by Aniruddha

Created on: October 10, 2009

A wireless compatible iPod does not guarantee that it will connect to all available wireless networks because wireless networks come in different communication protocol and with different security settings. This is a challenge and most users find it frustrating. The key thing in connecting your iPod to a wireless network is to understand the communication protocol and the security protocol that your wireless network is setup with. Fortunately there are industry standards for the communication and the security protocol, and this makes it a little easy for going online on wireless devices.

IPod supports IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g wireless networks with security protocols of WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA Enterprise and WPA2 Enterprise and most of the wireless networks are setup in similar way. There are also some wireless networks were you do not require any security settings and you can get these "free wifi spots" in your local library, Starbucks or Mcdonalds.

Follow these simple steps to connect the iPod Touch or iPhone to connect to a wireless network.

1. Turn on the iPod touch
2. Turn on the WiFi settings on your iPod.
Choose Settings->Wifi and slide it ON. Press HOME to see the Settings menu
3. Set iPod to ask if you want to join new WiFi networks. Slide "Ask to Join network" to ON
When you try to go online and you are not within the range of your previously setup wireless network, this option will show you a list of all available wireless networks. All networks having a padlock symbol in front of them are secured networks and you will require the password to access that network. To connect the iPod to a wireless network ensure that you have a password for the secured network or you are within the range of unsecured wireless network.
If you keep "Ask to Join network" to OFF, you will have to join manually each time you are out of range for the network.
4. Join the wireless network.
Select the network that you want to join. You should be within a range of a wireless network with strength of three bars to have a good speed. If a network is with a padlock symbol it will prompt your for a password. After you enter the password correctly, the "tick" mark will appear. If it does not appear, it means that the communication between the iPod and the wireless router is not established successfully. If you do not have a password to join the network, check with the person who setup your wireless network.
You can also choose to join an unsecured network. It will not have the padlock symbol in front of it and when you select the name it will automatically connect to the network and the "tick" mark will appear.
5. Change the security protocol if required.
If you need to change the security protocol, select arrow ( > ) in front of the network name. You have a choice of WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA Enterprise and WPA2 Enterprise. Select the one that you want and enter the password.
6. Connect to network not appearing in the scan.
If you want to connect to a network that does not appear in the scans but you know the name of the network, choose "Other..." which will take you to the other networks. Type in the name and the security protocol for the network and click "Join".

That's all, and you are now all set to surf wirelessly on the Internet.

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