Campus wireless, what does this mean?

My school provides a free ISP.. and their website says...

"University of Cincinnati
Wireless Data Communications

WIRELESS LANS AT UC

The current wireless LAN environment at UC is 802.11b and 802.11g compliant. Migration has begun to 802.11g wireless access points which will support 802.11b cards as well as the 802.11g cards. The 802.11b standard allows for data transmission between the workstation and wireless access points at 11MB. When signal strength diminishes due to distance between the workstation and access point, speeds of 5.5MB, 2MB and 1MB are also supported. The 802.11g standard allows data transmission between the workstation and wireless access point at 54MB. When signal strength diminishes due to distance between the workstation and access point, speeds of 48MB, 36MB, 24MB, 18MB, 12MB, 11MB, 9MB, 6MB, 5.5MB, 2MB AND 1MB are also supported. Note that 802.11g access points will support 802.11b equipped workstations, but only at 802.11b speeds. The access point connects to the UC network via 10/100MB Ethernet. See CURRENT WIRELESS LOCATIONS ON CAMPUS for a list of access point locations on campus.

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STANDARD FOR WIRELESS INTERFACE CARDS

All new PCMCIA cards must support 128 bit encryption and open authentication, with the recommended card being the Cisco Aironet 350 Series Client Adapter part number AIR-PCM352.

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TESTED WIRELESS CARDS

UCit has tested and found several wireless LAN 802.11b and 802.11g standard PCMCIA cards, which are compatible with the UC standard wireless LAN access points. This list should not be considered to be the all inclusive list of cards which will function properly with the UC wireless LAN access points. The list contains only the cards which UCit has tested to date and will support. All compatible cards must support 128 bit encryption and open authentication. PCI and ISA cards from the same manufacturer should also be compatible, although not tested by UCit. Cards, which are not on the list, will not be supported by UCit. Support for these should be obtained from the manufacturer or other source. This list will be updated as others are tested.

Cisco/Aironet 350 series cards and adapters

UCit recommends that you download the latest version of the software for the Cisco 340 and 350 series cards, instead of using the software on the CD that comes with the card. Go to page http://www.cisco.com/public/sw-center/sw-wireless.shtml. Follow the instructions on the Release Notes for installation. Set the SSID and WEP keys as instructed when you register your card. Additional configuration help can be found at the College of Engineering help page.

Linksys b, g and a+g cards

WaveLAN/Orinoco Gold Cards

3Com

Dell supplied 128 bit cards from Cisco/Aironet, Intel and Orinoco

Apple Airport cards with Version 2.0 or later Airport software

UCit currently recommends the Cisco 350 series, Linksys, or Dell supplied cards and provides complete support for them. Other cards listed above will be supported on a best effort basis only. Cards not listed above will not be supported by UCit

Consult the user’s guide for your particular card for information on how to set the SSID, open authentication WEP encryption key to meet UC requirements.

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Does anyone know what this authentication/encryption thing means =/

I just bought a v2000z lappy with the speedbooster option... Will it work... is there a special router I need to buy? I'm confused

 

The authentication just means you will need to get your "access code" to get on the wireless network. The speedbooster option (I don't know what that its)

You will not need a router because the campus is set up with wireless already, you just need the card and the password to get on the network and you should be fine, as long as the card supports b/g wireless, which it should.

Hope this helps.

 

Yes, the ones that come with Compaqs and HPs are b/g cards. I wonder if the speedbooster even makes a difference or if it's just marketing.

 

cool

"128 bit encryption" is standard I'm guessing?

My understanding is that the speedbooster is a router thing... the card just supports speedboostin routers. not sure if I needed it... but what the hey?

Thanks for the help!

 

Most newer cards should be 128-bit capable, so you shouldn't worry. If your PC's WiFi card connects to a router that uses Speedboost technology, you'll see a performance improvment, and this should all be automatic for the most part, so don't worry about that, either.

You'll just need to get the SSID and the WEP key (a long string of letters and numbers that allows access to the network) from the school and plug them into the Wifi configuration utility that came with the laptop.