Internet in Dorm Rooms

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Alabama
1

<p>I read somewhere on the housing site that there are ethernet plugs in each room and that wifi is available in all common areas. But for some reason I thought there was also wifi in the individual rooms in the honors dorms. Is that correct? And if so, is it pretty fast and reliable? How is the wifi coverage on the rest of the campus?</p>

<p>I’m trying to decide on a printer for D, and I’m debating whether to get a wireless one, or an e-print/airprint one so she can print from an ipad. Recommendations welcome.</p>

2

<p>Yes, there is wifi campus wide including the individual dorm rooms. I wouldn’t recommend using the wifi for D’s printer. The printer my D had was wifi, but we didn’t connect it. The wifi connection is reliable for the most part, but do bring an extra long ethernet cord. When everyone connects devices such as printers and gaming consoles it seems to slow the speed and sometimes makes it difficult to get an internet connection in the dorms.</p>

<p>It is also a good idea to have a short ethernet cord for using in the library although there is also wifi in the libraries.</p>

3

<p>There is wifi everywhere. Bama uses ResNet which many/most universities use.</p>

<p>However, there are times when there are soooo many kids on the system that kids find that they can get a better connection in their dorms if they use a ethernet cable. My kids rarely had to do this, but they had a cord for the rare times that was necessary.</p>

4

<p>buy a 25 foot ethernet cable as a dorm necessity. that way, no matter how you redo the furniture in relation to the ethernet plug, you will always be able to use the cord when the wifi is slow. For the brave, id also recommend a small 4 port ethernet switch to “split” your ethernet from the wall port into 4 plugs … this is especially helpful for those with game consoles, smart tvs, etc. and still being able to have the cord for plugging into the laptop.</p>

5

<p>Do you get a better result by bringing a little wifi router to connect to the ethernet? Perhaps evan an airport express?</p>

6

<p>I’m pretty sure routers are prohibited.</p>

<p>Here is the use agreement that prohibits routers:</p>

<p><a href=“http://oit.ua.edu/oit/services/it-service-desk/resnet/acceptable-use-agreement/[/url]”>http://oit.ua.edu/oit/services/it-service-desk/resnet/acceptable-use-agreement/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Here is a link regarding NOT using routers. I’m sure I’ve read others.</p>

<p><a href=“http://oit.ua.edu/oit/services/it-service-desk/resnet/[/url]”>http://oit.ua.edu/oit/services/it-service-desk/resnet/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

7

<p>what router? <wink> … just sayin …</wink></p>

8

<p>to be clear, a “switch” to split the “wired” connection is different than a wifi router.</p>

9

<p>Does it matter which switch you get? Would your basic $20 Netgear desktop switch do the trick? What kind of bravery is involved?</p>

10

<p>^^^ Yes, but you didn’t hear it from me! :-)</p>