Be A Good Wi-Fi Citizen

What does it mean to be a good Wi-Fi Citizen at UT Austin?

It may not be obvious, but what you do when you’re in your office, classroom, or walking around campus can affect Wi-Fi performance for those around you. Setting up your own wireless hotspot or router will create connectivity issues for those around you — cooperation and good etiquette is necessary for everyone to get their desired connection.

Choose Your Connection Wisely

• Use utexas

The utexas SSID is the UT's recommended, fastest and most secure wireless network. The utguest SSID is an unencrypted, limited network for visitors without university credentials. The eduroam SSID can be used by visitors from other participating institutions.

Stop Sending Mixed Signals

Because Wi-Fi networks use a range of radio frequencies that are unregulated and available for public use, many electronic devices and appliances exist which may cause interference and degrade the performance of the Wi-Fi network.

• Refrain from using personal Wi-Fi routers or hotspots

Personal Wi-Fi (wireless) routers (or rogue access points) significantly and negatively impact the UT’s campus Wi-Fi environment. They cause the campus Wi-Fi environment to deteriorate and, in some cases, can make Wi-Fi unusable by all.

• Avoid using wireless printers in wireless mode
  • Please do not use your printer in wireless mode. Most wireless printers can also be used with a wired connection to your computer. That’s OK. But wireless operation leads to interference.
    
    
• Unexpected Wi-Fi interferences

Wi-Fi signals, including utexas, can be negatively affected by a surprising number of regular things. Microwave ovens, cordless phones, wireless audio speakers, wireless clocks, projectors, cameras, Bluetooth devices, and gaming console controllers use the same spectrum as the campus Wi-Fi network and can cause the network signal to deteriorate.

• Need Help?

Have a question or need help troubleshooting an issue? Call the UT Help Desk at (512) 475-9400 or visit https://its.utexas.edu/contact