Fix, Connect to and Learn About WiMAX

Understanding and troubleshooting WiMAX

WiMAX adapter

Table of Contents:

• The Intel WiMAX Adapter
• How to Find Out Which WiMAX Adapter is Installed in Your Dell™ Computer
• How to Download and Install the Latest WiMAX Adapter Driver
   

1: The Intel WiMAX Adapter

1. What is WiMAX?
2. Turning WiMAX On and Off
3. Subscribing to a WiMAX Service
4. Connecting to a New WiMAX Network
5. Configuring your Firewall
6. Connecting to Your WiMAX Network
7. Connecting to Another Subscribed Network
8. Searching for WiMAX Networks
9. Automatic Reconnection
10. Disconnecting from a WiMAX Network
11. Unsubscribing from a WiMAX Network Service Provider
12. Receiving WiMAX Updates
13. Reconnecting to a WiMAX Network
14. Status Messages
15. Tray Icon Status Indicators
16. Intel PROSet WiMAX Utility Troubleshooting

 

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What is WiMAX?

WiMAX is a next generation wireless network communications technology. WiMAX is similar to Wi-Fi, except that WiMAX provides high-speed, broadband access at speeds similar to DSL and cable connections over a much larger area. For fixed WiMAX stations, the range of coverage may encompass several square miles. WiMAX networks also enjoy less interference than Wi-Fi.

WiMAX Benefits
 

• You could be in a bus traveling across the city, and remain continuously connected to the internet.
• Video conferencing from the park.
• Looking up the nearest local bookstore or getting directions to a restaurant while on the move.
• Downloading movies while at the soccer field.
• Streaming radio and television broadcasts off the Internet.
• Staying productive on the road without searching for hotspots.

Is WiMAX Available in Your Area?

WiMAX is coming to cities and localities across the United States.
To determine if WiMAX is available near you, visit the following site: www.clear.com.

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Turning WiMAX On and Off

Wi-Fi and WiMAX cannot operate at the same time. When Wi-Fi is connected, turning on WiMAX will disconnect the Wi-Fi.

• For Windows 10:
  1. In the Search box, type WiMax.
• For Windows 8:
  1. Move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of the screen until the Charms Bar appears.
  2. Click Search.
  3. In the Search box, type WiMAX.
• For Windows 7 and Vista®:
  1. Click Start:.
  2. Click All Programs
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless.
• For Windows XP:
  1. Click Start.
  2. Click All Programs.
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless

1. Click WiMAX Connection Utility.
2. Click the radio button to the left of WiMAX On or WiMAX Off.

• In Microsoft® Windows Vista® or Windows 7 it may be necessary to right-click the WiMAX icon and select WiFi On to regain Wi-Fi connectivity after turning off WiMAX.
• Even after turning off WiMAX the Wi-Fi connectivity my not return, it will be necessary to Restart the computer.

 

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Subscribing to a WiMAX Service

To enjoy the benefits of WiMAX, you need to open an account with the WiMAX network service provider.

Even if you signed up for an WiMAX account at checkout, you still have to sign up as a brand-new account with a WiMAX provider. Dell doesn’t pass on any information to the provider.

Registration and subscription are easy.

1. Once you get your new Dell computer, you should contact your provider to sign up for a new service account. Tell them you purchased a Dell computer with a built-in WiMAX adapter and would like to set up and activate your access. You can get the service phone number from the home page at www.clear.com.
2. The vendor will ask for your WiMAX MAC (Media Access Control) address.
   
   To retrieve the MAC address perform the following steps.  
   • For Windows 10:
     1. In the Search box, type WiMax.
   • For Windows 8:
     1. Move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of the screen until the Charms Bar appears.
     2. Click Search.
     3. In the Search box, type WiMAX.
   • For Windows 7 and Vista®:
     1. Click Start:.
     2. Click All Programs
     3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless.
   • For Windows XP:
     1. Click Start.
     2. Click All Programs.
     3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless
   1. Click WiMAX Connection Utility.
   2. Click Options.
   3. Click Advanced
   4. Look for MAC address: (the 6 pairs of hexadecimal digits is the MAC address, you may want to write it down.).
   5. Click Close to close the window.
       
