Wired and Wireless Connections

Each residence hall room has a wired 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet hookup, and all rooms and common areas have wireless WiFi access for connection to the Internet. You also should bring a UL approved power strip with a built-in circuit breaker to use with the computer equipment.

If both roommates would like to connect to the Internet, they must purchase a switch to allow them to connect two (or more) computers at once using the Ethernet connection in your residence hall room. Cisco, Linksys, D-Link, and Netgear switches are compatible with Ball State University's wired network.

The Ball State Technology Store sells Residence Hall Network Packs to students at a discount. You may also purchase Ethernet cards, WiFi cards, and switches from computer stores or on the Internet. We encourage students and families to purchase and install Ethernet or WiFi cards before coming to Ball State in the fall.

Do not purchase a router in place of the switch. Some retailers may try to sell you a router as a substitute. Routers are not compatible with the Ball State network and are not permitted. Routers may cause other students in your hall to have problems accessing the Internet. 

Wireless Internet Access in Your Room

To access the wireless network, a computer needs WiFi access (most computers today have built-in WiFi) that is 802.11g or 802.11n compatible. Additionally, all devices must be able to use WPA2 or WPA2-Enterprise security to access the BSUsecure network.  For further information on wireless requirements and how to connect, click the wireless link.

For assistance with connecting to the wired or wireless network, contact HRL Tech Support at 765-285-5880 or e-mail hrltech@bsu.edu.