Computing & Information Services

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Setting Up Your Laptop to Use the Wireless Network

This help sheet is designed to help you get connected to Reed's wireless network.

What is it? How does it work?
Wireless Networks and Security
What areas of campus have wireless access?
Can my computer use it? What cards can I use?
Apple Airport Configuration
Orinoco Configuration for Windows PCs
Orinoco Configuration for Older Macs or other cards
Why can't I connect?

What is it? How does it work?

Wireless networking enables properly-equipped computers to connect to the Reed campus network without a network cable. Wireless was first piloted in the Biology labs, and has been expanded to the dorms and all academic buildings.

The wireless network works by radio---just like KRRC! Cards in your computer transmit and receive information from a few base stations by high-frequency radio waves. Just like radio, multiple thick walls may block the signal. Portable phones and microwaves also interfere with the wireless network. If you are having problems getting a signal, try moving your computer closer to the base station.

Wireless Networks and Security

Remember that wireless networks are insecure by nature. Someone nefarious could eavesdrop on the data your computer is sending to and from the base station. To avoid this, use your common sense about when you should switch to the inherently more secure ethernet network. Anytime you are plotting a revolution or buying something with your credit card number, you should switch to the wired network. You should never access secure websites like your bank, FAFSA (financial aid applications), pharmacy, or even online stores on the wireless network. When you are using these websites, you are sending out information that is important to keep secure like your social security number, bank account number and password, and credit card number. Just remember to be sensible!

Check out our general computer security page here!

What areas of campus have wireless access?

Wireless is available in almost all buildings on campus, as well as some outdoor areas. See the map below for details on which areas of campus are covered.

(click to enlarge)

Can my computer use it? What cards can I use?

The following machines and cards can connect to Reed's wireless network. This list is not exhaustive; other configurations may work:

Computer Make	Card	Computer Model	Operating System	RAM
Apple	Airport	PowerBook G4, iBook or iMac	System 9.0.4 to 10.4	at least 64MB
Apple	Orinoco	Older PowerBooks with PC card slot	System 8.0 or later	at least 32MB
Windows PC	Orinoco	Various models with PC card slot	Windows 95 or later	at least 64MB

For Apple machines, we recommend Apple's Airport card. It's inexpensive and works well with the operating system. Older (not Airport-ready) Powerbooks can use an Orinoco PC card to connect. For Windows PCs we also recommend the Orinoco card. Recommended cards may be purchased in the computer shop in the ETC.

Note: If you use another card, it must be "802.11g" compliant --- check the documentation. To set up the other card, the network name will be the same but the way to set it up may be slightly different. If you are having trouble, contact CUS.

Apple Airport Configuration

After installing your Airport card, including all the drivers and the client manager, you are ready to configure your wireless card for use on Reed's network.

For Mac OS 10.4

Open System Preferences and select the Network pane.
Go to Location and select New Location. Call it Reed Wireless. Name your original location Reed Ethernet. Make sure that Reed Wireless is selected next to Location.
Under Show, select Network Port Configurations. Make sure that AirPort is checked on and Ethernet (along with any others) is checked off.
Under Show, select AirPort. Go to the AirPort pane.
Next to By default, join: select Preferred networks.
If a list of networks appear below, you want to delete all the networks except Reednet. Select the network name and click on the "-" (minus) sign. Repeat until all but Reednet have been removed.
If Reednet is not on the list, you will have to add it. Click on the "+" (plus) and a pop-up window will appear. If you have a signal from Reednet, you can click on the down arrow next to Network Name and choose Reednet. Make sure the menu next to Wireless Security has None selected. Press OK.
Click on Options. Make sure all the boxes are unchecked and under If no preferred networks are found, select Ask before joining an open network.
Select the AppleTalk pane and check the Make AppleTalk Active box. Under AppleTalk Zone, select Academic Network.
Select the TCP/IP pane and make sure Configure IPv4 is set to Using DHCP.
Open your web browser and try to access ANY webpage. You will be redirected to our network registration page, where you will need to enter your network username and password to register your computer. If you use both the wireless and wired Reed networks, you will need to register your computer twice (once for each type of connection). This registration will expire at the end of each semester and you will have to re-register.

