Section 41. Set Up AirPort to Automatically Reconnect

41. Set Up AirPort to Automatically Reconnect

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

40 Connect to the Internet Wirelessly

SEE ALSO

43 Create and Configure a Location

If you frequently go to a certain place with a wireless network that you have to join manually each time you open your laptop, you might find it useful to configure Mac OS X to automatically reconnect to that network. This way, you'll be able to be online as soon as you activate the computer.

1.	Open Network Preferences Open the System Preferences application by choosing System Preferences from the Apple menu. Click the Network icon to go to the Network Preferences pane. If you've set up a location for the place where you use the wireless network, select it from the Location drop-down menu. 41. Set Up AirPort to Automatically Reconnect
2.	Select AirPort Configuration Double-click the AirPort configuration in the Network Status pane, or click to select it and then click Configure . Then click the AirPort tab to configure the AirPort-specific options.
3.	Choose Reconnect Behavior The By default, join drop-down list has two options you can choose from for what your Mac should do when you restart or wake from sleep. Select Automatic if you will be using the Mac in a wide-area wireless network with many base stations , such as a university campus or a convention hall. This option causes Mac OS X to connect automatically to the AirPort network with the best signal, giving preference to the most recently used network (if it's available). Select A specific network if there are multiple base stations where you want to be online, but only one of the networks is appropriate for you. This option is useful if you have a home wireless network and so do your neighbors. Enter the network name and the password, typing the name manually if it's a private network.
4.	Apply Changes Click Apply Now to commit the AirPort behavior settings.