Configuring for Wireless Networking
At the University of Washington we provide 802.11b at all locations with wireless coverage. In many of these locations 802.11g and 802.11a are available as well. See the List/Map of Wireless Service Locations (add link) for additional details regarding what type(s) of 802.11 service is available in your area.
What do I need to use the UW wireless network?
To use UW wireless services you will need 802.11 connectivity hardware either built in or installed on your wireless capable device and properly configured. Most newer laptops and handheld devices come with wireless hardware and networking software built-in.
Note that you will receive the best overall wireless service in many places on Campus by using wireless hardware that supports 802.11 'b', 'g', and 'a' protocols (also commonly depicted as "802.11a/b/g").
While many vendors are now selling products branded as 802.11 'n', 'pre-n' or 'draft-n', it is important to note that 802.11n is not yet an officially ratified standard by the IEEE. While significant hardware changes are not expected at this point, purchasers of these 'pre-n' products may find the need to upgrade firmware at some point in the future in order to communicate effectively with 'true-n' products. If purchasing one of these 'n' cards for use at the UW, make sure it is compatible with 802.11 a/b/g products. At the time of this writing the University has no plans to replace any of its existing installations with 'n' capable devices once the standard is ratified, however we will continue to evaluate its potential value at regular intervals and for special cases.
Connecting your device to the UW wireless network
The following lists recommended settings for using the UW wireless services:
- TCP/IP address - Acquire address dynamically with DHCP
- DNS Servers - Dynamically acquire DNS server addresses. This will result in use of default DNS servers.
- Network name (SSID) - "University of Washington"
- Encryption - None
Example configurations
You can find specific configuration instructions below, or for detailed configuration instructions see your wireless device vendor's web site.
Where to find further help
If you are still having problems configuring your wireless device to work on the UW wireless network, contact your device vendor or the UW Technology Service Center at help@u.washington.edu or 206-221-5000. for additional assistance.
