Laptop Support

Using the Wireless Network at the UW Bothell

Overview
What do I need to use this service?
Where is the wireless service available?
What does the wireless network give access to?
Where and how do I get the proper wireless hardware?
How do I configure my laptop for UWB the wireless network?
How do I browse the web sites at the University of Washington (Bothell, Seattle, and Tacoma) and Cascadia Community College?
How do I browse a non-UW or non-CCC website?
How do I access non-web services?
Important notes concerning UW NetID authentication
What policies apply to use of this service?
Getting Help

Overview

With funding from the ASUWB Student Technology Fee, Information Systems has brought wireless networking to the UWB campus. Laptop computers are currently the most likely devices to benefit from this type of connection. Students should be aware of the Electronic Devices in the Classroom Policy.

What do I need to use the wireless network?

First, you need to be located in a building or room with wireless service, which is currently on all floors of UW Bothell and library buildings: UW1, UW2, LB1, LB2, and LBA.
To access the service you need a wireless network card (802.11b connectivity hardware) correctly installed on a laptop computer or other device. Most laptops now come with this already installed. Follow your wireless card's installation instructions, then refer to How do I configure my laptop for the UWB wireless network?
If you use your browser to connect to a non-UW web site, you will need your UW NetID and password. Without a UW NetID, you can only access web sites and services at the University of Washington (Bothell, Seattle, and Tacoma) and Cascadia Community College. To set up your UW NetID, refer to Get Your UW NetID.

Where is the wireless service available?

This service is available on all floors of the following UW Bothell and library buildings: UW1, UW2, LB1, LB2, and LBA.

What does the wireless network give access to?

A wireless connection is very similar to a wired network connection. With a wireless connection:

You can check your UWB, UW, or Cascadia e-mail accounts.
You can access file services, such as Mercury or Hermes.
You cannot access the fee printers in the Information Commons through a wireless connection.
Using a web browser, you can browse the web sites at the University of Washington (Bothell, Seattle, and Tacoma) and Cascadia Community College.
After logging in with your UW NetID, you can:
- Browse a non-UW or non-Cascadia web site.
- Use a non-web service (e.g., a secure terminal or file transfer tool) to communicate outside the UW.

Where and how do I get the proper wireless hardware?

Most laptops, and some handhelds, come with wireless capability installed. If your laptop does not have a wireless card, you can purchase it separately.

Many vendors provide wireless network cards, 802.11b hardware or 802.11b-compatible hardware, that will most likely work in the UW environment. UWB Information Systems is able to provide the best assistance for users of the Apple "AirPort" and other cards manufactured by Lucent, which appear under a variety of brand names, including WaveLan "Orinoco", "Agere", and "Avaya". The UW Book Store carries the WaveLan "Orinoco" network card.

(Note: Bluetooth and "2MB" wireless cards are not 802.11 compatible and will not work with our wireless installations.)

Once you have the wireless network card, follow the vendor's instructions for installing it (which is usually just to plug in the card and run an installer program to add software for it).

How do I configure my laptop for UWB Wireless?

You can find specific configuration examples for the following platforms:

How do I browse the web sites at the University of Washington (Bothell, Seattle, and Tacoma) and Cascadia Community College?

Note: Internet Explorer 5.x or higher, or Mozilla 1.x or higher, are the recommended browsers for our wireless network.

After configuring your laptop, position your laptop where wireless is available, which is all of the floors of UW Bothell and library buildings: UW1, UW2, LB1, LB2, and LBA.
Insert your wireless network card into your laptop boot up your laptop.
Open either Internet Explorer or Mozilla.
Type in www.uwb.edu in the address field.
You may now access any UW or Cascadia Community College resources available to you, including e-mail and file servers.

How do I Browse a non-UW or non-Cascadia web site?

Users with UW NetIDs may also access the Internet beyond the University of Washington (Bothell, Seattle, and Tacoma) and Cascadia Community College wireless network. If you do not have a UW NetID, and you are a UWB student, faculty, or staff, then refer to Get Your UW NetID.

Note: Internet Explorer 5.x or higher, or Mozilla 1.x or higher, are the recommended browsers for our wireless network.

After configuring your laptop, position your laptop where wireless is available, which is all of the floors of the UW Bothell and library buildings : UW1, UW2, LB1, LB2, and LBA.
Insert your wireless network card into your laptop boot up your laptop.
Open either Internet Explorer or Mozilla.
Select any non-UW or non-Cascadia site (e.g., www.google.com).
You will be automatically redirected to the UW NetID authentication page. Enter your UW NetID and password. Click Log In.

Your browser will automatically connect you to the originally requested web page.
Once you have successfully authenticated you will be able to use services outside the UW, although if you change your physical location (for example, move from the first floor of LB1 to the third floor) you may have to re-authenticate.
Review Important Notes concerning UW NetID authentication.

How do I access non-web services?

You can use a non-Web service, such as secure terminal or file transfer tool, to communicate outside the UW. If you do not have a UW NetID, and you are a UWB student, faculty, or staff, then refer to Get Your UW NetID.

Run a browser and view any web page outside the UW (e.g., www.msn.com) to bring up the UW Net ID authentication page.
Enter your UW NetID and password in the appropriate fields.
Click Log In.
Your browser will automatically connect you to the originally requested web page.
Once you have successfully authenticated you will be able to use services outside the UW, although if you change your physical location (for example, move from the first floor of LB1 to the third floor) you may have to re-authenticate.
Review Important notes concerning UW NetID authentication.

Important notes concerning UW NetID authentication

The UW NetID login is valid for 8 hours on the UW Bothell Wireless LAN. You will not be asked to re-authenticate until 8 hours after your initial login. If you are checking out, sharing, or borrowing a wireless device, we recommend that you DO NOT authenticate to the Internet since subsequent users will have access under your credentials and any violations of the acceptable use policy will be traced to your UW NetID.

Due to limitations in our wireless roaming infrastructure, we recommend that you restart your system if you leave a location where you have been using the wireless network and wish to reconnect. Advanced users may alternatively choose disable and re-enable their wireless network card to restart their wireless session.

At the present time, since Cascadia Community College students, faculty, and staff do not have UW NetIDs, wireless access beyond the UW and Cascadia networks is not available to them. This is being addressed, and we hope to provide similar access to Cascadia soon.

What policies apply to use of this service?

Network Policy: The usual policies for use of UW campus network services apply. See Knowing the Rules.

Electronic Devices in the Classroom Policy: A Joint Resolution of the UW, Bothell EC and ASUWB:

An instructor can choose to ask students to switch off cell phones,
pagers, laptops or similar electronic devices if they are disruptive to the
classroom experience.
Students may use laptop computers in the classroom to take notes or
do work that is relevant to the class. Checking or sending e-mail, playing
games and surfing the web are considered disruptive activities when the
class is in session.
Per the Student Conduct Code (Chapter 1, Section 2, Part III)- An
instructor has the authority to exclude a student from any class session in
which the student is disorderly or disruptive.
November 18, 2003

Getting Help

If you need help configuring your computer or troubleshooting wireless network issues, please contact the Information Systems Help Desk, either by phone at (425) 352-5275, by e-mail at help@uwb.edu, or in person at UW1-080.