Hint
To enable the Wi-Fi function, turn off
Airplane mode
and change the
Wi-Fi
setting under
Wireless devices
to
On
.
To disable all wireless functions, turn on
Airplane mode
.
The wireless function(s) whose setting is on will be enabled when you turn off
Airplane mode
.
Refer to
Windows Help and Support
(
Opening Windows Help and Support
) for more information on
Airplane mode
.
Notes on Using the Wi-Fi(R) (Wireless LAN) Function
Before using the Wi-Fi function, read the following precautions for correct use.
In some countries or regions, using the Wi-Fi products may be restricted by the local regulations.
Wi-Fi devices work on the 2.4 GHz band, which is used by a variety of devices. They use the technology to minimize radio
interference from other devices that use the same band; however, radio interference may still slow communication speeds,
reduce communication range, or cause communication failure.
If both the BLUETOOTH function and the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi function of your VAIO computer are enabled, interference may occur
and cause slower communication speeds or other problems.
To communicate via Wi-Fi while you are on the road, you may need to contract with a Wi-Fi connection service provider.
If your VAIO computer is equipped with the IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n standard, outdoor use of the 5 GHz Wi-Fi function is
prohibited by law.
The communication speed and range may vary depending on the following conditions:
Distance between devices
Existence of obstacles between devices
Device configuration
Radio conditions
Ambient environment (including wall material, etc.)
Apps in use
Communications may be cut off depending on radio conditions.
The data transfer rate specified in the specification is the theoretical maximum, and may not reflect actual data transfer
rate.
Actual communication speed may not be as fast as the one displayed on your VAIO computer.
The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency bands are not communicable with one another.
The data transfer rate of IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11n (2.4 GHz) may be affected by interference when used with an IEEE
802.11b product. Also, IEEE 802.11g and IEEE 802.11n automatically lower the transfer rate to maintain compatibility with
an IEEE 802.11b product. The transfer rate may be regained by changing the channel settings of your access point.
To stop the Wi-Fi function abruptly, turn off your VAIO computer and the wireless devices (if any).
The WLAN standard includes the encryption methods: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), which is a security protocol, Wi-Fi
Protected Access 2 (WPA2), and Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). Proposed jointly by the IEEE and Wi-Fi Alliance, both WPA2
and WPA are specifications of standards based on interoperable security enhancements that increase the level of data
protection and access control for existing Wi-Fi networks. WPA is designed to be forward compatible with the IEEE 802.11i
specification. It utilizes the enhanced data encryption Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) in addition to user
authentication using 802.1X and Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). Data encryption protects the vulnerable wireless
link between clients and access points. Besides that, there are other typical LAN security mechanisms to ensure privacy,
such as: password protection, end-to-end encryption, virtual private networks, and authentication. WPA2, the second
generation of WPA, provides stronger data protection and network access control and is also designed to secure all versions
of 802.11 devices, including 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac (draft) standards, multi-band and multi-
mode. In addition, based on the ratified IEEE 802.11i standard, WPA2 provides government grade security by implementing
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-2 compliant AES encryption algorithm and 802.1X-
based authentication. WPA2 is backward compatible with WPA.
Stopping Wi-Fi(R) (Wireless LAN) Communications
You can stop Wi-Fi communications by following these steps.
1. Open the charms and select the
Settings
charm. (See
Opening the Charms
to open the charms.)
2. Select
(the network icon).
3. Select the desired access point and
Disconnect
.
Note
Do not disable the Wi-Fi function while accessing remote documents, files, or resources, as it may result in data loss.
