Wireless Support

 Wireless Networking - Support

Most laptops come with wireless network cards installed, preconfigured with the correct drivers, and enabled.  When a user is within range of the student wireless network at Palomar College, named "InternetOnly" his laptop's wireless network card will autoscan, find the network, and attach to it.  No login is required and the network communications are not encrypted, meaning that no security key is required to connect.  It should all happen automatically and require not set up on the part of the user.  If users cannot connect, there may be several possible reasons, presented here in descending order of probability:

1. They are not in range on a wireless access point.  Move to a known area where wireless access is available and test there.  The ground floor of the library, room LL-103 should have a strong signal.
    
2. The wireless network is down or otherwise unavailable.  The IS help desk is the place to ask if this is the case.  Their campus phone extension is 2140.
    
3. The user--or someone working on the user's laptop--has disabled the wireless network.  To enable it, go to network settings (on a PC this will be in the control panel, on a Mac in system preferences) and enable the wireless connection.
    
4. The user--or someone working on the user's computer--has disabled one of the network wireless protocols (the (b), (g) or (n) communication standards used by wireless network cards.  Once again, this can be controlled in wireless network settings on the user computer.  On Windows, the network settings can be found in the control panel.  On Macs, it can be found in system preferences.
    
5. The user has installed an after-market wireless card that does not work correctly or that does not have the correct drivers loaded.  This is rare, these days, because most laptops come with preconfigured cards.  If this is the case, read the manual that came with your wireless network card and load the drivers in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.  Once configured correctly, your card should automatically detect Palomar's "InternetOnly" wireless network.  If you do not see this network listed among the wireless networks available to your system, refresh your list of networks.  No password and no login are required for our wireless network.

Please be aware that many ports are blocked for security reasons on the InternetOnly wireless network at Palomar College.  If certain applications will not work for you, this is probably the reason.  The normal http port is not blocked and all normal browsing of the Internet should work correctly.

Please also be aware that communications over the wireless network are not encrypted.  This means that no security key is required to access it.  It also means that communications could be intercepted by unauthorized personnel with the correct hardware and software.

Finally, be aware that use of the Palomar College wireless network is subject to the same Palomar Community College District Procedures and Guidelines for Telecommunications Access and Use as all other communications assets at the college.

For phone support, call the Academic Technology help desk at campus extension 2657, or visit the help desk in person on the ground floor of the library building, room LL-103 (see LL building on the East of the campus map).  We will do our best to advise you on how to connect to the wireless network, but we will not physically work on your computer.