The 802.11a/b/g standards provide transmission speeds of up to 54Mbps (11Mbps on 802.11b). This is the theoretical maximum speed. In reality, the actual throughput will be about 60% of the theoretical maximum.
SSID stands for Service Set Identifier. This is simply a name used to identify a wireless network. The SSID can either be broadcast or hidden. When the SSID is hidden, the user must know what the SSID of the wireless network is in order to gain access. When the SSID is broadcast, the wireless network is available to anybody. The access points on the LSU wireless network are configured to broadcast their SSID. Some wireless adapters will allow you to leave the SSID field blank or enter the word “ANY”. This instructs the wireless clients to obtain whatever SSID is being broadcast by the access point. You can also set the SSID explicitly.
Wireless transmissions can be affected by a variety of factors including walls, metal objects, trees, and distance from an access point. In addition, wireless is a shared resource. As a result, the greater the number of wireless users connected to a particular access point, the lower the effective bandwidth that will be available to each individual user.
There are various locations throughout campus where wireless is available. For more information, please check out the wireless coverage article.
The LSU wireless network is built on Cisco Aironet lightweight access points supporting all wireless standards 802.11a/g/n.
802.11 is a standard that was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE). It is the original wireless specification. Extensions of the 802.11 standard were given the same number with a letter suffix.
802.11 Provides up to 2Mbps transmission in the 2.4GHz band
802.11b Provides up to 11Mbps transmission in the 2.4GHz band
802.11a Provides up to 54Mbps transmission in the 5GHz band
802.11g Provides up to 54Mbps transmission in the 2.4GHz band
What wireless adapters are supported on the LSU wireless network?
The LSU wireless network supports wireless adapters that are Wi-Fi certified and support WPA2 enterprise. We highly recommend that you get an adapter that supports the following wireless standards and bands: 802.11a/n (5GHz) and 802.11g/n (2.4GHz). For the best experience, your adapter must support 802.11a/n (5GHz).
Can a cordless phone interfere with the wireless network?
Cordless phones, not cellular phones, will interfere with the wireless network if they transmit in the 2.4GHz frequency range. Some cordless phones usually display the frequency at which they transmit on the phone itself or on the base station. If you can't determine what frequency your phone works on, check your manual or search on the Internet. If you determine that your phone works on the 2.4GHz range, replace it with a 900MHz or 5GHz unit.
What are some potential sources of interference?
-Cordless phones: There are different frequencies of cordless phones. 2.4Ghz phones, in particular, will interfere with wireless networking when used. To get around this problem, replace your phone with a 900Mhz or 5Ghz unit.
-Bluetooth: This is a very popular technology that allows wireless connectivity of peripheral devices at short range. Wireless keyboards, mice, cameras, and PDAs are just a few examples. Unfortunately, Bluetooth operates in the 2.4Ghz range, which is the same frequency that 802.11b/g uses. Although the modulation method used in Bluetooth is different than in 802.11, the potential for interference still exists and performance degradation can vary from no noticeable problems to complete loss of connectivity.
-Microwave ovens: Placing your computer in close proximity to a running microwave oven may cause interference.
Will my Windows 7 or 8 device be able to connect to wireless?
Windows 7 and 8 are no longer supported at LSU and will be blocked upon detection. Please use OnTheHub on a wired network to upgrade to Windows 10.
Will my iPhone/iPod/Wii/XBox/PlayStation be able to connect to "eduroam"?
Only devices that support WPA2 Enterprise will be able to connect to eduroam. Early versions of the Apple iPhone (1-3), including the iPod touch, and Wii/XBox/PlayStation and the like will only be supported if they meet the requirements to connect to the Wired network and not eduroam.
If you are in a dorm room, you may be able to connect to the wireless "lsuiot" network with your console. For more information, please see Registering and Managing Wireless IOT Devices for Res-Life Residents.
Will my Palm handheld work with eduroam?
Palm TX with Enterprise Security Update (ESU) will work with eduroam.
Wireless Troubleshooting Tips
1. How do I remove the cached user credentials that are used for PEAP authentication in Windows XP?
See FAQ #6
2. How do I check the drivers for my wireless adapter?
The most common problem we encounter with wireless users that can't connect to the wireless network is that their drivers are not up-to-date. Card manufacturers regularly release new driver updates in order to solve issues such as interoperability problems with access points from other vendors or simply to get rid of bugs. Having the latest drivers for your wireless adapter will assure that you'll have the best performance, reliability, and functionality.
1. Click on Start>Settings>Control Panel>Network Connections.
2. Right click on your wireless adapter, and then click on Properties.
3. In the General tab, click on Configure, and then click on the Driver tab.
Once you have found out what drivers you have, visit the website for the manufacturer of your wireless device. Almost all manufacturers have support pages where you can identify your drivers and download files as needed. If the driver on your computer is older than the driver on the manufacturer's website, download the newer driver.
