Wireless Networking at Barnard


Wireless Locations

Barnard Map of Locations
Note: There is now wireless available in the Reading Room!

Columbia Map of Locations

How do I Configure My Computer for Wireless?

Setup instructions vary according to the operating system on your computer. Please visit the link for your operating system to learn how to setup your computer to take advantage of Barnard/Columbia's wireless network:

Windows:
2000
XP

Mac:
OS 9.2
OS X

Disadvantages of Wireless:

1) The connection speeds are slower and dependent upon the connection strength and how many users are accessing the wireless network at a given time.

2) Network Interference:
The following will interfere with the wireless network:

  • 2.4 GHz cordless phones
  • Wireless Ethernet Access Points including the Apple Airport Base Station and the Macintosh computer operating as a software base station.
  • 2.4 GHz consumer short distance wireless video links
  • Any computer operating in IEEE 802.11b Ad-Hoc mode
  • Some scientific equipment
  • Radio transmitters

These devices must be cleared with AT before they are permitted to be used on campus.

3) Security

The Barnard and Columbia Wireless Networks are not secure at this time. Anyone can read unencrypted information that is sent out from your computer, although this is a rather unlikely scenario. Still, to avoid unwanted parties gaining access to your information the following precautions are recommended.

  • Do not place credit card orders or use passwords for email accounts (check settings for Outlook Express and other email clients to see if they’ll automatically log in once connected through wireless) This same rule applies for AIM conversations.
  • Only check your Barnard/Columbia email accounts through SSH instead of telnet. Use Kerberos authentication or SSL to connect to web pages/mail hosts.

What is Wireless and how does it work?

The Wireless MNS, also known as Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), provides Internet access to mobile computers without connection cables. Instead, it uses radio communication between the computer and Access Points.

There are several versions of wireless Ethernet in use today. Columbia's wireless Ethernet is based on the IEEE 802.11b "high rate" standard, therefore only devices that use this protocol (such as Lucent's Wavelan PC cards and Apple's Airport, and many other devices which work on Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms) will work on the Columbia campus.