Using the Wireless Network

In 2001, Grinnell installed wireless networking on campus. Wireless is a technology that broadcasts a signal through the air rather than using a network cable hooked into an ethernet jack. Grinnell uses the 802.11Bb protocol.

Wireless technology is still fairly new, but continues to expand and improve. Using the wireless network in the areas listed below will allow you access to all the same features that you have from your dorm. If you have a notebook computer or PDA (Palm, Visor, Ipaq) with a wireless card, you can access the internet and email without being hooked up in your room.

Wireless technology continues to improve; however, the trade-off for the mobility is speed. Currently the highest speed available for a wireless card is 54mbps with most cards only reaching 11mbps. Your "wired" dorm connection and those in the labs transmit and receive data at 100mbps. Also, not all web sites are PDA compatible, so if you utilize a PDA device, you may not be able to access some web pages.

Reception from the wireless access points (WAPs) will vary depending on building construction and distance. For example, the access point in ARH does not seem to allow reception into any rooms due to the materials used during the building's renovation. However, students who live in housing near Burling have reported receiving signal up to 1 or 2 blocks away from the library.

If you have any questions about setting up your computer or PDA to use wireless technology, please contact the ITS Help Desk. For more information about campus wireless, go to www.grinnell.edu/its/wireless.

Setup Instructions

Several companies sell wireless network cards which can be purchased for use with your notebook computer or PDA for use on a wireless network. Please follow the instructions provided by the vendor for installation and configuration.

Configuration information you will need to know:

• The wireless points will broadcast the network identification as "wireless".
• You will need to register you MAC address from your wireless card before using the network. You must have a student account/password to register: www.grinnell.edu/its/wireless.
• There is no encryption used at this time.
• Only students that have registered their wireless devices will be allowed to use the wireless network.

Access Points