USING WIRELESS WITH YOUR COMPUTER

Cushing provides wireless service in all of the Academic buildings- the Main Building, the Science Building, and the Art Building in addition to the Student Center. (While the wireless may also reach upstairs into the dining hall this is NOT recommended, as you should keep all food and drink at least three feet away from a computer at ALL TIMES. Spilling something into a computer can easily cause more than a thousand dollars in damage.)

SETTING UP YOUR WIRELESS CARD

Many computers come with a wireless card built-in already; if not, they are available at many electronics stores or over the web. Plug-in cards all work the same way, they go into the PCMCIA slot in the side of a laptop, and you can follow the instructions that come with the card or visit their website to download the drivers that tell the card how to work.

Steps to follow when trying to connect:

Some computers with built-in wireless cards have a switch on them, either a physical switch somewhere on the computer or a software switch. Most Dells use the Function Key and the F2 button (Fn-F2) as the switch to turn the transmitter/receiver on and off. Make sure that it was not turned off accidentally.

You also need to give permission to connect-- right-click the wireless icon in your system tray and choose “View Available Wireless Networks”

For computers running Service Pack 1: You should get a dialog box that needs to be checked off that says "Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network….."

Make sure the box is checked and click the Connect button to connect.

For computers running Service Pack 2: It looks similar, but it should display the network in a fuller window, and you choose to connect to it in a similar fashion by double-clicking in the window for the wireless network it sees or by pressing the Connect button.

If you have a home wireless network your settings may need to be changed to work here.

Other than that, if you still have problems, then bring your computer down during Office Hours and we will take a look at it- it is probably just a settings problem.

We have a limited number of cards available for use in the library only- you can ask at the library desk. They need to be signed out, and if they are not returned you will be charged.

We also have a small number of wireless cards available for purchase- you will need to drop your computer off at the Tech Office as we must install the card and the drivers and make sure it connects.