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Configuring Windows Vista to connect to "PSU" wireless network

Description:

This article describes how to configure Windows Vista to connect to the basic wireless network, "PSU," available on the campus. These networks are not encrypted and offer basic access to the Internet to anyone with an Odin computer account, a Sponsored account or a Guest Wireless account.

Requirements:

  • Windows-based PC running any version of Windows Vista (Home Basic, Home Premium, Business, Ultimate, etc).
  • Access to the PSU wireless networks (i.e. you need to be on campus)
  • A PSU computer account:
    • Odin account - the primary student, faculty or staff computer accounts used on campus.
    • Sponsored account - for long-term guests, lecturers, contractors, etc to offer temporary access to PSU computing resources.
    • Guest wireless account - a short-term, wireless-access only account.

Steps:

  1. Click the Start button
    Vista Start button
  2. Type "network" in the search field and then choose "Network and Sharing Center" from the list (see screenshot below).
    Start menu to locate Network and Sharing Center
  3. When the Network and Sharing Center window comes up, choose "Connect to a Network" from the list in the upper-left.
    Network and Sharing Center
  4. From the list that comes up, choose "PSU."
    Choose wireless network
  5. A warning will pop up describing that the network is an "unsecured network." Click "Connect Anyway."
    Unsecure warning
  6. Your computer will now attempt to connect to the PSU wireless network. If you are in an area of low reception, you may need to move to another location to connect properly.
    Connecting dialog
  7. Once connected it will ask if you wish to "Save this network." Check both boxes.
    Save network
  8. It will now prompt you to "Set Network Location" for which you should choose the "Public" option.
    Set Network Location
  9. You are now connected to the wireless network but you will need to authenticate in order to gain access to the Internet. Open a web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Firefox). You will be directed to the PSU Web Authentication page; type in your Odin username and password. Click the "Submit" button and you will be redirected to your browser's default homepage.
    Web Authentication form

Troubleshooting:

  • Make sure the wireless radio on your computer is active. Some computers have an indicator light that shows if it's active or not, see if you have an indicator light that has an icon that looks like a radio tower with airwaves radiating from it (this is not a standard symbol, but it is common). If the light is off, your wireless radio is off. This is often controlled by a switch on many laptops or a combination of a "Function" button and an "F" key (such as F8). Look for blue auxillary writing on your keyboard with a symbol that looks like a radio tower. If you are unsure, refer to your computer's documentation.
  • If you have problems connecting to the wireless network, try connecting at another physical location on campus.
  • If you have choosen other networks on campus previously and "saved" those networks, your computer may be attempting to join the wrong network automatically which will result in having to double click the proper network each time you wake-up or boot your computer on campus. To forget the networks you don't use, go to the Network and Sharing Center (as in Step 2 above) and click "Manage Wireless Networks" from the uper-left. Click on the network(s) you wish to remove and hit the green "-" (negative) symbol that says "Remove." This will remove it from the list of auto-joining networks. Repeat until only the networks you use are in the list.

Additional Information:

  • We recently changed the names of our wireless networks along with adding this upgraded network as an option. See this article (requires Internet access) for more details on these changes.
  • What is the difference between our secure wireless networks and the PSU unencrypted wireless networks?
      The difference between a secure and non-secure wireless network is that a secure wireless network will encrypt the internet traffic from your computer to the wireless access point so that no one in your local vicinity can snoop your data as it travels in the air. NOTE: Once this traffic goes past the access point and onto the internet, it will travel without encryption. The exception to this transmission security is websites that use their own encryption (SSL). Any website you visit that requires a username and password or is used for purchasing via a credit card should be encrypted and your information is considered "secure". All transmissions between a website using SSL (web address starts with "httpS", not "http") and your computer will remain encrypted for the duration of its transmission across the campus network and the Internet.

Further Assistance:

If you have any problems with this we highly recommend that you bring the device to the Help Desk in Smith Memorial Student Union Room 18 so that a technician can troubleshoot with the device in front of them. You can also call the Help Desk at 503.725.HELP or email help@pdx.edu for answers to general questions about the network, its operation and use.

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