Computing

Wireless in William H. Gates Hall

William H. Gates Hall has full wireless coverage and power available for every seat in each classroom to facilitate the use of laptops and other portable technology. The building is equipped with 802.11a and 802.11g (802.11b compatible) wireless access points. For general information about wireless networks throughout the UW, please see http://www.washington.edu/itconnect/connecting/wireless/.

If you currently have a laptop with a wireless card, check its documentation to see if it supports at least one of the two standards mentioned above.

If you are purchasing a new laptop or need to purchase a wireless card now, purchase a dual band card that will support 802.11a and 802.11b. The 802.11a standard is significantly faster than 802.11b, but it has only has about half the range in most situations. Also, 802.11b is much more widely used than 802.11a. Buying a dual-band card ensures that you can have the highest transfer rates possible in Gates Hall, and ensure compatibility with wireless systems elsewhere.

Wireless Connection Security

The wireless network has a security feature that causes a UW NetID logon screen to appear whenever you try to leave the UW .washington domain with your browser. Enter your UW NetID and password to access other sites. The SSID is 'University of Washington'. Guest UW NetIDs are available from the Circulation desk in the Law Library on L1 if you become a registered patron.

Viruses and the Wireless Network

Before using a Windows laptop on the wireless network in William H. Gates Hall, be sure to install all available security patches as well as update your antivirus software. If your laptop is infected with a virus or malware which negatively impacts the UW network, as a defensive measure, UW Technology will suspend your computer's ability to access the network.

If you suspect that your computer's network connection has been suspended as the result of a virus/malware infection, please visit this site for help: http://www.washington.edu/computing/alerts/blocked.html. You can also visit Law School Computing Services during walk-in support hours (posted outside room 223), or contact UW Tech at help@u.washington.edu.