Do you like the convenience of carrying your laptop with you so you can fire it up and check your e-mail between meetings? Are you sometimes unsure of where to go to use the university’s wireless network? OIT is now making it easier for all members of the university community to find wireless access areas all around the campus. New signs designating wireless hotspots and buildings with full wireless coverage are being posted in all indoor areas where wireless computing is available through the use of personal laptops or other portable computing devices.

OIT uses the industry’s Wi-Fi 802.11 wireless networking standards allowing you to connect to the Internet and university computing resources in many buildings and public areas around the campus. About 83 campus buildings have wireless coverage, 13 of which are fully or substantially covered. Currently, approximately 30% of the campus has wireless coverage, and in the spring semester, this will be expanded to include all academic buildings.

The wireless service uses radio frequency signals to connect to university computing networks, allowing you to access the network while moving around, even outdoors in particular locations. You can stay connected to the network while roaming within the coverage zones or while relaxing on McKeldin Mall. The university’s wireless network offers all of the computing services that the wired network does, from an ever-increasing number of locations across the campus. Once your portable computer is equipped with a wireless card and you have logged in using your Directory ID and password, the wireless system will be completely accessible without the constraints of a network cable and jack. Network computing on campus isn’t restricted to the office or computer lab, so grab your laptop and get moving!

Look for our new wireless signs in buildings throughout the campus and check our coverage map at www.oit.umd.edu/nts/noc/coverage.html to see where wireless access is currently offered. For more specific information and instructions to get you started with wireless computing, visit the Mobile at Maryland Web page at www.oit.umd.edu/mam.