that yours is acting the same and the list switches off because it has found all the networks within reach. There is an easy way to check.

When you click on the Wi-Fi symbol, look at the very top of the list. There will be greyed out language that says: “ Wi-Fi: “ followed a message that toggles between “On” and “Looking for networks…”

However, if you wish to keep the Dropdown Menu from disappearing, you can probably do so simply by pulling your pointer into the list of selections.

For my own education I looked for that checkbox but didn't locate it. What icon is it under? Thanks.

In Sierra, High Sierra, and Mojave you will find it is System Preferences > Network > when WiFi is selected as the network. it is below the name of the current network.

In iOS it is found under Settings > WiFi > below "Choose a Network"

Re: What icon is it under?

Oops. Sorry about that. I should have indicated NETWORK, as the recent #49922 noted.

Ryck,

When I first clicked the Wi-Fi symbol, the drop down menu would remain only for a couple of seconds but now it remains in place.

I phoned my ISP and they gave me a password and my son was able to connect quite easily. Thank you for your response.

jaybass