How do I connect to wireless?
You must register your MAC address and enter the encryption key to access WCU Wireless.
Why would I want to connect to the wireless network?
Prowl gives you the freedom to move around campus while maintaining an active Internet connection. You can do research, download your homework, and check your e-mail whenever you're near the wireless network.
Can my wireless card only be used at Western?
WCU utilizes the 802.11b standard, meaning the card can be used on other wireless networks. Many home routers (used with cable modems) are shipping with wireless capability. Other universities are starting to implement wireless networks as well.
How much does it cost?
Wireless is a free service to all Western students, faculty, and staff.
Why did the division of IT choose the IEEE 802.11b standard for wireless, rather than any of the other competing wireless technologies?
802.11b is a proven, award-winning technology that is widely available on the market today. While other wireless standards promise superior performance in comparison, many of these are either still in development or are just entering production, and so are not yet suitable for deployment on the sort of scale that WCU requires. As wireless networking technology continues to advance, the division of IT will of course look for ways to improve performance and usability. Because of the popularity of 802.11b wireless networking, developers of other technologies are making every effort to ensure backwards compatibility or dual-mode interoperability between 802.11b devices and their own. Therefore, when Prowl is upgraded to a next-generation wireless technology base, the network will remain accessible to users with 802.11b-compatible devices, allowing them to migrate to the newer technology at their own pace.
Will the signal travel through walls?
Yes. wireless uses radio waves, which can pass through glass and standard walls. It can also travel around corners, so you can still receive a signal on the other side of a more solid barrier (metal and cement are harder for the 2.4GHz signal to penetrate).
How fast is the wireless network?
Prowl operates at 11Mbps signaling rate. Actual throughput will be less, just like 10Mbps Ethernet throughput is less than 10 Mbps. Actual speeds will vary, based on the size and source of the file, network traffic, and your proximity to the access point.
How does the wireless Ethernet card affect my laptop's battery.
Like any electronic component, the Ethernet card will drain power from your battery. They should have less than a 10% impact on battery life. The average current required to be able to receive packets using PSP (Power Save Protocol) is less than 60 mA (about 25% of the power consumption of a 10/100 PC Card).
Does WCU wireless use Bluetooth?
No. Bluetooth is a 1Mbps (Megabits per second) standard for connecting small devices in close proximity, like connecting a palmtop computer to a cell phone. WCU uses IEEE 802.11b, or Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity) as it is also called, which connects users to Ethernet compatible computer networks at 11Mbps.