For Mac OS 10.3

Open System Preferences and select the Network pane.
Go to Location and select New Location. Call it Reed Wireless. Name your original location Reed Ethernet. Make sure that Reed Wireless is selected next to Location.
Under Show, select Network Port Configurations. Make sure that AirPort is checked on and Ethernet (along with any others) is checked off.
Under Show, select AirPort. Go to the AirPort pane. Check the Remember network password box. Select Join a specific Network.
If you are in range of a basestation, the network "Reednet" should appear on your popup list.
Select the AppleTalk pane and check the Make AppleTalk Active box. Under AppleTalk Zone, select Academic Network.
Select the TCP/IP pane and make sure Configure IPv4 is set to Using DHCP.
Open your web browser and try to access ANY webpage. You will be redirected to our network registration page, where you will need to enter your network username and password to register your computer. If you use both the wireless and wired Reed networks, you will need to register your computer twice (once for each type of connection). This registration will expire at the end of each semester and you will have to re-register.

For Mac OS 10.1 and 10.2

Open System Preferences and select the Network pane.
Go to Location and select New Location. Call it Reed Wireless. Name your original location Reed Ethernet. Make sure that Reed Wireless is selected next to Location.
Under Show, select Network Port Configurations. Make sure that AirPort is checked on.
Under Show, select AirPort. Go to the AirPort pane. Check the Remember network password box. Select Join a specific Network.
If you are in range of a basestation, the network "Reednet" should appear on your popup list.
Select the AppleTalk pane and check the Make AppleTalk Active box. Under AppleTalk Zone, select Academic Network.
Select the TCP/IP pane and make sure Configure is set to Using DHCP.
Open your web browser and try to access ANY webpage. You will be redirected to our network registration page, where you will need to enter your network username and password to register your computer. If you use both the wireless and wired Reed networks, you will need to register your computer twice (once for each type of connection). This registration will expire at the end of each semester and you will have to re-register.

Orinoco Configuration for Windows PCs

After installing your Orinoco card, insert the CD-ROM that contains the drivers and click to install the client manager. After the client manager is installed, you are ready to configure your card for use on Reed's network.

Open the client manager by going to the Start Menu and selecting Client Manager from the Orinoco Wireless program folder.
From the Actions menu, select Add/Edit Configuration Profile.
Make sure that the Default profile is selected and that Access Point is shown in the pulldown menu to the right. Select Edit Profile.
Under the Basic tab, enter the Network Name as Reednet and click the OK button (you shouldn't need to make any changes in the "Advanced" or "Admin" tabs) then click OK again.
Open your web browser and try to access ANY webpage. You will be redirected to our network registration page, where you will need to enter your network username and password to register your computer. If you use both the wireless and wired Reed networks, you will need to register your computer twice (once for each type of connection). This registration will expire at the end of each semester and you will have to re-register.

You should now be able to access the Reed wireless network, assuming that your laptop was already configured for wired use on the Reed network. If not, please contact CUS (x7525) to get instructions on how to set up your PC for use with our network.

Orinoco Configuration for Older Macs or other cards

If you have a Macintosh Powerbook and you're going to use an Orinoco PC card (instead of Apple's Airport) the configuration is similar to the Windows version. Basically:

Find the Wavelan Setup control panel.
Type in the network name (Reednet).
Open your web browser and try to access ANY webpage. You will be redirected to our network registration page, where you will need to enter your network username and password to register your computer. If you use both the wireless and wired Reed networks, you will need to register your computer twice (once for each type of connection). This registration will expire at the end of each semester and you will have to re-register.

Why can't I connect?

It could be for several reasons. Check that you've followed the instructions at the end of this document carefully. If you've most recently been connected to an off-campus wireless network, try rebooting your computer or renewing your DHCP lease.