WIRELESS COMPUTING ON THE SMITH CAMPUS
Smith College provides wireless access points in most locations across campus, including
the Libraries, the Science Center, the Campus Center, and most other academic and administrative buildings. Wireless service
is also available in most rooms in Smith residence
houses. Our goal is to provide wireless access coverage wherever it is needed across campus.
STUDENTS: Please note that the ITS wireless
network policy prohibits the use of personal access points on the Smith network,
so you may not install a wireless access point in your room. Violations of
this policy may result in loss of your network privileges.
All users: Note that printing is not available via a wireless connection.
Wireless connection options
Connection requirements
Accessing a Smith wireless network
Wireless Connection Options
ITS provides three ways to connect to the Smith wireless network via the following three wireless network names (also called Service Set Identifiers or SSIDs):
| SmithSecure | Secure (encrypted) network connection; recommended for use by all Smith students, staff, and faculty |
| WiSmi |
Open (unencrypted) network connection available to all Smith community members; not recommended for normal use except while resolving connection problems with SmithSecure |
| SmithGuest |
Limited access open network connection available to guests of the Smith community for temporary use; offers limited bandwidth and NO access to Smith resources except Smith's primary web servers Smith students, faculty, and staff should not use SmithGuest except for short term Internet access while resolving connection problems with SmithSecure or WiSmi. |
Important notes:
- Security: It is important to connect only to Smith network SSIDs. Otherwise, your computer, your information, and all your communications are vulnerable to possible exposure and exploitation.
- SmiFi: In a few locations on campus, you may still see the legacy SmiFi SSID name listed as an available network. If SmiFi is the only Smith network available or has the strongest signal, you may still connect to it. Note that like WiSmi, SmiFi is an open (unencrypted) network connection.
Connection Requirements
To connect to Smith's wireless network, you must have a computer or device capable of connecting to a standard (802.11 b/g/n) wireless network.
To connect to the SmithSecure, WiSmi, or SmiFi networks, you will also need a valid username and password, as follows:
- Smith students, faculty, and staff: Use your Smith network username and password.
- Non-Smith students, faculty, and staff who have an active Smith Moodle account: Use your Smith Moodle username and password.
- Five College students, faculty, and staff who do NOT have an active Smith Moodle account: Use your home institution email address and password to access Smith's wireless network, with the following two exceptions:
UMass students: Use your UMass Net ID: username@umass.edu
Hampshire students: Use your real Hampshire email address, not an alias.
For complete access instructions, see Accessing the Wireless Network below.
Limited-access Smith network accounts may also be requested by Northampton High School students and auditors enrolled in a class at Smith, and by non-Smith faculty and staff involved in teaching or research at Smith.
- Northampton High School students and auditors: Bring a letter or other documentation that
confirms your enrollment in a Smith course to the User Support Center in Stoddard 23. You may complete the non-Smith account
application form in advance or at the USC.
- Non-Smith faculty and staff: Complete the non-Smith account
application form, including the required sponsor signature, and bring
it plus your college or university ID card to the User Support Center
in Stoddard 23.
Accessing the Wireless Network
When you connect any wireless device to the Smith wireless network, in most locations you will see the three wireless networks listed below.
If you are connecting a wireless computer or other mobile device to the network for the first time, you will be prompted to register that device on the Smith network. Instructions for completing the network registration process are included below.
| Network | Connection Instructions |
SmithSecure |
To connect to SmithSecure, you must first enter the password sophiasmith (one word, all lower case). |
| WiSmi |
Open a browser window. If the Network Registration page appears: - Enter your Smith username (or Five College email address) and password. |
| SmithGuest |
Open a browser window. If the Network Registration page appears: - Enter your preferred email address. |
For more specific details on connecting, follow the steps below for your computer's operating system:
Windows XP
- Right-click
on the Wireless Network Connection icon in the lower right corner of your
screen.
- From the pop-up menu, select View Available
Wireless Networks.
- In the Wireless Network Connection window, select either WiSmi or SmiFi for your network (SSID) connection. (Your location on campus determines which network is available.)
Note: To change locations, you may need to check the checkbox beside "Allow me to connect to the selected wireless network even though it is not secure."
- Proceed to All users, below.
Windows 7
- Go to Start/ Control Panel / Network and Sharing Center.
- Click on Connect to a network.
- When a menu of available networks pops up from your tool tray, select either WiSmi or SmiFi. (Your location on campus determines which network is available.)
- Proceed to All users, below.
Mac OS
- Click on the AirPort icon
in your menu bar.
- Make sure AirPort is turned On.
- If the
AirPort does not automatically connect, select eitherWiSmi or SmiFi from the list. (Your location on campus determines which network is available.)
- Proceed to All users, below.
All users: Open a browser window. If you have already completed the network registration process for your device, your browser home page should open as usual. Otherwise:
- When the Network Registration page appears,
enter your Smith network username (or Five College email address) and password.
- Read the Acceptable Network Usage policy, then click the I Accept button.
- On the next page, follow the instructions to complete the registration process.
Note that you will be required to repeat the network registration process for each new wireless device you connect to the Smith network.














