How to Connect an iPod Touch to a WiFi Network

Many iPod Touch owners find the process of connecting to a WiFi network difficult and frustrating. This is mainly due to the several choices available for wireless network standards and security protocols that can be used to set up such networks. Follow these simple 11 steps to quickly and easily set up your iPod Touch to connect to a local WiFi network.

1. Turn on your iPod Touch.
2. Press the "Home" button.
3. Tap the "Settings" icon.
4. Tap the "Wi-Fi" menu.
5. Slide "Wi-Fi" to "ON".
6. Slide "Ask to Join Networks" to "ON".
7. Wait for the device to detect a wireless network that is in range. If the wireless network is close, you will see 3 bars of signal. If the iPod Touch doesn't detect the network, try sliding the "Wi-Fi" "OFF" and "ON" again.
8. If the detected network has a "padlock" icon, then it is secure and you will need the password to connect to the network. Tap the menu showing the detected network and enter the password. If a connection is made successfully, then a tick mark will appear next to the name (ID) of the wireless network. If not, then it means the matching security protocol was not setup on the iPod Touch for the wireless network.
9. If you need to change the security protocol tap "Other..." to go to "Other Network" page.
10. Enter the name of the wireless network and select the matching security protocol used by the network. You have a choice of WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA Enterprise and WPA2 Enterprise. Most wireless networks tend to use WEP which is not as secure as WPA.
11. Enter the password for the network and then tap the blue colored "Join" button on the bottom right of the screen. If the network is successfully found and connected to, then it will appear in the list of WiFi networks with a tick.

You should now be connected to the wireless network and if it offers Internet services, then you can use the Safari web browser to surf the web.

Make "Smarter" WiFi Devices that Connect Automatically

As the technical standards continue to evolve and consolidate for wireless networks, the challenge of connecting to a WiFi enabled network with portable devices such as the iPod Touch, will become a thing of the past. Such devices will be "smarter" and able to automatically detect any wireless standard and network configuration in the local vicinity and connect securely and seamlessly. Hopefully we will see these advances in the next generation of the iPod Touch!