Connecting to the Internet with Windows 8

Windows 8 changes the way in which users connect to the network, but where this change is most noticeable is when using wireless connections, especially mobile phone connections.

One of the most important aspects of these changes resides in the fact that the new Microsoft operating system incorporates a generic driver that works with all types of modems, smartphones or tablets, which uses Mobile Broadband Interface Model technology. Thanks to this, the user will no longer have to install third-party software on their own to manage their connections, since now they can all be controlled through this new system.

Establishing new connections

If we have the right device to connect to the Internet, Windows 8 will automatically recognize the networks that are within range of the same in the case of This is a wireless network.

To see all the available connections, we move the mouse cursor to one of the corners on the right of the screen so that the side menu is displayed (we can also press the Windows key + i combination). We go to Configuration, and below we click on the icon highlighted in the following image.

Now we will be shown a list of cable, Wi-Fi or mobile broadband connections (in Windows 8 it is defined as medium use connection), each one classified according to its type. From here we can also activate/deactivate airplane mode.

To connect to one, we simply click on it and click Connect. We can also set a preference so that it automatically connects to this network every time it is within range, and see an estimate of the consumption made since the last connection.

When we are connected to a network, if we right-click on it, we will see the option Activate or deactivate sharing, which will allow us to allows you to share files between devices that connect to the same network, as well as other options in the case of a wireless connection.

In the case of cable connections, we only have to choose whether it is a public, home or private network when making the first connection.

Data consumption on medium-use connections

A great concern when we connect from a mobile network is the consumption that is taking place. Windows 8 includes a series of features that allow us to control consumption when we are connected through medium-use connections.

By default, the operating system prevents all kinds of updates while using this type of connection, but also the Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc to access it) shows us useful information on the consumption that each application has made to update the icons of the Start menu, the consumption in the network of average use and normal network.

In addition, in the performance tab we can see the current status of the connection, the activity of uploading and downloading files, and a graph that represents these two values ​​in the last 60 seconds.

We can see detailed information about this network if we right-click on the enlarged graph, and click on See details of this network.

Switching between wireless connections

Today it is common to alternate connections between different wireless networks, which is why Microsoft has set the priority of Wi-Fi networks above othersThus, if we are connected to a 3G or 4G network, and we enter the coverage area of ​​a preferred Wi-Fi network, the operating system will automatically change the connection mode to the latter.

On the other hand, work has also been done on reconnecting to a network after a state of rest, and as you can see in the graph, Windows 7 could take almost 12 seconds to reconnect to a wireless network.

In Windows 8 the time needed is little more than a second, since the information about our preferred networks is kept saved.

Controlling Hardware for Internet Connections

From the Settings menu, we can activate/deactivate wireless devices such as the Wi-Fi or Bluetooth card, as well as activate or deactivate the airplane mode, or view a list of installed hardware for mobile networks.

To access this menu, we move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner to display the side menu, and click on Configuration.Next, at the bottom, we will see "Change PC settings", and by means of this button we will reach the configuration menu.