AirUWS Wireless LAN

University of Western Sydney
     

AirUWS Wireless LAN

Home  »  Campuses and Structure  »  Services and Facilities  »  Information Technology  »  AirUWS Wireless LAN

Connection problems? Special help sessions available.

Are you having trouble connecting to the UWS wireless network?  Would you like some help setting up??

Information Technology Services, in conjunction with Alphawest, will be providing help sessions at all campuses to assist students to connect their laptop computer to AirUWS, the UWS wireless network.

If you would like assistance with connecting to AirUWS, bring your Windows or Macintosh laptop to the following venues between the nominated times:

Campus
 Date
 Time
 Location
Bankstown 8 April 2010
 9 am to 12 pm
 Building 23, Ground Floor, Room 40
Blacktown
 9 April 2010
 2 pm to 5 pm
 Building U4, Ground Floor, Room 24
Campbelltown 8 April 2010 2 pm to 5 pm Building 9, Ground Floor, Open Foyer area
Hawkesbury 7 April 2010 9 am to 12 pm Building G6, Ground Floor, Room 11
Parramatta
 9 April 2010
 9 am to 12 pm Building EA, Ground Floor, Open Foyer area
Penrith
 7 April 2010
 2 pm to 5 pm Building K, First Floor, Open Foyer area
Please be aware that there are minimum computer requirements to connect to the AirUWS wireless network.

AirUWS Review

The UWS wireless network (AirUWS) was designed and installed in early 2007 with the specific objective of allowing students to connect to the UWS network from laptop/notebook computers of various makes and models. Now, three years on, the time has come to review the wireless network at UWS with a view to expanding its functionality, looking for ways to make the wireless network easier to use and more reliable.

IT Services has recently initiated a project to review and improve the wireless network at UWS. The project will be focussed on two key areas. Firstly, redesigning the network connection and authentication system to make connection easier and more reliable, and to allow connection to the network from a wider range of mobile devices. Secondly to improve the reliability and coverage of the network in a number of specific areas (mainly the student residences and libraries).

To help the project team develop a set of functional and technical requirements for the network in its new form, I am inviting feedback from the wider UWS community in relation to the wireless network. Of particular interest will be feedback from individuals or groups who have a particular need that AirUWS in its current form is not meeting. This might be a need to connect equipment other than laptops to the wireless network for some reason, or it could be a related to a particular network service/function that currently does not work over AirUWS. Note that while I am happy to receive feedback in relation to network coverage concerns, this particular project will not be attempting to significantly expand network coverage other than some limited improvements around the student residences and libraries.

Please forward any feedback, comments or questions relating to the UWS wireless network and/or this improvement initiative to me via email at P.Hardaker@uws.edu.au

Further announcements about this upgrade project will be made via E-Update and this page.

Paul Hardaker
Manager, IT Infrastructure Services
Information Technology Services

Wireless network available on all campuses

Student with laptopUWS students and staff now enjoy wireless email and internet access on all campuses. AirUWS users can use their MyUWSAccount to access the Internet from their wireless-enabled laptops in:

  • libraries
  • rec rooms
  • lecture theatres
  • most tutorial rooms
  • staff meeting rooms
  • many outdoor areas.

At the time of its rollout, AirUWS was one of the largest wireless projects ever undertaken in Australia, with around 450 access points becoming operational at the start of 2007.

AirUWS was made possible by generous funding of $2.1m from the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Science and Training. Implementation has allowed UWS students and staff to use more flexible methods of connection than traditional networks.

As AirUWS is fine tuned, this page will be updated. Please bookmark this page and check regularly for updates.

^ Back to top

What is wireless?

Wireless is simply another method available to staff and students to connect to the UWS network, and from there, the internet. As its name implies, you don’t need to plug a wire from the back of your device into a network port - freeing you from working in a fixed location. Of course, you’ll still need batteries to supply your power - or a long extension lead!

AirUWS allows students and staff to connect with UWS IT systems and the internet without needing to be physically connected to the network.

How does wireless work?

Wireless relies on radio transmissions to transmit and receive data. The following links may help you understand wireless network technology.

These sites should be used as a general guide only, and are not endorsed by UWS.

Using AirUWS

AirUWS uses access points to create wireless zones in key locations on each campus, ensuring coverage is available for areas that most need it.

When you’re within a UWS wireless zone, your laptop will detect that either AirUWS or AIRUWS is available. If both are available, connect to the one with the strongest signal. Open your web browser to login with your MyUWSAccount credentials.

For security reasons, your laptop is tested at login, to check you have up-to-date antivirus and critical operating system patches installed. If your laptop fails the test, you will either be refused access, or access will be restricted until you fix all detected problems.

What will I need to access AirUWS?

  • A private laptop meeting the minimum specifications below, or a standard UWS owned/leased laptop.
  • Administrative user rights on the laptop you are using (required to install the connection software). Most users of standard UWS owned/leased laptops will have sufficient rights. Contact the ITS Service Desk if you need administrative user rights for a UWS laptop.
  • An active MyUWSAccount.

PDAs, mobile phones and other wireless devices are currently unable to connect, due to issues with their Java implementations.

Where will I have access?

Please see the campus coverage maps linked from this page.

AirUWS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Getting help

What support is available?

Please ensure that you have followed the processes in the relevant fact sheet before requesting support.

Students

IT Support Officers, located at the general purpose computer labs on each campus, are the primary source of support for students connecting private laptops to AirUWS. Students may also contact the ITS Service Desk for phone based support.

