My school doesn't allow wireless in the dorms

[milani]

I guess you haven't read the thread.

They don't physically inspect your dorm.. They run a detection scan through the network... it WILL find any type of wireless device.

They'll disconnect the Internet in the OP's room... then what will they do? Sound advice there...

And btw, the campus is wireless everywhere but the dorms. I'd rather have a dedicated, secure connection through the network in my room than have a potentially unsecure, slow connection through wireless. Can you get 80 Mbps on your wireless?

Someone's in a pissy mood. I quickly read it over and someone said dorm searches. Sorry I didn't bother to read more closely. Here's my revised advice: if you're dorm is so idiotic as to charge a separate subscription fee on top of the fee you already pay as a student to have internet access in the rest of the school, then you should go to a different university.

My university gives each room a VOIP phone (connected to a secure server), which they can use to plug in devices including routers or other APs. Alternately, you can connect to the wireless network that runs throughout the school. I can't quote the Mbps, but I'll let you know what it is when I get my MacBook later this month. It's lightning fast for my iPhone, and they don't cap bandwidth either. Maybe my school is just amazing - alternately, maybe the school the OP goes to just sucks. You're call. I don't really care.

Edit: and they don't block ports or Bittorrent either.

 

[Detektiv-Pinky]

Why not just get a router, and not broadcast the SSID? Are they actually coming into dorms and physically searching for wireless routers?

This does not work.
Any decent WIFI finding equipment will pick up the transmitted data, regardless if you have 'pseudo'-secured it by hiding your SSID...

You can power down the wireless on some of access points (mine goes as low as 6%), however you also have to do it on your computer and it might still be detectable from the outside of your room with dedicated gear (e.g. high-gain directional antennas).

An alternative could be a Bluetooth-Access Router, if you can live with the low data rate of Bluetooth: http://www.usbgear.com/USBG-BLUE-RR.html

 

[Davidkoh]

aint that hard to setup networks they wont notice. One way would be to take än old comp and set a AD-hoc network. Just test the range, shouldnt be far.

 

[illegallydead]

CU is the same way. The campus is wireless, and the dorms were mostly wireless (except where I lived).

ABSOLUTELY DO NOT put in your own router. As many have said, you WILL GET BUSTED. The dorms are like prison; one way or another, you just have to live with it until you get out.

To all those who reply without reading: Knowing the SSID would get them no father than if you didn't broadcast it. They do know, however, exactly what hardwired connection that signal is coming from, and will simply de-activate the connection there.

Hopefully your school IT guys aren't nazi's and block bit-torrent, but don't count on them to let you... They will usually let you use it until you start hogging lots of bandwidth.

So.... Just live with the USB adapter (not meaning to hate, but that is what you get for getting an Air . Honestly, I shed the difference in weight between the air and my MB when I take a piss ...) Moving along, just get the USB. And petition to get wireless ASAP. But they will never let everyone have their own, because the interference would be ghastly, not to mention they would miss out on that $80 fee

 

[illegallydead]

aint that hard to setup networks they wont notice. One way would be to take än old comp and set a AD-hoc network. Just test the range, shouldnt be far.

I forget if that worked from last year... but, you may be on to something. Still, wouldn't test the system. They win, period (VERY unfortunately, especially when you are FORCED to live there)

 

[Chaos123x]

The other thing you might want to do is get a empty paper towel roll and put a few dryer sheets in it, if you blow pot smoke through it everything will smell like Downey Freshness.

Other than that stock up on Ramen noodles and enjoy dorm life.

 

[Davidkoh]

I forget if that worked from last year... but, you may be on to something. Still, wouldn't test the system. They win, period (VERY unfortunately, especially when you are FORCED to live there)

I don't let people win! You could prolly block them from scanning with stuff like tin foil on the wall. Ad-hoc + foil should work. If you care about getting deactivated, don't try it. I got an iPhone so I can always tether

 

[sfroom]

I find it absolutely absurd that they would do wireless broadcast sweeps of the dorms. If they do, get involved with student politics and demand that your tuition be used for ANYTHING other than employing somebody to walk through dorms looking for illicit WiFi!

I expect that this ISN'T how they detect illicit wifi in any event...they probably scan the network for unusual IP addresses (although I'm no networking expert).

However, when I was in residence at university, every double room had a linksys ethernet switch or wired router to split the connection to two desks.

While not completely undetectable, my best advice would be to find out what kind of switch your dorms use, buy a cheap router from the same brand, give it the same IP address as the switch it's replacing, and disable SSID broadcast.

If they still catch you and give you hell, claim ignorance and discontinue use of the router.

This really sounds like an antiquated policy though.

 

[DeuxIt]

computer to computer

get a crappy old laptop and build a computer to computer network. they won't see anything illicit. there will only be a junky laptop sitting on the desk.

 

[fishniw]

The other thing you might want to do is get a empty paper towel roll and put a few dryer sheets in it, if you blow pot smoke through it everything will smell like Downey Freshness.

