Students must contact the helpdesk to make an appointment
(Phone: 757-823-8678) for WiFi configuration for their laptops.
What is SpartanLink?
SpartanLink is a network created for student access.
It will allow access to the Internet for web
browsing. It consists of two parts, traditional
wired connections and wireless connections.
SpartanLink / WiFi is the wireless portion. It
allows students to use a laptop with a wireless
Ethernet card to connect to the Internet.
What is a wireless network?
Wireless networking allows you to use a wireless LAN
PC Card in your laptop to access the NSU Student
Network and the Internet without physically
connecting to an Ethernet jack.
Wireless networking is the use of radio frequency
signals to connect portable workstations - such as
laptops or PDAs - to an Ethernet LAN. The concept is
very similar to the way that a cordless phone works.
Where is this access provided?
Currently it is provided in the first floor common
area of selected residence halls. While it may be
reachable in the dorm rooms or outside the dorm, it
is only supported for use in the common area.
What's the range of the signal?
The 802.11b standard wireless networking has a range
of about 300 meters in a large open space, such as
an auditorium, and about 100 meters in a typical
indoor office environment. Transmission speeds
decrease as the number of users increase and also as
the distance between the laptop and the access point
increases.
How fast is the network?
The speed of the wireless network is 11 MB. As the
number of users increases though the speed will be
reduced proportional to the number of users that are
utilizing the wireless network at any given time.
Where can I use the wireless network?
Currently only common areas in selected residence
halls have access to SpartanLink. Soon all residence
halls will be so equipped. There are plans to also
install wireless access in the Library second floor
and Spartan Center common area. Wireless access to
individual residence rooms in the residence halls is
planned but a date has not yet been set.
Will Outlook / Outlook Express work with the
wireless network?
No. You will not be able send or receive email via
Outlook / Outlook Express. You can access your NSU
email through your Web Browser
Will my PDA work with SpartanLink / WiFi?
Only for web browsing. You PDA will not work for
sending and receiving email.
Can I use the wireless card with my home wireless
network or lab wireless network?
You will be able to set up several configurations to
use other networks if you would like. Whether or not
is will work depends on the requirements of the
individual network and the type of security on them.
What does the firewall block or not block?
Traffic from your PC to the campus network and to
the Internet is filtered by a firewall. Only HTTP
and HTTPS is permitted. Traffic originating from the
Internet to your PC is blocked at the firewall. This
is done to prevent attacks or reduce the likelihood
that campus systems or the campus network will be
compromised. Realize that once your PC has been
successfully compromised, the attacker can then
launch attacks from within the firewall.
If I set up a web server in my dorm room can my
friends and family who live off campus view my web pages?
No. Individuals located on the Internet are blocked
from accessing your computer.
WiFi website 