Wireless Access FAQ

No. It is recommended that you save your data to removable media and visit one of the campus computer labs.

Wireless network access is a free service to anyone who has registered for a class in the past three years with a valid X-number and password.

Yes. The wireless network uses radio waves, which can pass through glass and standard walls. However, signal strength and speed may degrade depending on the wall material and thickness.

No. Bluetooth is a 1Mbps (Megabits per second) standard for connecting small devices in close proximity, like connecting a tablet or cell phone to a printer. The wireless network uses IEEE 802.11b/g/n, or Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), which connects users to ethernet-compatible computer networks.

Yes. Other devices that operate in the 2.4GHz band include microwave ovens and 2.4GHz cordless phones, which shouldn't be present when you attempt to access the network.

No. Cellular phones operate in licensed frequencies other than 2.4GHz.

At 802.11b, a wireless network operate at 11Mbps signaling rate, and 802.11g the wireless network operates at 54Mbps signaling rate. Waubonsee's wireless uses 802.11n access points which can deliver speeds of 300Mbps. Actual speeds will vary, based on the size and type of file, number of devices connected to an access point, network traffic, and your proximity to the access point.

Password changes require a quick re-authentication to the "WCC-Students" and "WCC-Faculty-Staff" Wireless Network groups. Your wireless device will prompt you to re-enter your Network ID (X-number) and new password before accessing the network. With a new password entered, the system recognizes you for future access attempts until the password changes again.

The 802.11 standard defines two modes: infrastructure mode and ad hoc mode. In infrastructure mode, the wireless network consists of at least one access point connected to the wired network infrastructure and a set of wireless end stations. This configuration is called a Basic Service Set (BSS). An Extended Service Set (ESS) is a set of two or more BSSs forming a single subnetwork. Since most corporate WLANs require access to the wired LAN for services (file servers, printers, Internet links) they will operate in infrastructure mode. Ad hoc mode (also called peer-to-peer mode or an Independent Basic Service Set, or IBSS) is simply a set of 802.11 wireless stations that communicate directly with one another without using an access point or any connection to a wired network. This mode is useful for quickly and easily setting up a wireless network anywhere that a wireless infrastructure does not exist or is not required for services, such as a hotel room, convention center, or airport, or where access to the wired network is barred (such as for consultants at a client site).

The Service Set ID (SSID) is the name of the network you want to access. It is used to identify different wireless networks.