3. Can't get to the authentication page. Can't get past the authentication page. (Applies to lsuguest Wireless ONLY)
Check your Browser Settings & make sure the following are NOT Enabled:
Internet Explorer
1. Click on Tools--> Internet Options --> Connections --> LAN Settings
2. Make sure all boxes are unchecked.
3. Close your browser & open the browser again.
4. You will now be properly routed to the authentication page.
Firefox
1. Tools--> Options--> Advanced--> Network--> Connections Settings.
2. Select Direct connection to the Internet.
3. Close your browser and open the browser again.
4. You will now be properly routed to the authentication page.
Safari
1. Click on Safari --> Preferences --> Advanced --> Proxies --> Proxy Settings, located under "select a proxy server to configure".
2. Ensure that no boxes are checked.
3. Close your browser and open the browser again.
4. You will now be properly routed to the authentication page.
4. LSUGUEST: When I bring up Internet Explorer, my browser gets stuck on the redirection page?
See FAQ #3
5. What do I do if my username & password combination is invalid?
If your credentials are being rejected, try resetting your password. To test your new credentials, try logging on to a public lab machine. If your credentials are still being rejected, try logging on as lsu\username or username@lsu.edu, where "username" is your MyLSU username.
6. Unable to access library resources (electronic journals, articles, etc.) over wireless.
In order to properly connect to library resources over wireless you need to connect to these resources through the library page
http://www.lib.lsu.edu. Scifinder and similar applications will not work over wireless. In addition, if you are using Mozilla and you have the add-on “Redirect Remover”, you will have to uninstall it as this program bypasses the library proxy.
7. How do I know if my computer belongs to the LSU domain (Windows XP)?
- Right-click the My Computer icon & select Properties.
- Click on the Computer Name tab.
- If your computer belongs to the LSU Domain, it will display it as depicted below:
?
8. My computer is unable to connect to eduroam.
- If your computer belongs to the LSU domain and you checked the box "Automatically use my Windows logon name and password".
Check the Following:
1. Are you logged on as Administrator? If so, authentication will fail because Windows is using the administrator's credentials to log you to the wireless network, and these credentials are not valid. Only MyLSU credentials are valid. Log off and log back on using your MyLSU username and password.
2. Disable & Re-enable your wireless adapter.
3. If you have changed your password, Windows will not update the new password unless you lock your computer (press Ctrl-Alt-Del) and log back with your new credentials.
Try un-checking the option "Automatically use my Windows logon name and password". You should be prompted to enter your username and password. If this works, you'll have access to the network. So now lock your computer, and log back on with your new credentials. Your computer should now be updated. Check back the option "Automatically use my Windows logon name and password".
If you lock yourself out of the computer due to this security precaution, contact the Service Desk at 578-3375.
- If your computer does not belong to the LSU domain, then you had to uncheck the box "Automatically use my Windows logon name and password".
Check the Following:
1. Make sure you are using your MyLSU ID & Password and that you are leaving the Logon Domain field empty.
2. If you are not being prompted to enter your credentials, try removing the cached credentials on your computer by running the script removeEAPinfo.zip.
3. Have you changed your password? If you have, then Windows is still trying to use your old cached credentials. Delete your cached credentials by running the script removeEAPinfo.zip
4. Try removing eduroam from your preferred networks in the Windows Network Connection Properties window and then add it again.
5. Disable and re-enable your wireless adapter.
6. Try logging on as lsu\username or username@lsu.edu, where "username" is your MyLSU ID.
9. How do I enable the Wireless Configuration service (802.1x) on Windows 2000?
-
Click on Start, then Settings, choose Control Panel, select Administrative Tools, then Services.
- In the General tab, select Automatic from the Startup type drop-down menu & then click the Start button.
- Click Apply & then OK.
10. The tab "Wireless Networks" in not available in the Wireless Network Connections Properties window.
See FAQ #14
11. How do I setup "eduroam" to allow multiple users (with MyLSU credentials) to log on to a computer?
The only way this will work is if your computer is part of the LSU domain (see FAQ# 10) and when you configure "eduroam" you check the option "Automatically use my Windows logon name and password". The users will be automatically logged on to the wireless network when they log on to the computer. This is also known as Single-Sign On. Please note that for a computer to join the domain for the first time, it must be connected to a hard-wired connection.
12. Problems with Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility?
If you have a Dell computer it will most likely come with a utility called "Dell Wireless WLAN Card Utility". This utility is available to manage your wireless networks. Windows also has a utility to manage your wireless networks. A problem can arise when both utilities are enabled and both of them are trying to manage your wireless networks. The solution is to disable one of the utilities. We recommend that you disable the Dell utility and let Windows manage your wireless networks. To do so, there are two options:
Option 1:
- Open the Dell utility by clicking on Start-->Programs-->Dell Wireless.
- On the Wireless Networks tab, uncheck the box "Let this tool manage your wireless networks".
- Click Apply.
Option 2:
- Click on Start-->Run and type in services.msc
- Right-click on the service called Dell Wireless WLAN Utility and click on Properties.
- For the Startup type select Disabled.
13. This article shows you the step-by-step process of how to send a print job from your Windows laptop to one of the LSU Public Access computer lab print servers.
Anyone with a valid MyLSU ID & a TigerCard can print remotely from their laptop to any of the LSU Public Access Computer Labs.
Once you connect to a printer and submit your print job, all you have to do is use your TigerCard to release and pay for the job at the PHAROS pay-station located in the lab where your print job was submitted.
- Find information on wireless printing from a Mac laptop HERE.
- Find information on wireless printing from a Windows laptop HERE.