3. The vendor will then take you through account sign up and registration details (name, address, payment method, billing info, online account access). Be sure to ask for a tech support phone number in case some problem prevents successful activation of your account.
4. Wait 5 minutes after the set-up call completes: your WiMAX Internet connection should work.

After subscription is complete, that service provider's network will 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.

Before you can subscribe to any network, you may need to configure your computer's firewall. The subscription process requires open, two-way communication between your laptop computer and the WiMAX network. See Configuring your Firewall for more information. 

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Issue 4: 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.

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Issue 5: Configuring your Firewall

For communication to work on the WiMAX network, a specific port has to be open, namely, port number 2948.

Refer to (Table 1) for links to the most common brands of firewalls for instructions on how to open a port.
 

Firewall Vendor	Web Site
McAfee	http://mcafee.com/us/
Norton (Symantec)	http://www.symantec.com/norton/index.jsp
Norton (Symantec)	www.citizen-systems.com
SyGate	http://smb.sygate.com
ZoneAlarm	www.zonealarm.com

Table 1: Most Common Brands of Firewalls

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Issue 6: 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.

To connect to your preferred network:

• For Windows 10:
  1. In the Search box, type WiMax.
• For Windows 8:
  1. Move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of the screen until the Charms Bar appears.
  2. Click Search.
  3. In the Search box, type WiMAX.
• For Windows 7 and Vista®:
  1. Click Start:.
  2. Click All Programs
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless.
• For Windows XP:
  1. Click Start.
  2. Click All Programs.
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless

1. Click WiMAX Connection Utility.
2. Click WiMAX: On.
3. Click Connect.

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Issue 7: 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 network service provider:

1. On the main window, click the Expand  icon.
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.

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Issue 8: Searching for WiMAX Networks

There are two types of network searches:

• Search for Your Preferred Network
• Search for All WiMAX Networks
  

Search for Your Preferred Network

1. Make sure the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility is running, if not or unsure see the Turning WiMAX On and Off section for more information.
2. Ensure WiMAX is set to On.

• When the message The hardware radio switch is off. To connect turn on the hardware radio switch appears, refer to the The Radio Hardware Switch is Off section.

When WiMAX is turned on and you are not connected to a WiMAX network, the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility automatically searches for your preferred network (your last connected network). When your preferred network is found, the utility stops searching and you are invited to connect.
If your preferred network is not found, a message indicates so: <Network name> is not available to connect.
The utility will continue to periodically search. However you can begin an immediate search for your preferred network at any time. To do so, click Search on the main window. The search starts and as soon as your network is found, the search stops and you are invited to connect. Clicking Search only searches for your preferred network.
If you started the search by pressing the Search button, then you can also stop this search at any time; simply click Stop Search.
If you want to connect to a network other than your current preferred network, you can perform a Search for All WiMAX Networks.
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Search for All WiMAX Networks

If you want to connect to a network other than your current preferred network, you can perform a search for all WiMAX networks.
To search for all WiMAX networks:

1. On the main window, click the Expand  icon.
2. Click Search for Networks.

A blue progress bar indicates search progress, and networks are listed as they are detected. From the networks list, you can select a network to connect to. You should only need to perform a search for all networks if you have not yet activated a WiMAX network for your computer, or if you are in a different city or area where you have not activated service and a preferred network has not been detected. In this case, see Subscribing for WiMAX Service.
You can stop a search that you have started anytime. To stop a search, click Stop Search. As the search discovers networks, they are added to the network list. Any network that you have connected with before is identified with an icon:  This icon doesn't mean that you have an active subscription with this network service provider; it only means that you have connected with this network before.
To connect to a network in the list, either double-click on it, or select it and click Connect. If you do not have a subscription with the WiMAX network service provider, then when you open an internet browser, your laptop will connect to a portal where you can subscribe for WiMAX service with that provider. The exact process for registering and subscribing may vary, based on the service provider. Once the subscription process is complete, you will have access to the internet via WiMAX.
 

