Wireless Troubleshooting
- Check that the wireless card is enabled
- Check the signal strength
- Check your IP address
- Check your proxy setting
Check that the wireless card is enabled
Many new laptops come with a button you need to press to enable your wireless card. When it is enabled there is usually a blue light.
Everytime you turn your laptop on, you may need to press the button. This is usually to save power, and let your laptop work longer on battery.
Check the signal strength
To connect, you need to be in reasonable proximity to a University wireless network access point.
Wireless signal strength can vary up and down over time and from spot to spot. If possible move to where you are getting a strong signal.
Paradoxically, immediately under an access point is usually not the best spot.
Check your IP address
If you are able to check what IP address you have been assigned, it should be of the format 172.16.x.x or 172.19.x.x. If you don't get such an address, you have not connected successfully.
If you have used VPN with login!10 then you should have a 10.x.x.x IP address, this will allow you to connect to programs that require a "real" IP address such as an external mail server, or MSN Messenger.
If you can see the access point but do not get a valid IP address you can try disabling your wireless "card", and then disabling the wireless network connection on your computer and then re-enabling them in the same order
Check your proxy settings
If you have been assigned a 172.16.x.x or 172.19.x.x address then you have successfully established a Basic Wireless Connection.
To use the basic wireless connection with a web browser do not use a proxy. Accessing http://www.usyd.edu.au should then take you to the wireless network home page.
If you are using VPN then you will need to have your proxy settings configured (unless you are using the off campus vpn profile, which you should not be using when connected to our wireless network).