What is SpartanLink? SpartanLink is a campus 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 rooms or outside the building, it is only supported for use in the common area. This component of SpartanLink is what some schools refer to as Residence Network (ResNet).

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 802.11b wireless network is 11 MB shared. As the number of users on a given Access Point increases the available bandwidth (aka speed) will be reduced proportionally during that connection period. Many Access Points also support 802.11g which supports speed up to 54 Mbps.

Where can I use the wireless network?

Currently only common areas in selected residence halls have access to SpartanLink-WiFi. Soon all residence halls will be 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 to 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?

PDA’s are not currently supported on SpartanLink-WiFi.

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 it 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 if your PC is 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 family who live off campus view my web pages?

No. Individuals located on the Internet are blocked from accessing your computer.