Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs)
Wireless Network Availability
- What wireless networks are available at UVa, and what are their names?
- Where on Grounds are the wireless networks available?
- What about outdoor wireless coverage?
- What IP address ranges are used for the UVa wireless network?
- Is there a way to speed wireless deployment in our department building(s)?
Wireless Interference
- What devices can interfere with my access to the UVa wireless network?
- Does Bluetooth interfere with the wireless network?
- Can I set up my own wireless access point (base station) on Grounds?
General Wireless Questions
Getting Started with Wireless
- How do I access a UVa wireless network?
- Can I use my mobile device on the UVa wireless networks?
- I have a University guest who needs wireless access. How do I get him/her connected?
- I have many University guests who need wireless access. How do I get them connected?
Wireless Troubleshooting
- I am having problems getting connected to the cavalier network. Is there any other way I can get wireless access?
- My wireless connection seems slow. Why is that and what can I do?
- How should wireless be set up on a computer that is shared by several users?
- My department/group accesses the More Secure Network using a “wired” network connection. Is there a way to connect to it wirelessly?
- When I try to get on the cavalier wireless network, I get a message that says “Self-assigned IP address,” and I can’t connect. What’s wrong?
- Will I have any problems moving between the wireless network where I live, and the wireless network available on Grounds?
Answers
Wireless Network Availability
- What wireless networks are available at UVa, and what are their names?
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UVa offers 2 publicly-visible wireless networks:
- Welcome_to_UVa_Wireless, which is used for first-time wireless setup as well as Short-Term guest access; and
- cavalier, the encrypted wireless network for current faculty, staff, and students. In addition, UVa offers 2 hidden wireless networks for use in specific situations:
- jefferson, a hidden encrypted network used for faculty and staff who need to access the More Secure Network; and
- wahoo, a hidden unencrypted network for Long-Term guests, certain older/unsupported devices, and mobile devices that do not support the required encryption method.
- Where on Grounds are the wireless networks available?
- All 4 of the UVa wireless networks discussed above are available throughout Grounds, as listed in the general wireless coverage table and residence hall coverage table. (The only exception to this is that the jefferson network is not available in the residence halls.) This table excludes Hospital/Medical Center wireless networks.
- What about outdoor wireless coverage?
- Coverage is available on the Lawn, in the Amphitheater, and in outdoor areas around Newcomb Hall.
- What IP address ranges are used for the wireless network?
- View the IP address ranges currently in use at UVa.
- Is there a way to speed wireless deployment in our department building(s)?
- If you want wireless equipment installed in your building, contact the ITC wireless project team to discuss options for accelerating coverage in your area.
Wireless Interference
- What devices can interfere with my access to the UVa wireless network?
- The wireless network at the University operates in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz and 5.1 GHz bands. It is best,
therefore, to avoid other 2.4 GHz and 5.1 GHz equipment like:
- cordless telephones,
- microwaves,
- baby monitors,
- wireless speakers,
- wireless (not Bluetooth) headsets, etc.
- Does Bluetooth interfere with the wireless network?
- No, the use of Bluetooth devices is permitted and should not cause any significant problems for wireless.
- Can I set up my own wireless access point (base station) on Grounds?
- No. ITC will not approve of any personal wireless access points set up in any area where we provide our own wireless coverage. They interfere with our official University access points, introducing more problems than they solve. If you would like to install a non-ITC access point, you must submit an installation request form and follow certain policies and guidelines. For more information, please see Request Wireless Coverage in Your Area.
General Wireless Questions
- Can I use my mobile device on the UVa wireless networks?
- ITC provides information on wireless access for some mobile devices and smartphones; for other devices not listed, you may be able to follow your manufacturer’s instructions by plugging in the basic wahoo configuration settings.
- Why do I need a certificate to use UVa’s encrypted wireless networks?
- The cavalier and jefferson wireless networks have been designed to protect the confidentiality of your data by using a high-quality encryption system, which requires a personal digital certificate for authentication. For more details, see wireless network security.
- How fast are UVa’s wireless networks? What is the average wireless range?
The system is based on the IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) standards. Speeds up to 54 Mbps are available, where the 802.11g, and 802.11a standards are available.
Each wireless access point provides wireless coverage for a radius of between 150 feet through an average building and 1,000 feet in a open-air environment.
- Can I do everything on the wireless network that I can do on the wired University network?
- Applications such as video conferencing, video streaming, shared file systems, and large bulk file transfers will be much faster on the wired network. Just as with other shared, broadly available computing and communication resources, ITC is responsible for managing wireless network capacity to serve the widest range of users.
Getting Started with Wireless
- How do I access a UVa wireless network?
- Follow the instructions based upon your University role: whether you are a guest or an active faculty, staff, or student.
- I have a University guest who needs wireless access. How do I get him/her connected?
- Sponsored guests of the University may obtain UVa unencrypted wireless network access. Short-Term and Long-Term options are available. Support is provided for select operating systems. Please see Guest Access for more information.
- I have many University guests who need wireless access. How do I get them connected?
- The simplest method is use the Short-Term guest option, generating a Passcode to hand out to each guest. See Guest Access for more information.
Wireless Troubleshooting
- I am having problems getting connected to the cavalier network. Is there any other way I can get wireless access?
- Though some older devices may be incompatible with our encrypted cavalier network, many will function correctly with a software update. Please check with your computer manufacturer to ensure you have the most updated version of your wireless drivers. If you have a very old device, you are encouraged to upgrade to newer hardware; however, follow the older/unsupported devices instructions if upgrading is not feasible.
- My wireless connection seems slow. Why is that and what can I do?
-
In general, your wireless signal strength can be affected by:
- how far away you are from the nearest wireless access point,
- the number of others using wireless around you, and
- your proximity to any interfering devices.
These conditions can obviously change over time, so a strong signal/fast connection one day may not guarantee the same experience the next. If you are experiencing a slow connection, you may want to try:
- connecting wirelessly from a different location nearby;
- updating your computer’s wireless device drivers; and/or
- using a “wired” connection instead.
- If you are in an area where wireless is supported, but you do not have a good connection because of poor signal strength, request evaluation of the coverage in your area by emailing the ITC wireless project team.
- How should wireless be set up on a computer that is shared by several users?
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- If individual accounts are available for all users who share the computer: each user can follow the standard recommended wireless instructions after logging in, and access the encrypted cavalier wireless network using their own personal digital certificate.
- If the users must share a generic account: they must configure the computer by following the older/unsupported devices instructions. In that case, they must use the unencrypted wahoo wireless network, since personal digital certificates may not be shared.
- My department/group accesses the More Secure Network using a “wired” network connection. Is there a way to connect to it wirelessly?
- Yes, faculty and staff only may use the jefferson wireless network to access the More Secure Network.
- When I try to get on the cavalier wireless network, I get a message that says “Self-assigned IP address,” and I can’t connect. What’s wrong?
- When you begin a new wireless connection, it may take up to 1 minute, so you may need to be patient. If it takes longer than that, you may have a configuration problem for the connection. Try running the NST to correct this. If you still have problems, contact the ITC Help Desk and one of our agents will assist you in diagnosing the problem further.
- Will I have any problems moving between the wireless network where I live, and the wireless network available on Grounds?
- As long as you configure the wireless card to connect to your home wireless network with the same utility as you connect to the UVa network, you should not have a problem. Do not name your home wireless network a name that is the same as any of the 4 of the UVa wireless networks discussed above, or you may not be able to connect on Grounds.