Wireless at Laurier

To connect to Laurier's wireless networks, follow the instructions below for your operating system. If you have any problems, you can take your computer to the ICT Service Desk.

Note: The use of the Laurier wireless network is subject to the university policy Principles in the Use of Information Technology (Section 9.1).

Laurier Wi-Fi Login Information

A Laurier network login is required to access both Laurier wireless networks.

Your network account information is the same information required to sign into your Laurier student webmail.

If you have any problems with your network username or password, contact the ICT Service Desk.

Wireless Networks

eduroam

eduroam is a secure access service for members of the educational and research communities. It allows individuals from a member organization to securely access network services while visiting other member organizations using login credentials from their home organization without making special arrangements.

Using eduroam, Laurier students can obtain Internet connectivity when visiting participating institutions by simply logging onto their computer or wireless device with their Laurier usernames and passwords. Visitors to Laurier's Waterloo and Brantford campuses, and to Laurier's Faculty of Social Work building in Kitchener, can also access the Internet using their home credentials if their institution is a member of the eduroam network.

A list of participating eduroam institutions is available at eduroam.org. Canadian eduroam institutions are listed at CANARIE. You can also review the Trust Association Document filed with CANARIE’s Canadian Access Federation.

You can install eduroam by downloading the Eduroam Configuration Assistant Tool (eduroam CAT) at cat.eduroam.org.

laurierwifi

Laurierwifi is an unsecure wireless network (unencrypted). This means that if you use POP/SMTP email or visit websites that start with http:// then this information is vulnerable to snooping by someone else.

Note: The login to "laurierwifi" is encrypted so your password is safe.

Any website that has https:// is a secure site and all information should be encrypted by the website and safe. For this reason it is recommended that “laurierwifi” is used only for casual web browsing and secure web services such as webmail where you see https:// in the website address.

It is also highly recommended that you have up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall active on your laptop/notebook.

Connecting to laurierwifi

Windows users:

Turn on the wireless network interface, choose "laurierwifi" from available wireless network SSID list, and click "Connect." Click "Yes" or "OK" if there is a warning pop up window telling you this connection is not secure.
Point your favorite browser at some external web site.
Enter your Laurier network username and password.

MAC users:

Turn on the AirPort, choose "laurierwifi" from available wireless network SSID drop-down list.
Point your favorite browser at some external web site.
Enter your Laurier network username and password.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens when I move from my current location?

When you move out of range your connection will drop.
When you move into range of another WAP you may not be able to connect. This occurs because some devices do not “release” their prior connection and will still try to connect to the previous WAP, even though a connection is no longer possible.
There are two ways to re-establish your Wi-Fi connection:
- Reboot your device.
- “Forget” or remove the old network connection.

How do people density and limitations with 2.4 GHz frequency impact Wi-Fi?

There is a technical limitation with Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz frequency. There are three non-overlapping channels available for use at 2.4 GHz. Each channel can handle 65 connections and there is a maximum connection amount of 195 devices for a given WAP at this frequency.

Bluetooth, which also operates at 2.4 GHz, uses a crude method of maintaining a connection known as frequency hopping. This negatively impacts the number of available connections as Bluetooth connections will wander around the various Wi-Fi channels and interfere with Wi-Fi signals. As a result, you may experience a slower Wi-Fi connection or your connection may drop altogether. If you are on Wi-Fi it is recommended to shut off Bluetooth.

Phones set as Wi-Fi hotspots further compound the problem of density. Phones with this feature turned on are attempting to establish a Wi-Fi connection and transmit it at cellular frequencies. This interferes with a laptop’s ability to establish a Wi-Fi connection on our network. It is recommended that users shut off Wi-Fi hot spotting when on campus.

How can users help with density and limitation issues?

It is important to purchase devices that have dual band capability (2.4 and 5 GHz). We are seeing devices that have 2.4 GHz connectivity only as companies are “down-speccing” their devices to save costs. This is particularly problematic when you are in an area with many people, most of whom have both a laptop and smartphone connected to Wi-Fi. This may explain why you have good connectivity in residence but poor connectivity in class and common areas.

Shut off Bluetooth on your laptop and smartphone when you are on campus. The Wi-Fi signal you will preserve may be your own.
If your device says it is compatible with 802.11a or 802.11g or 802.11n or 802.11ac then you have a dual-band device.

How do wireless printers and game consoles connect to Wi-Fi?

Wireless printers and game consoles will not connect on our network as we require WPA2 Enterprise security. No consumer grade printers and none of the current game consoles offer this level of security.

How can I get my device to “forget” a network connection?

Windows 10:

Windows "Start" -> "Settings" -> "Network and Internet."
Select Wi-Fi, click “Manage Wi-Fi Settings.”
Under “Manage Known Networks,” select the network you want to be removed, then click “Forget.”

Windows 8:

Access "Settings" and then choose the Wireless icon.
Right-click on the network and choose "Forget this Network."

Windows 7:

Go to "Start" -> "Control Panel" -> "Network and Internet" -> "Network and Sharing Center."
Choose "Manage Wireless Networks" from the options on the left.
Highlight the network from the list and choose "Remove."

Mac OS X (10.8):

Go to "System Preferences" -> "Network."
Select "Wi-Fi" on the left.
Choose the wireless network from the list and then click on the "Disconnect" button.
Click on the "Advanced" button.
Select the wireless network from the list and then click on the "-" button to remove it from the list.
Click on the "OK" button.
Click the "Apply" button.

iOS:

Choose "Settings" -> "Wi-Fi."
When you select eduroam, you will be prompted for the password.
Choose "Cancel" and then open the eduroam network (click on the blue arrow).
Choose "Forget this Network."
Choose "Forget."

Android:

Go to "Settings" -> "Wireless and Networks."
Choose "Wi-Fi Settings."
Long press the network named eduroam.
Choose "Forget Network."

Is Wi-Fi safe?

Wi-Fi works at 2.4 and 5 GHz bands which are in the microwave band. Your microwave oven operates at exactly 2.4 GHz. If a microwave oven can boil water why doesn’t Wi-Fi boil you? Your oven operates at about 1,000 Watts of power. Wi-Fi operates in the milliwatt range. 1,000 milliwatts equals 1 Watt. So the Wi-Fi signal is in the range of one millionth the power of a microwave oven. In fact, “the level (students) are exposed to in school is not all that much different from an FM radio station” (Best Health Magazine).