Valparaiso University offers wireless connectivity to Valpo and personal laptops and mobile devices on campus. Wireless services are available for current students, staff, and faculty with an active ValpoNet account. Guest wireless services are available for non-affiliated individuals.

Wireless access to campus resources is available in all buildings on campus. Wireless is available in some outside areas near the Christopher Center and Chapel, and near the softball field.

Connecting to the Network via Wireless Services

Full wireless services are reserved for current students, staff, and faculty with an active ValpoNet account. Wireless access is available for Windows, Macintosh, and Linux computers. Mobile devices with any OS (iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Palm) may connect to the wireless network.

Establishing your connection to the network via wireless services is a three step process:

1. Having the correct system requirements necessary to obtain a wireless signal
2. Setting up your wireless device to find the wireless network
3. Authenticating to the wireless network

Wireless Requirements

• 802.11 b/g/n WIFI Network Card

Any 802.11b/g/n wireless network card should work without any problems. Newer wireless network cards should be "backwards compatible" with 802.11b/g networks (check the network card documentation). Our testing has shown that significant quality differences exist with some wireless network cards which may impact signal quality and signal range.

Initial setup

• Wireless Network Card
  Your wireless network card must be properly installed and configured for DHCP.

• SSID
  The SSID for faculty, staff & student use is: valpo.
  The SSID for guest use is: valpoguest.

Most computers should automatically detect the SSID and offer to use it. Information on how to set the SSID should be included with your wireless card. Since this can vary widely from wireless card to wireless card you will have to contact the manufacturer for assistance if you cannot find this information.

Authentication

After you have successfully located the Valpo wireless signal, open a web browser - you will be automatically redirected to the network login page. Use your ValpoNet account to log into this site. If you do not yet have SafeConnect installed on your computer, you will be prompted to download and install the policy key. Follow the directions of the installation wizard and then reboot your computer, reconnect to the network, and relaunch your browser.  Mobile devices cannot install the policy key at this time.

If you already have SafeConnect installed, you simply need to connect to the Valpo network before attempting to access web pages.

Laptops should have all current critical Windows updates, installed anti-virus software, and updated anti-virus definitions.

For more information about SafeConnect see this page.

VPN Use

At the present time, VPN connectivity is not supported on the Valpo wireless network. VPN connectivity is available for off-campus usage only.