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Issue 9: Automatic Reonnection

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.
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Issue 10: 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.
• On the Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility main window, Click Disconnect.

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Issue 11: 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 under Help.

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Issue 12: Receiving WiMAX Updates

Periodically, your network service provider may need to update your WiMAX software. The Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility will prompt you with the following message:
 

"WiMAX updates are available. These updates are critical for normal operation of WiMAX. Download the updates now?"

1. Click Yes (If you click Remind me later, you will be prompted again, later).
    

   After clicking Yes, the WiMAX updates will be downloaded. A blue bar will indicate progress. You should not turn off WiMAX or disconnect from WiMAX while the updates are being downloaded, or the download will not complete.
   
   Once the download has completed, the following message will appear: "The WiMAX updates have been downloaded. Installation will being in 20 seconds."

2. Click OK to begin installation immediately. Otherwise, installation will begin after 20 seconds.

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Issue 13: 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:

1. Click Connect.
    

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Issue 14: Status Messages

 

• Searching for <Network Name>
• <Network Name> is available to connect
• Connecting to: <Network Name>
• Connected to: <Network Name>
• Acquiring network address...
• <Network Name> is not available to connect
• Not Connected
• <N> WiMAX networks are available to connect
• No WiMAX Networks are Available to Connect
• WiMAX is Off
• The Radio Hardware Switch is Off
• Another Utility is Managing the WiMAX Adapter
• The WiMAX updates are being downloaded...
• WiMAX is Not Ready
• WiMAX has limited or no connectivity
• Initializing the application...

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Searching for <Network Name>

This message is displayed when the adapter is searching for your preferred network. If you started the search by pressing the Search button, then you can also stop this search at any time; simply click Stop Search.
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<Network Name>is available to connect

This message tells you that the named network is available to connect. Click Connect to connect to it.

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Connecting: to <Network Name>

This message indicates that you are connecting to the indicated network. The icon changes (animates) during the connection process.

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Connected to: <Network Name>

You are connected to a WiMAX network.

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Acquiring network address...

The adapter is acquiring the IP address. This is necessary for normal network communications. The address should be acquired quickly and your connection should be functioning shortly. If an IP address cannot be acquired, an error message will be displayed.

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<Network Name> is not available to connect

Connection to your preferred network was not possible. The last search for your preferred network failed to find the network. This may be because you are outside of the network service provider's coverage area. To correct this, move inside the coverage area. Click Search to search immediately for your preferred network. You can also click the Expand icon to view the full window. Then click Search for Networks to view a list of all available WiMAX networks.

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Not Connected

This status message displays when you the utility is running a search for all networks.

You are currently not connected to a WiMAX network.

This message does not imply an error, but only that a search for all networks is in progress and none have yet been found. See Search for All WiMAX Networks for more information.
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<N> WiMAX networks are available to connect

This status message displays when more than one network has been found. You can select a network from the list and click Connect to connect to it, our just double-click on the network.

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No WiMAX Networks are Available to Connect

No WiMAX networks are available to connect to. Your last connected network was not found. To search for available networks, click Search for Networks.

When no networks are found you can use following website to determine if WiMAX is available near you or contact your service provider for additional assistance, Intel.com .
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WiMAX is Off

• For Windows 10:
  1. In the Search box, type WiMax.
• For Windows 8:
  1. Move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of the screen until the Charms Bar appears.
  2. Click Search.
  3. In the Search box, type WiMAX.
• For Windows 7 and Vista®:
  1. Click Start:.
  2. Click All Programs
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless.
• For Windows XP:
  1. Click Start.
  2. Click All Programs.
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless

1. Click WiMAX Connection Utility.
2. Click the radio button to the left of WiMAX On.
    

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The Radio Hardware Switch is Off

Make sure the wireless switch is on.
 

