Wireless Networking

JHU-provided Wifi

CS does not provide wireless capability. We suggest connecting to JHU's hopkins wireless network if you would like to wirelessly connect to JHU. (We recommend you do not connect to JHU's "JHGuestnet" access point, since it limits your ability to connect to sites within JHU. So, use "hopkins" instead.)

If you have problems connecting to JHU's "hopkins" wireless system, you can either contact the JHU Helpdesk at 410-516-HELP or, you can send e-mail to wirelessteam@jhu.edu for further assistance. Be sure to tell them where on campus you are experiencing the problem. They might also require specific information about your computer, including its wireless interface's MAC address.

When You Absolutely Have To Run Your Own Wifi In Malone Hall

The following info was provided by Calvin Sproul, Network Manager, Wireless Technologies for Johns Hopkins Enterprise. We have paraphrased and reformatted it for our wiki:

First, what JHU Provides

Johns Hopkins has set up the enterprise wireless network, for staff faculty and student use, in the Homewood campus buildings. You should be able to accomplish normal functions such as printing, backups, sharing data, file shares, email, instant messaging, etc... from your wirelessly capable device.

JHU has built out office and classroom areas for the proper coverage and capacity within the buildings on campus. This includes Malone Hall.

If you have issues connecting to the Johns Hopkins Wireless network, you can contact the JHU Help Desk (410-516-HELP) to open a problem ticket. Also, you can contact the WirelessTeam@jhu.edu and they can determine whether you have a radio infrastructure issue or device configuration issue.

But, if you still need to run your own wifi in Malone Hall

The JHU Enterprise network meets common needs, but sometimes for the sake of innovation, department wifi routers may be justified for projects. If doing this, please follow these guidelines:

• Please turn off the 5Ghz radio on your router and use only the 2.4Ghz.

• Turn down the power to the radio to 5 mw (or as low as possible.) Turning up the power to the radio to get a more-than-reliable signal will only cause problems for others.

• Use only non-interfering channels 1,6,11 in the unlicensed ISM 2.4GHz bandwidth. Be aware that you are in a "shared environment" and please coexist with your neighbors.

• Do not use channels 2,3,4,5,7,8,9,or 10 in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. These channels overlap with the neighboring channels and cause enough co-channel interference to render neighboring channels unusable.

• Make sure you disable DNS and DHCP services and other enterprise services at the router.

• Do not use the SSID (network names) "hopkins" or "JHGuestnet". These are what JHU advertises for their wifi. You have the right to broadcast your radio in unlicensed frequency, but Johns Hopkins Enterprise IT has the right to defend its network and its SSIDs that they advertise.

Final Word

A user-run wifi router may be turned off at the switch port if identified as causing issues.

And again, if you are in doubt about setting up your own wifi, then please contact wirelessteam@jhu.edu