Setting up Wireless Service
(For Windows 2000)

Table of Contents

    1. What is the Wireless Network Service?
    2. What are the system requirements?
    3. How do I set up my laptop for this service?
    4. How do I set up the Internet Connection Method?
    5. How do I log on to the network?
    6. What if it does not work?
    7. How do I get help?

I. What is the Wireless Network Service?

This service allows anyone with a laptop, a Gatorlink account, and an appropriate wireless networking card to access the university network and the internet from areas around campus that have been activated. To offer the potential benefits of this service to the University of Florida community, NERDC Network Services is in the process of deploying a campus wide wireless network. This information will help you connect your computer to the wireless network using CIRCA's Internet Port Service. CIRCA's Internet Port Service allows you to authenticate to the wireless network and to use networking programs such as Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer, e-mail, file transfer and telnet software.

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II. What are the system requirements?

From Windows 2000, setting up wireless service requires the following:
  • The Windows 2000 operating system and CD. You may need your Microsoft Windows CD.

  • The wireless networking card must be properly installed. To be compatible with the systems on campus your wireless card will need to be 'Wi-Fi' compatible. We recommend the Cisco Aironet 350 wireless client adapter (AIR-PCM352), which is available at the Technology Hub. There are also older 340 series adapters that may be available at a lower price. The newer 350 cards have a higher power output capability and more advanced performance features.

    To properly install the networking card, you must install the software drivers that are provided as a CD or floppy disk with the card. You must also install the client configuration utility (or setup utility) which will allow you to modify configuration settings.

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III. How do I set up my laptop for this service?

Once your wireless card is installed, start your computer. To enable your computer to use the network, you will need to install and configure Microsoft's TCP/IP protocol.

Installing the TCP/IP Protocol

  1. Click on the Start button. Then click on Settings and then Control Panel. Double-click the Network icon.
  2. You will see a Network components window similar to this.
  1. Does the TCP/IP component appear in the component's list of your computer? In our example, the TCP/IP component is installed and the network driver (ethernet card) is a 3COM Fast Etherlink XL 10/100Mb EthernetAdapter (3C905-tx). You may have more than one TCP/IP component listed. There should be one TCP/IP component per adapter or network driver installed on your computer. If you have entries that are exactly alike, remove the extra entries.
  1. If YES, go to the section, Configuring the TCP/IP Component.
  1. If NO, add the TCP/IP component using these instructions:
    1. Press the Add button and double-click the component type, Protocol.
    2. Scroll down the Manufacturer's list and select the entry, Microsoft.
    3. Double-click the entry, TCP/IP from the Network Protocol list.




      4.  
       
  2. You will return to the Network window and the entry, TCP/IP should appear in the component's list.
  3. DO NOT click on the OK button. Go to the section, Configuring the TCP/IP Component.

    Configuring the TCP/IP Component

    Microsoft's TCP/IP component will need to be configured before it will operate properly. In order to set up these components, follow the steps listed below:

    1. Double-click the TCP/IP component assigned to your network adapter (ethernet card). In our example this would be TCP/IP - 3COM Fast Etherlink XL ....
       

     
    1. Click on the IP Address tab and select the option, Obtain an IP address automatically (if not selected).

    2. Click on the WINS Configuration tab and select the option, Disable WINS Resolution (if not selected).

    3. Click on the Gateway tab. No information should appear in these settings.

    4. Click on the DNS Configuration tab and select the option, Disable DNS.

    5. Click on the OK button in the TCP/IP Properties window and in the Network window. The computer may prompt you for your Microsoft Windows Installation CD. Place the CD into its drive and press the OK button.

    6. After the TCP/IP stack is installed, the computer will prompt you to reboot (restart) the computer.  It is best to do so immediately.
       
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IV. How do I set the Internet Connection Method?

If you have used a modem in the past to connect to the Internet, it will be necessary to change the operating system's method of connecting to the network.  Follow the instructions listed below to change the appropriate settings:
  1. Click on the Start button and the options, Settings and Control Panel.

    2.  
  2. Double-click the Internet shortcut and the Connection tab inside. Depending on the version of the Windows operating system and Internet Explorer installed on your computer, you must do one of the following:

    3.  
    • Uncheck the option, Connect to the internet as needed.
    • Check the option, Connect to the Internet using a Local Area Network.
    • Check the option, Never dial a connection and press the LAN Settings button and the option Automatically detect settings inside.

      •  
  3. Click on OK and restart your computer.
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V. How do I log on to the network?

Once your computer is set up properly and restarted, you can log on to the UF network using your browser. Follow these instructions to log on to the network:
  1. Set up your computer using the information in this document.
  2. Open your Web browser (Netscape Communicator or Internet Explorer).
  3. Visit the Web page http://connect.circa.ufl.edu/ and log on using your Gatorlink username and password.
  4. Log off by turning your computer off or visiting the Web page http://connect.circa.ufl.edu/.
For instruction explaining how to print using CIRCA's printers once you are logged on, go to the Web page http://micro.circa.ufl.edu/chargedprint/index.shtml.

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VI. What if it does not work?

Once Microsoft's TCP/IP protocol is installed and configured, your networking programs, such as Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer, Eudora Lite, and WS-FTP LE should work properly. If your networking programs do not work, check the following:
  1. If you are able to reach the WIPA authentication page but you are unable to login then the problem is most likely with your Gatorlink account.

  2. If you open the client configuration utility on your computer you should be able to tell if you can 'see' a wireless Access Point. This of course requires that you be in an area that has wireless coverage. At the bottom of the utility window it will either tell you that you are not associated or it will tell you that you are associated and it will list the name of the Access Point you are attached to. If you are associated to an Access Point then your wireless card is most likely operating correctly.

  3. You can examine the current configuration of your wireless client by opening the client configuration utility and selecting properties from the menus at the top of the window. This area allows you to configure settings such as the Service Set Identifier (SSID), power output, and whether WEP is to be used or not.

    4. Except in the circumstances described below, you should not have any entries for SSID. The campus configuration broadcasts the SSID value which the client should detect and use automatically. If you have a specific SSID entered it may prevent you from attaching to the campus system. In some cases you may have an SSID entered here if you used your wireless connection somewhere else (home, office, another campus, etc.) It is also possible that some client adapters may require an SSID (which they may also call a Network Identifier or some similar term). If for some reason you need to have this set, the campus system is using an SSID of ufw. The Cisco client allows the entry of multiple SSID entries so you would then enter the SSIDs of the other systems you intend to access as well. Other brands of clients may organize these settings by profiles.
    The setting for WEP security should be turned off. If you have WEP enabled you will not be able to associate with the campus system as they are not configured to use WEP encryption.

  4. Open your client configuration utility and make sure your wireless adapter is turned on. If your adapter is turned off, the bottom of the client window will indicate this condition. If it is off, select the setting from the main menu that says 'Turn Radio On'.
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VII. How do I get help?

The UF Wireless Networking Homepage and the UF Computing Help Desk offer assistance to UF students, faculty, or staff who need help accessing the campus wireless service. The UF Help Desk telephone number is 392-HELP (4357).

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Last Updated: 10-19-2001. For questions or comments, contact SODA Shoppe
Phone: (352) 392-SOFT Email: software@ufl.edu