Wireless local area network detection

A method, comprising:

• performing a passive scan on one or more channels;
• if network activity is detected on a current channel of said one or more channels, determining whether the network activity is on a preferred network;
• if the network activity is on a preferred network, exiting said performing and connecting to the network;
• if the network activity is not on a preferred network,
• indicating the channel as a valid channel of a present region;
• in said performing, sending a probe request with a preferred network identifier on the current channel using a safe transmitting power level;
• and
• if a reply to the probe request is received, exiting said performing and connecting to the network;
• and
• if no reply to the probe request is received, eliminating the current channel.

An article comprising:

• a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing platform, result in detecting a wireless local area network by:
• from two or more regulatory regions in which a mobile unit may operate, selecting one of the two regulatory regions in which to perform a passive scan for a wireless local area network;
• and
• performing a passive scan on channels of the regulatory region selected in said selecting, said performing including looking for activity in compliance with a predetermined standard.

An article comprising:

• a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computing platform, result in detecting a wireless local area network by:
• performing a passive scan on one or more channels;
• if network activity is detected on a current channel of said one or more channels, determining whether the network activity is on a preferred network;
• if the network activity is on a preferred network, exiting said performing and connecting to the network;
• if the network activity is not on a preferred network,
• indicating the channel as a valid channel of a present region;
• in said performing, sending a probe request with a preferred network identifier on the current channel using a safe transmitting power level;
• and
• if a reply to the probe request is received, exiting said performing and connecting to the network;
• and
• if no reply to the probe request is received, eliminating the current channel.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a transceiver;
• an omnidirectional antenna to couple to said transceiver;
• and
• a baseband processor to couple to said transceiver, wherein said baseband processor detects a wireless local area network by selecting one regulatory domain from two or more regulatory regions in which to perform a passive scan for the wireless local area network.