Wireless FAQ

• What do I need to get on the wireless network?

• Will Macs work on the wireless network?

• How can I get help with wireless?

• How do I connect to the SecureHastings wireless network?

• How do I login to the hastings wireless network?

• Can I connect to the SecureHastings wireless network in the Tower?

• I don't know my email login and password. What can I do?

• What SSIDs are available to for campus and dorm wireless access?

• What channel do we use?

• Do I need to register the MAC/hardware address of my card with anyone to use the network?

• Why do I get the same login screen when I access the wired network?

• What is a wireless accesses point?

• Where can I use wireless?

• I want to use FTP or telnet but I can't. How can I authenticate?

• Will there be wireless access in the CJC and Journal offices?

• What about wireless access in the Tower apartments?

• What steps have you taken to provide security? I've heard that wireless isn't very secure.

• What steps can I take to troubleshoot problems with accessing the wireless network?

What do I need to get on the wireless network?

You need a wireless access (or wireless network) PC card for your laptop and the software and drivers to run that card.

Will Macs work on the wireless network?

Yes.

How can I get help with wireless?

See our computer help page.

How do I connect to the SecureHastings wireless network?

See our main wireless networking page.

How do I login to the hastings wireless network?

If your card is properly installed, just start your Web browser. When your browser attempts to connect to the Internet, you will be redirected to the login page. On the left side of the screen are boxes for your login name and password. Use your Hastings email login and password. You will notice a small web browser window remains open on your desktop. This window has a link to logout of the wireless system. Please use this to disconnect from the wireless network. It is recommended to put an exception in your web browser's pop-up block settings for *.uchastings.edu (All of UC Hastings sites).

Can I connect to the SecureHastings wireless network in the Tower?

At the current time you can't connect to the SecureHastings wireless network in the Tower.

I don't know my email login and password. What can I do?

Pick up a Password Change from the switchboard operator in the Student Information Center (SIC) - room B6G in the 198 building. Fill it out and turn it in to the Public Safety officer in the kiosk in the 198 building lobby. For your protection, the officer will ask to see your student ID card to verify your identity. The IT department picks up the forms daily and will process the request within three business days. We do not notify students when the change has been made, only if there a problem with the request.

Remember that good passwords are at least eight characters long, include upper and lower case letters, numbers and punctuation marks and do not include common names or English language words or syllables.

What SSIDs are available to for campus and dorm wireless access?

There are two SSIDs on Main Campus hastings and SecureHastings (case sensitive). There is one SSID in the Tower hastings (case sensitive)

What channel do we use?

The channel varies by location. Let your software and card scan for the strongest channel.

Do I need to register the MAC/hardware address of my card with anyone to use the network?

No.

Why do I get the same login screen when I access the wired network?

In order to limit wireless use to Hastings students, we require the same login procedure for wired access as wireless access. This will ensure that people who are not members of the Hastings community will not get free Internet access by using laptops.

What is a wireless access point?

An access point is a radio transmitter and receiver connected to our network which allows someone to connect to our network using its signals.

Where can I use wireless?

We have wireless (802.11b/g WiFi) access in most student study areas in the College, including the Law Library study carrels, lounges, and seminar rooms. We have wireless (802.11abgn) in the classrooms, the Gold Reading Room, and the Civil Justice Clinic. We also have Ethernet network ports in the Gold Reading Room and Room A. Wireless access is also available throughout the residential floors and the common areas in the 100 McAllister Tower.

I want to use FTP or telnet but I can't. How can I authenticate?

You must first login using your Web browser as if you were going to the internet. Once you've logged in, you can use telnet or FTP.

Will there be wireless access in the CJC and Journal offices?

There is wireless (802.11abgn) in the Civil Justice Clinic (CJC) and wireless 802.11bg in the Journal offices. Each journal has several open jacks for laptop wired connections.

What about wireless access in the Tower apartments?

Wireless access is available throughout the residential floors and the common areas in the 100 McAllister Tower.

What steps have you taken to provide security? I've heard that wireless isn't very secure.

The network was designed from the ground up to be secure. The most important step that we've taken is to require that you login. The login session uses SSL, a secure means of connecting that prevents someone from "overhearing" your user name and password during login.

Your online sessions to the Internet are not protected by SSL unless the Web site you are accessing uses SSL. Almost all Webs sites where you transmit confidential data will be SSL enabled. If not, you should consider carefully whether to continue to use them.

Remember that in any wireless network you are transmitting data over the airwaves. The signal can be intercepted by anyone with a wireless card and specialized software. Signals can also be intercepted over a wired network too, but the methods to do so are different.

Troubleshooting steps to problems with accessing the wireless network.

Upgrade Drivers - The first step that fixes most problems with wireless connections is to upgrade the drivers of your wireless network adapter. You can do this by downloading the newest drivers for your wireless network adapter from the wireless adapter's manufacturer's website. Upgrading drivers helps wireless connectivity in high density wifi areas (many laptops and many Access Points in the same physical area).

Infrastructure mode only - Make sure that in your wireless adapter settings, the wireless adapter is set to infrastructure mode only not automatic or ad-hoc. You can experience a network drop if your neighbor in your class has ad-hoc turned on and you connect to their laptop instead of the Access Point in the area. If you need help with Upgrading your wireless drivers see our computer help page.