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Another Utility is Managing the WiMAX Adapter

The WiMAX utility cannot manage the WiMAX adapter while another utility is also managing the WiMAX adapter and will need to be closed.

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The WiMAX updates are being downloaded...

This message is displayed after you have agreed to allow WiMAX software updates to be downloaded to your computer. The updates will occur occasionally, and are required for normal WiMAX operation. A blue bar indicates progress of the download. You should not disconnect from the network or turn WiMAX off while the update is in progress.

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WiMAX is Not Ready

This message indicates that the WiMAX adapter on your computer is not ready.

Download and install the latest software and drivers for your WiMAX adapter installed in your computer, for more information on how refer to: "How to Use the Drivers and Downloads Website"
 

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WiMAX has limited or no connectivity

This message is displayed when the WiMAX adapter does not have a valid IP address. Normal network communication is not possible without an IP address. Try the following methods to resolve this problem:

• Disconnect from the network. Wait a few seconds and then try to reconnect to the WiMAX network.
• Reboot the computer. After the reboot is complete, be sure WiMAX is turned on. Then try to connect to the WiMAX network.
• Contact support for this network service provider. Your service provider's support web site may be listed in Support under Help.

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Initializing the application...

If you double-click the WiMAX Connection Utility taskbar icon immediately after turning on your computer, you may briefly see this message. This indicates that the WiMAX Connection Utility is starting up and will be available shortly.

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Issue 15: Intel PROSet WiMAX Utility Troubleshooting

 

• Unable to Connect to the Network
• The Intel PROSet WiMAX Utility Will Not Start
• The Intel PROSet WiMAX Utility is Not Listed
• The Connection is Slow or Drops
• Can't Connect to a Wi-Fi Connection
• The WiMAX Software Stops Responding
• The WiMAX Adapter Still Will Not Connect

Unable to Connect to the Network

This may be for one of the following reasons:

• You are in an area where WiMAX signal strength is poor. Check the signal strength indicator; the number of green bars increases with greater signal strength and decreases with less. To reconnect to WiMAX, move to an area of greater signal strength. Your service provider's support web site may be listed in Support under Help.
• You are in an area where WiMAX signal quality is poor. You may be too close to a wireless access point or microwave oven, both of which can interfere with your WiMAX connection. Make sure such devices are located at least 7ft (2 meters) from your WiMAX adapter.
• You turned on the Wi-Fi radio. WiMAX and Wi-Fi cannot operate at the same time. Turning On the Wi-Fi radio will disconnect your WiMAX connection, and, turning on WiMAX will disconnect your Wi-Fi connection, for more information on how to turn WiMAX on refer to the WiMAX is Off section.
• You turned off the WiMAX hardware radio switch. On some laptops, a WiMAX hardware radio switch lets you turn On or Off WiMAX radio. If present, turn the WiMAX hardware radio switch back on, for more information on how to turn the hardware radio switch on refer to the The Radio Hardware Switch is Off section
• Service from your WiMAX network service provider has been interrupted. Contact your service provider for additional assistance, your service provider's support web site may be listed in Support under Help.

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The Intel PROSet WiMAX Utility Will Not Start

Download and install the latest drivers for your WiMAX adapter installed in your computer, for more information on how refer to: "How to Use the Drivers and Downloads Website".

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The Intel PROSet WiMAX Utility is Not Listed

Download and install the latest drivers for your WiMAX adapter installed in your computer, for more information on how refer to: "How to Use the Drivers and Downloads Website".
 

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The Connection is Slow or Drops

You are in an area where WiMAX signal strength is poor. Check the signal strength indicator; the number of green bars increases with greater signal strength and decreases with less. To reconnect to WiMAX, move to an area of greater signal strength. Your service provider's support web site may be listed in Support under Help.

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Can't Connect to a Wi-Fi Connection

Wi-Fi and WiMAX cannot operate at the same time. When Wi-Fi is connected, turning on WiMAX will disconnect the Wi-Fi.
 

