Wireless Networking Information

Please read the information below about installing and configuring your wireless network card to work on the USI network.

Wireless Internet access is available on the USI Campus. This free wireless service is currently available in all of the main buildings on campus as well as the surrounding courtyards. The wireless coverage area has also been extended to the student housing apartments and dorms. Click here to view the USI Wireless Network Coverage Area Map.

A secure encrypted wireless network for USI Faculty and Staff is available in the University Center Carter Hall. This secure service will not only allow you to surf the internet, but also allow users the ability to log onto the USI network and access personal folders in the users home directory on the USI network.

All you need to connect to the open portion of the wireless network is a laptop and a wireless network interface card (NIC). To connect through the secure encrypted portion of the wireless network, (located only in Carter Hall) you will need to bring your laptop and wireless network interface card to the USI Computer Center for special configuration.

Once you have obtained a wireless NIC, installation is very simple.

1. Boot your laptop into the operating system.
2. Insert the Cisco Aironet Wireless LAN Client Adapters CD into your CD Rom Drive.
3. Insert the Wireless NIC into the PCMCIA slot that is located on the side of your computer.
4. At this point your operating system will auto detect the wireless NIC and install the drivers from the Cisco CD. - If your operating system does not find the needed drivers during the install process, you may need to tell the operating system where the drivers are by browsing to the necessary folder on the Cisco CD. The Cisco CD contains drivers for the following operating systems: Windows 95, 98, ME, CE, NT, 2000, XP, Linux and Macintosh.
5. Remove the Cisco CD from your drive and put it in a safe location.
6. Reboot your computer.

If you encounter any problems with the installation of the wireless NIC or connecting to the wireless access point, you can obtain technical support from USI Computer Center, located in the basement of the Orr Building.

If you should have any questions regarding these services, please contact our Help Desk at (812) 465-1080 or contact us via email.