Other than that stock up on Ramen noodles and enjoy dorm life.

ha, thanks for the advice

I don't let people win! You could prolly block them from scanning with stuff like tin foil on the wall. Ad-hoc + foil should work. If you care about getting deactivated, don't try it. I got an iPhone so I can always tether

how do you go about setting up a Ad-hoc network? This is the first I've ever heard of such a thing

I expect that this ISN'T how they detect illicit wifi in any event...they probably scan the network for unusual IP addresses (although I'm no networking expert).

Yeah, I think you're right. Although they might do both but from what I understand routers have distinct IP's.

 

[cristo]

If they still catch you and give you hell, claim ignorance and discontinue use of the router.

When you rent a property, you agree to abide by the rules of the letting agent which, in this case, is the university. Whether you claim ignorance or not, you are deemed to have read and agreed to the rules when you sign a contract, or when you move into the property. Breaking the rules can, legally, result in eviction, whether you claim you have read them or not.

Of course, the solution would have been to read the rules before moving into the property!

 

[kobefan234]

create a closed network

but its a pain to enter the network name and password every time if you have one

 

[chrmjenkins]

If they check using antennas, you could line your room with tin foil to block the signals, and if they ask, tell them you're afraid of the aliens listening to your mind. That is, unless they can kick you out for being crazy. However, if they are checking the physical connection, I don't know if there is a way to hide the router

 

[fishniw]

If they check using antennas, you could line your room with tin foil to block the signals, and if they ask, tell them you're afraid of the aliens listening to your mind. That is, unless they can kick you out for being crazy. However, if they are checking the physical connection, I don't know if there is a way to hide the router

So tin foil will do the trick huh? I'm willing to give it a shot. But of course that won't matter if they're detecting the router based on its IP

 

[decksnap]

The other thing you might want to do is get a empty paper towel roll and put a few dryer sheets in it, if you blow pot smoke through it everything will smell like Downey Freshness.

Other than that stock up on Ramen noodles and enjoy dorm life.

memories....

also, opening your window doesn't make it smell less, it creates a vacuum that sucks the smell out into the hallway. Just so you know.

 

[duffyanneal]

I would at least try a router until caught. You can place the router nearest the outside wall (if you have one) and crank down the power to the lowest setting. You might even cover it with a aluminum lined box to cut down on the effective range. Adjusted right you can have a wireless network that doesn't extend beyond your room.

 

[cerhard]

IMO just plug your MB in and spend your free time hanging out with friends and having fun. Do you really need another reason to stay in your room and not socialize? Before you know it you will not be in the dorms anymore. So enjoy it while you can and meet as many people as you can because once your out you will never have an experience like it again.

Or you could move out of the dorms and do whatever you want.

 

[fishniw]

I would at least try a router until caught. You can place the router nearest the outside wall (if you have one) and crank down the power to the lowest setting. You might even cover it with a aluminum lined box to cut down on the effective range. Adjusted right you can have a wireless network that doesn't extend beyond your room.

That's what I think I am going to do. You only get a warning the first time so it's worth a shot. This is the type of router i was thinking about using.

Or you could move out of the dorms and do whatever you want.

You can't live off campus till junior year at my school but thats not a huge deal.

 

[Animalk]

Same thing happened in my dorm, kids we're running a ton of wireless networks anyways. You can always just not broadcast the ssid.

Exactly. Do a quick setup of your network with your wireless devices, make sure that they remember their networks and then go into the wireless router's setup and turn off SSID broadcasting. This will prevent your wireless network from showing up on anyone else's computer when they are looking for wireless networks.

You just need to find a clever way of hiding your wireless router really.

 

[duffyanneal]

Exactly. Do a quick setup of your network with your wireless devices, make sure that they remember their networks and then go into the wireless router's setup and turn off SSID broadcasting. This will prevent your wireless network from showing up on anyone else's computer when they are looking for wireless networks.

You just need to find a clever way of hiding your wireless router really.

The problem as others have mentioned is that even though the SSID is not broadcast you can still see the network. The only way to hide it is to reduce it's transmission power so it doesn't extend very far.

 

[fishniw]

The problem as others have mentioned is that even though the SSID is not broadcast you can still see the network. The only way to hide it is to reduce it's transmission power so it doesn't extend very far.

Yeah even though it probably won't help, I'll probably still turn off the SSID.

 

[cpjrmd]

ill be going to mizzou next year and they have the same policy, which really sucks since i wanted to be wireless in my room with 802.11n. if you think of a good argument let me know haha.

I'm at Mizzou now. When you log into ROAR in the spring to pick your room, get one as close as possible to a lounge or study, both of which will have the University's wireless network accessible. I'm not now but I still manage to get wireless from a network someone created themselves (I guess they haven't gotten caught yet...).

 

[fishniw]

Does anyone know a way to change the IP address of a router? More specifically a Linksys.

 

[mcruzader]

All you need to do is not broadcast the SSID but do name it as another dorm number just in case and then hide the router behind the desk or some books.

 

[fishniw]

All you need to do is not broadcast the SSID but do name it as another dorm number just in case and then hide the router behind the desk or some books.

I don't think you're referring to changing the IP address but rather the broadcasted name