Staff

The primary source of support for staff connecting to AirUWS is the ITS Service Desk.

ITS Service Desk

Fact Sheets

Fact sheets (pdf format) providing information on connecting to AirUWS with laptops running Windows XP, Windows Vista, and MacOS 10.4 are available on the AirUWS Support website. Basic support information, troubleshooting and tips are also available on the support site.

Fact sheets are also available from ITS' IT Support Officers and the Library.

AirUWS Support and Fact Sheets

^ Back to top

Minimum specifications required to use AirUWS

Operating systems

Windows:

  • Microsoft Windows XP (32 bit version)
  • Microsoft Windows Vista (32 bit version)
  • Windows 7 (32 bit version)
  • The most recent Windows service pack should be applied.

Versions of Windows older than XP will not work with AirUWS. 64 bit versions of Windows will not currently work as they fail TunnelGuard's antivirus acceptance testing.

ITS support staff are able to provide assistance for users of Windows XP and Windows Vista. Windows 7 (32 bit) should work with AirUWS provided you have the correct Java version (see below), however, as Windows 7 is not officially used at UWS, support staff may not be able to resolve connection problems.

MacOSX:

  • 10.4.x (Tiger)
  • 10.5.x (Leopard)
  • 10.6.x (Snow Leopard) or later.

Earlier versions of MacOS will not work with AirUWS. Macintosh users will receive best effort support.

LINUX:

  • LINUX users may be able to connect if they have a recent version of Java and Firefox.
  • Redhat and Fedora Core have been certified by Nortel to work with Nortel systems (such as AirUWS) but have not been tested on AirUWS.

No support or fact sheets are available for LINUX users.

Antivirus

All Windows based PCs are tested for an accepted antivirus program at login.

If your antivirus fails acceptance tests and you are unable to login, a suggested workaround is to temporarily disable or uninstall your antivirus and install one of the free versions listed below.

  • AVG (opens in a new window) Free Antivirus (free for personal use)
  • avast! Home (opens in a new window) Antivirus (free for personal use)

Antivirus software is strongly recommended for other platforms. Most major antivirus products will work with AirUWS. 

Additional antivirus products may be accepted if there is sufficient demand. Please contact the ITS Service Desk if you use current antivirus software and you are prevented from logging in.

Web browser

Most web browsers should work. Apple Safari (PC version) has been known not to work due to Java issues.

  • Windows XP - Internet Explorer 6 or later
  • Windows Vista - Internet Explorer 7 or 8
  • Windows 7 - Internet Explorer 8
  • MacOS 10.4 and 10.5 - Safari 2.0.4 or later
  • MacOs 10.6 - Safari 4

Browser settings

  • Autodetect proxy settings (except MacOSX). All other fields must be left blank. Any other proxy option will prevent the connection software from working.
  • MacOSX (all versions) users should configure their proxy to use a PAC file with the URL: http://proxy.uws.edu.au/proxy.pac.
  • Disable (untick) reuse windows for launching shortcuts.
  • Enable (tick) HTTP1.1 through proxy connections (Internet Explorer 6 only).
  • Pop-ups and cookies must be allowed for UWS (Internet Explorer's default settings should work).

Java

  • XP - 1.5.0.06 or later.
  • Vista - 1.6.0.07 or later.
  • Windows 7 - Version 6, update 14 or later.
  • MacOSX - The version provided with MacOS 10.4 or later.
  • Linux - the most recent version.

Download the most recent version of Java (opens in a new window) for your operating system. Please note that there is a known issue with Version 6 update 18 of Java for Windows. More information about this problem is on the AirUWS support page.

Network TCP/IP settings

  • Must be set to obtain an IP address automatically (this is normally the default setting).

Network Hardware

  • Your wireless hardware must be compatible with the 802.11g or 802.11a wireless standards. The 802.11n standard is not currently supported by AirUWS.

Keyboard layout

  • You may need to set your computer to use the US keyboard layout (normally the default setting).

Additional information

What’s the benefit to me?

The major benefit to students and staff is network and internet access 'anywhere'. Provided you’re in a wireless zone, you can log in with your wireless laptop and access the network on any campus, without battling red tape. You can access the network in many areas that don’t have a traditional network installed, such as campus cafés, the Library, and lecture theatres. You can take advantage of good weather and work outside, or connect while at an outdoor lecture.

Other benefits will be seen as users become familiar with the capabilities of wireless - for example, students and staff may develop more innovative and flexible approaches to the learning experience.

AirUWS also allows UWS to rapidly and inexpensively deploy temporary additional coverage without expensive building works.

Project Status

AirUWS is available on all main campuses, using indoor and outdoor Nortel access points.

Although AirUWS is complete, it may be extended if funding is available.

AirUWS is currently under review, as per the information at the top of this page - feedback is welcomed.

Related Documents

Feedback

If you are using, or have tried to use AirUWS, we would like your feedback.

Comments regarding setup, instructions, technical issues, IT support, network access and services available, and any suggested improvements should be sent directly to wireless-feedback@uws.edu.au.

^ Back to top

 

 

  • Decrease font size
  • Increase font size
  • Print this page
  • Site map
  • Email this page

University of Western Sydney

Locked Bag 1797
Penrith South DC
NSW 1797

Tel: +61 2 9852 5222

ABN 53 014 069 881
CRICOS Provider No: 00917k