One of the many delights of living in the land of Apple is that hooking up to a wireless network is so easy. All it takes is a few clicks and you're online. But there are also a few simple tricks to getting the most from your wireless Mac, especially if you've got a notebook and often switch between different Wi-Fi networks (from hotspots to 'open' networks) while you're out and about.

First up, get to know the standard AirPort menu that lives in the menu bar. (If you can't see it, open System Preferences > Network, select AirPort from the 'Show' drop-down menu and check the box to 'Show AirPort status in menu bar').

The menu bar icon itself indicates if the Mac's wireless is switched off or on and, if the radio is on, whether or not you're connected to a network.

All nearby Wi-Fi networks are shown in the drop-down AirPort menu. Just click a network's name to join it, as long as you've got the appropriate password or if it's a free 'open' network. Once online, the AirPort menu icon changes to indicate relative signal strength: the more black lines in the icon, the stronger the signal. The menu also lets you quickly switch the AirPort on or off (useful when you're on a plane or simply wish to extend battery life at the expense of no Internet connectivity).

Hotspot helpers
This is all about as straightforward as wireless networking needs to be. However, that doesn't mean it couldn't be better.

For starters, Apple's native AirPort menu provides no indication of the strength of each network before you connect -- which is a bit daft, become hooking up to a weak signal makes for a frustrating experience with frequent disconnects.

Even worse, the menu doesn't indicate which networks are secure and which are open. This makes for more time-wasting if you're in an area crowded with wireless access points and you're looking for the free one.

Fortunately, there are a few third-party programs that'll do the job.

If widgets are your thing, grab the free AirPort Radar widget from MacWireless. At a glance it shows both signal strength and security status for all available Wi-Fi networks, while networks can be sorted by signal strength. (AirPort Radar also reveals which channel each network is on, although that's of little practical use for most folk). You can also connect to an unprotected network by clicking its name in the list.

The plug-in utility WiFind grafts signal strength and security status indicators directly onto the AirPort menu. It's more convenient that a widget, but we question if the program's US$8 registration is worth it when the AirPort Radar widget is free. At least you can download a 30-day trial version and see for your yourself.

The real 'power tool of the wireless wizards is iStumbler (free, although donations are welcome). iStumbler helps locate not only AirPort networks but also Bluetooth devices.

Create an instant network
A handy trick in the Mac's wireless bag is that you can turn a hard-wired Internet connection into an instant wireless network to be shared among your friends and colleagues. The boffins call it an 'ad hoc' network and it works a treat in situations such as a hotel room, meeting room or even a home where the only available Internet connection is through a network cable that plugs directly into a computer's Ethernet port.

Get your own Mac online with this cable, then click the AirPort menu and choose Create Network. Name your new wireless network and, if desired, set a channel (the default is 11, which is as good as any; if you must change it, use channels 1 or 6, as these and 11 all have the maximum frequency separation required to minimise interference).

Finally, click Show Options to set a password that'll help secure your network against intruders and freeloaders -- especially in hotel rooms, where a Wi-Fi signal from one room is typically accessible to a half dozen adjacent rooms. Your mates will need this password to connect to the Internet via your Mac.