Tech Tip: Turning Off Wireless

Does your wifi connection seem slow? Are you having trouble connecting to E-town’s wireless network? Look around for unfamiliar wifi signals in your area. These signals may belong to a device that broadcasts its own wifi signal, which interferes with the campus wireless network and slows down the internet connection for everyone. These devices include:

• wireless printers actively broadcasting,
• cellphone or personal hot spots,
• network routers,
• Google Chromecast devices, and
• other devices that broadcast on channels 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g/n) and/or 5 GHz (802.11a/n/ac). These include, but are not limited to:
  • Amazon Echo,
  • PlayStation 4,
  • some wireless microphones,
  • Nest products, and
  • Google Home.

With the exception of routers and hot spots, all of these devices are allowed on campus. However, their wireless broadcast functions must be turned off. Review the instructions on turning off printer wireless and Chromecast wireless connections. Some devices, like Chromecast and PlayStation 4, require a short period of broadcasting on the network during setup. This is okay, but wireless must be turned off as soon as the device is configured.

Remember that if allowed to broadcast, these devices slow down the wifi signal for everyone. Thanks for helping us improve the quality of the E-town wireless network!