Computing at UW-MadisonDivision of Information Technology
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Wireless

For Departments

Campus departments can work with DoIT to set up wireless areas in their buildings. Coordinating the location and configuration of these sites reduces overlap and ensures the site's compatibility with the campus network. For information on setting up a wireless area on the UW-Madison campus, call 263-6307 or send an email.

The policies below govern the use of wireless ethernet at UW-Madison and the use of the wireless network.

Background

Wireless access to the Internet enables a computer to attach to the network using high-frequency radio waves instead of through a physical connection with a modem or network cable. Wireless access offers a great degree of convenience and mobility to computer users. Wireless ethernet enables users to connect to a network via a wireless client card in their PC or Macintosh and a wireless access point connected to a wired network.

The emerging 802.11b Wireless ethernet standard provides small regions of ethernet access — typically measured in hundreds of feet. The standard provides 11 frequency ranges. Each wireless access point operates in a single frequency.