Connecting to the Internet: Wireless (Academic Buildings and Houses)

Equipment

Earlham has begun upgrading the wireless network to the 802.11g standard, which provides speeds up to 54 Mbps. You can connect to the wireless network in several ways:

through a laptop with built-in wireless
through a laptop or desktop with a wireless USB adapter
through a desktop with a wireless card

If you need to purchase a wireless adapter for your computer, you should purchase an 802.11g device. If you need help with this decision, you can call the Help Desk at ext.2000.

Wireless Coverage

Basically, all of the academic buildings (Lilly, Carpenter, Dennis/Stanley, LBC, and Runyan Center) have wireless to some degree. All of the college-owned houses are wireless or in the process of being upgraded to wireless. None of the dorms have wireless.

You can also view a list of buildings with wireless coverage.

Registration

To get connected to the wireless network, you must complete the wireless registration form.

Yes, it is a bit paradoxical to have to use the Internet to register for using the Internet. Unfortunately, unlike Ethernet registration, wireless registration is not automatic and requires human evaluation. Therefore, in order to expedite the process, it is best for ECS that your register electronically. You can do this from a friend's computer or from the public labs. To register for wireless, you will need the following information:

Name
Extension
Room Number
MAC Address from your computer

To find your MAC address:

If you are on a PC running Windows XP or 2000, click "Start" and click "Run." Type "cmd" in the box and press enter. Next type "ipconfig /all." Lots of information will be printed to the screen. Toward the bottom of that information should be a "Physical Address", a 10-digit string of letters and numbers in five sets of two. Write this down.

For Windows Vista, click the Windows button and type "Command Prompt" in the search box. Double click on the "Command Prompt" program located in the search results. Type "ipconfig /all" (without the quotes) at the prompt and press return. Toward the bottom of that information should be a "Physical Address", a 10-digit string of letters and numbers in five sets of two. Write this down.

If you are using Mac OS X, click the Apple in the top left corner of the screen and click "System Preferences." Click "Network." Under "Show," select "Airport." Write down the "Airport ID."

Registration Confirmation

Once you have registered for wireless you will receive two e-mails. The first confirms that you have in fact registered for wireless. The second, which will come approximately a week later, will confirm in fact that your wireless is ready to use. If you have any questions concerning this, please contact the Network Administrator, Kevan Wogoman at ext. 1437 or at wogomke@earlham.edu.

Using Wireless

If you are letting Windows manage your wireless settings, click on the icon of a computer with three little rays emanating from its screen in the system tray (the system tray is the area to the left of the clock in the bottom right corner of the screen where there are many little icons... to see all of your icons, you may have to click on a set of arrows at the left end of the tray). In the box that pops up, click "View Wireless Networks." The Earlham College wireless network is named "ECWireless." ECWireless is the only supported network on Earlham's campus; all other networks are potentially unsafe and unknown to the College. After selecting ECWireless and clicking "OK," you will be ready to connect to the Internet.

Now set up Impulse.

Frequently Asked Questions

I seem not to be registered for wireless, even though I got both e-mails. How can I tell?

Visit the Network Registration page. Log-in. Click "My Connections" on the left-hand tab. Check the MAC address we have registered for you against your actual MAC address (for instructions on how to find the MAC address, see above). If these numbers are incorrect, you should call ECS and report this problem. If the numbers match, check your wireless settings.

Where's my wireless? I'm in a dorm.

Beginning with the fall of 2007, there will be wireless access in the main lounge, tv room, and common areas (kitchens). If your room is near one of these areas, then you may be able to receive a wireless signal. We hope to begin to install wireless in the dorms over the next year or so.