Wireless vs. Wired Connection (WiFi or Ethernet Cable)

You can check the signal power of your wireless network antenna by locating the power indicator. If the connection is insufficient, consider switching to a wired connection using an ethernet cable if you need to do network- or Internet-intensive activity.

For Windows, the power indicator is in the bottom-right corner of your screen (shown below)

For Mac, the power indicator is on the top-right corner of your screen (shown below)

• If you see 4 bars, you have an excellent connection.
• If you see 2 bars, your connection is moderate to poor.
• If you see no bars, you either have a poor connection or you are disconnected from the wireless network.

An ethernet cable connects your computer directly to OC's network. You can plug one end of the cable into your computer and the other end into the wall in your dorm room, in your apartment, or at any desktop computer around campus.

To use an ethernet cable, plug one end into the ethernet jack on either the wall or your access point, and plug the other end into your computer. If the cable does not appear to plug into your computer, you may need an adapter.

You can use ports E1, E2, and E3 on the new Wireless Access Points (shown above).

If your room does not have a new access point, it will have wall jacks (shown above). Most rooms should have the working ethernet jacks labeled with a yellow jack. If you do not have yellow jacks, use the tan ones.

You can locate your access point in one of the following places:

• Gunn East and West: Above the desk (access point will be on its side)
• Tinius West: Above the desk (access point will be on its side)
• Tinius East: On the wall near the floor (access point jacks will face the floor)
• U-House: On the wall near the floor (access point jacks will face the floor)
• Fails Hall: On the wall near the floor (access point jacks will face the floor)
• Warlick: On the wall near the floor (access point jacks will face the floor)
• Wilson: On the wall near the floor (access point jacks will face the floor)
• Phase 6: On the wall near the floor (access point jacks will face the floor)
• Phase 5: On the wall near the floor (access point jacks will face the floor)
• Phase 4: In the breaker panel - jacks should be visible on the walls near outlets.
• Phase 3: In the breaker panel - jacks should be visible on the walls near outlets.

The computer will continue using the first method of network access (wired or wireless) as when it started up, so it is possible that you still might be on the wireless connection even though you plugged it into the wall. You may need to disable your wireless for the wired connection to work.

For Windows:

1. Click on the network icon at the bottom-right corner of your screen to reveal a drop-down menu.
2. From the menu, select Network and Sharing Center
3. On the left panel, click Manage network connections
4. You should see all your network connections there. Find the one that says wireless and right-click it too reveal a drop-down menu.
5. From the drop-down menu, select Disable

For Mac:

1. Click on the AirPort icon at the top-right corner of your screen to reveal a drop-down menu.
2. From the drop-down menu, select Turn AirPort off. This might interrupt your network connection temporarily, but it will ensure that you're on the wired network. When you are finished with your intensive activity, right-click on the meter, and click on Enable Radio. This will get you back to normal! It is very important that you turn the radio back on, because when you unplug from the wall, you will have no wireless connection!