Connecting Your Wireless Device to UIUCnet Wireless

This page contains information about how to connect your computer's wireless networking card to the UIUCnet Wireless network.

In addition to using either UIUCnet QuickConnect or the VPN server to authenticate your connection, wireless users must also configure their wireless cards to connect to UIUCnet Wireless.

Because each operating system, card, and card interface is different, it is difficult to provide step-by-step directions for each card manufacturer's product. However, the principles remain the same for each platform.

  1. To be compatible with the UIUCnet Wireless network, your wireless card must use the 802.11b wireless standard. If your wireless card also supports 802.11a or 802.11g, you may have faster wireless access in some areas of campus.

    In addition, CITES strongly urges that your card be Wi-Fi certified in order to guarantee that the manufacturer is following the 802.11 series standards closely.

    At this time, 802.11b is the only wireless standard supported in all areas of the UIUCnet Wireless network. 802.11a and g are supported in some areas, but not yet in all areas. Bluetooth and other wireless networking standards are not supported.

    For more information about the differences between the standards, see Wireless Networking Speed: Ideals and Experiences.

  2. Your network software must be set to receive an IP address dynamically through DHCP.

  3. The identification of the network you want to connect to is UIUCnet. Your card's interface may ask you for an ESSID, SSID, Net Name, or some other synonym for "the word which the network uses to identify itself to the world."

    Note: Some operating systems will simply choose the strongest nearby signal to connect to. You may need to investigate your connection software to see which network the card has chosen. See Changing Which Wireless Network You Use for information on connecting to a different network.

  4. Do not use a WEP key (wireless encryption protocol key). WEP is insecure, and the VPN server provides UIUCnet Wireless users with much better security.

Before you make your connection, you will need to have your network card configured this way. You will also need to be physically close enough to an access point for your wireless card to connect and for your system to receive its DHCP-assigned IP address.

For more specific information, see your wireless card manufacturer's documentation, your operating system's documentation, and the UIUCnet QuickConnect or VPN documentation.