Wireless Network FAQs

What is a wireless LAN?

A wireless LAN (WLAN) is a network that allows access to Golden Gate University's network and the Internet without the need for any wired connections to the user's machine.

What can I do when connected to a wireless network?

You can use wireless for any normal network connectivity that is supported over a wired connection. You should not use wireless for streaming audio/video, very large downloads or viewing extremely graphic-intensive websites. Even though wireless networks look attractive for use everywhere, wired networks still give the best performance and speed. In general, a wireless connection works just like a wired Ethernet connection. Wireless access may be up to 11 megabits per second. This bandwidth, however, is shared among all users connected via wireless in a given area. This means that network speeds may be noticeably slower when many people are using wireless, and generally will not be as fast as wired Ethernet. For permanent network connections, a wired network is the best solution.

What do I need to begin using wireless?

To connect to the wireless network, you will need:

• Laptop computer equipped with an internal wireless network card or external Type II or Type III PC card slot.
• A wireless PC Card. Golden Gate University recommends the Cisco Aironet 350 Series Client Adapter (or a newer model) that supports 128-bit WEP encryption. Lucent/Avaya cards that support WEP are acceptable. If you own a wireless card other than the models mentioned above, it might be compatible with the wireless network if it runs on an 802.11b frequency and has support for 128-bit encryption. Please note that even if your card does comply with these two given criteria, we cannot guarantee that it will be compatible with the wireless network. For more information please visit the Cisco website.
• A GGU4YOU account with your MAC address populated in your profile. See "How to Access the Wireless Network"

Can anybody connect to GGU's wireless networks?

No. You must be an authenticated user with a GGU4YOU account to connect to the wireless network. Why do I need authentication? Authentication for using the wireless network is necessary in order to make sure the network is secure and available for students, faculty, and staff.

Can I print from UM Wireless Network?

No, at this time printing from machines connected to the wireless is not available.

How do I know if I'm connected?

You can check your network connectivity status by looking at the Status and Activity indicators on the wireless PC card antenna. The Status light will blink when a connection is made. The Activity light will blink when data is transmitted.

Does a wireless card use a lot of power?

Yes. A laptop's batteries will deplete much faster while using wireless.