• For Windows 10:
  1. In the Search box, type WiMax.
• For Windows 8:
  1. Move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of the screen until the Charms Bar appears.
  2. Click Search.
  3. In the Search box, type WiMAX.
• For Windows 7 and Vista®:
  1. Click Start:.
  2. Click All Programs
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless.
• For Windows XP:
  1. Click Start.
  2. Click All Programs.
  3. Click Intel® PROSet Wireless

1. Click WiMAX Connection Utility.
2. Click the radio button to the left of WiMAX Off.

• In Microsoft® Windows Vista® it may be necessary to right-click the WiMAX icon and select WiFi On to regain Wi-Fi connectivity after turning off WiMAX.

 

• Even after turning off WiMAX the Wi-Fi connectivity my not return, it will be necessary to Restart the computer.

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The WiMAX Software Stops Responding

For repair instructions, follow the instructions for the Operating System installed on your computer.

Windows XP

1. Save any work open and close all programs.
2. Click the Start button, then click Control Panel.
3. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
4. Click Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Software.
5. Click, Click here for support information.
6. Click Repair.
7. When the process is completed, click Close.

Windows Vista or Windows 7

1. Save any work open and close all programs.
2. Click the Start button, and then click Control Panel.
3. Make sure Large Icons or Small Icons is selected using the drop down menu next to View by:, located in the upper right-hand part of the window.
4. Double-click Programs and Features.
5. Click Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Software.
6. Click Repair above the listings of the installed programs.
7. Click Repair.
   • The User Account Control window may appear. If so, click Allow.
     
8. The process is completed when the Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Software window closes.

Windows 8

1. Save any work open and close all programs.
2. Move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of the screen until the Charms Bar appears.
3. Click Search.
4. Click Control Panel.
5. Make sure Large Icons or Small Icons is selected using the drop down menu next to View by:, located in the upper right-hand part of the window.
6. Double-click Programs and Features.
7. Click Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Software.
8. Click Repair above the listings of the installed programs.
9. Click Repair.
   • The User Account Control window may appear. If so, click Allow.
     
10. The process is completed when the Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Software window closes.

Windows 10

1. Save any work open and close all programs.
2. In the Search box, type Programs and Features.
3. Touch or click Programs and Features Control Panel.
4. Touch or click Intel® PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Software.
5. Touch or click Repair above the listings of the installed programs.
6. Touch or click Repair.
   • The User Account Control window may appear. If so, click Allow.
     
7. The process is completed when the Intel(R) PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Software window closes.

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The WiMAX Adapter Still Will Not Connect

Make sure to have performed the following steps listed below:

(For more information on how to perform these step refer to the links above.)

• Make sure the wireless switch on the computer is on. 

• Make sure the latest driver is installed, for more information refer to: "How to Use the Drivers and Downloads Website"
• Make sure to select whether you want the WiMAX radio on or the Wi-Fi radio.
• Make sure the computer is in a area of WiMAX coverage.
• Make sure your account is active.
• Reset the WiMAX adapter:

1. Open the Intel PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility.
2. Click Options.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Click the Adapter tab.
5. Click Reset WiMAX Adapter.

• Restore to Factory Default Settings:

1. Open the Intel PROSet/Wireless WiMAX Connection Utility.
2. Click Options.
3. Click Advanced.
4. Click the Troubleshooting tab.
5. Click Restore Factory Default Settings.

After performing the troubleshooting steps outlined above and the WiMAX adapter still will not connect, Contact Technical Support.

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2: How to Find Out Which WiMAX Adapter Is in Your Dell™ Computer

This article provides information on how to identify the Components installed in the computer - How Do I Determine the Components in a Dell™ Computer?
 

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3: How to Download and Install the Latest WiMAX Adapter Driver

This article provides information on how to download drivers for the WiMAX adapter installed in your computer.
How to Use the Drivers and Downloads Website.
 

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