The Boston College wireless network
On this page: Overview | Connect
to BC's wireless | FAQ | Plus:
Tips to improve wireless service
Overview
The BC wireless network allows faculty, staff, students, and visitors of
Boston College to access the Internet and network resources, such as email
and the web, from many different locations on campus without having to plug
in a network cable. This provides increased flexibility and productivity for
members of the BC community.
Availability
The BC wireless network is available in many locations on campus, including
libraries, residence hall study lounges, classrooms, dining halls, and even
outdoor common areas. For more information, see the wireless
campus maps
(BC sign-in required) or the list
of buildings and areas on campus
with BC wireless network access.
Want to improve your wireless service?
Read these tips
to improve wireless service.
Connect to BC's wireless

Secure wireless (bcsecure)
is offered to members of the Boston College community who have a BC
username and password. Bcsecure, secure wireless, provides access to
the BC high-speed wireless network with encrypted transmission of data,
offering a much greater degree of privacy and security. BC faculty,
staff, and students are strongly encouraged to use this service.
Learn how to configure your laptop: Windows
Vista | Windows
XP | Mac
OS X
(BC sign-in required)
|
BostonCollege
is offered to members of the Boston College community who have a BC username
and password. BostonCollege provides easy access to the Boston College
high-speed wireless network. BostonCollege is not
a secure wireless network but is an alternative for older laptops that
do not meet the requirements for bcsecure.
Learn how to configure your laptop: Windows
Vista | Windows
XP | Mac
OS X
|
BostonCollege
(for guest access) is available to guests of the
University, including visiting faculty, conference/meeting attendees,
colleagues from other institutions, sports media, parents, and friends
who do not have a BC username and password. Guests may select the BostonCollege
wireless service and setup as a Guest. Guest access provides
limited, temporary Internet connections.
Learn how to configure your laptop:
Windows
Vista |
Windows
XP |
Mac
OS X
= BC sign-in required
Important: If you are hosting
a visitor who will require access to the Internet while at BC, please
provide them with printed copies of the information about BC Visitor Network
Access.
|
FAQ
- Who can use the wireless services at Boston College?
- What is the difference between bcsecure and the BostonCollege
wireless service?
- I have a wireless network at home, will I still be able to use my wireless
network at home?
- What kind of wireless card do I need to be able to use the
wireless services at BC?
- What do I need for my laptop to use bcsecure, the secure
wireless service?
- Where do I go if I need assistance using the BC wireless
service?
- I am a visitor to Boston College. How can I access the
Internet using wireless service at BC?
- Who can use the wireless services at Boston College?
Faculty, staff, students, and guests of Boston College may use the wireless
network at BC. Faculty, staff, and students are strongly encouraged to use
bcsecure, the secure wireless service, which provides greater privacy and
data security.
- What is the difference between bcsecure and
BostonCollege wireless service?
Bcsecure is a secure wireless network service that connects to
the Internet using WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2). WPA2 encrypts your data
before it is transmitted over the wireless network. Bcsecure is available
to BC faculty, students, and staff with an active BC username and password.
BostonCollege is an open, unsecured, wireless network service.
It does not encrypt data. Therefore, information sent across the wireless
network using BostonCollege is “in the clear.” Others might
snoop or intercept data transmitted using the unsecured wireless service.
- I have a wireless network at home, will I still
be able to use my wireless network at home?
Yes. Configuring your laptop to use any of the BC wireless services should
not affect your home wireless network access.
- What kind of wireless card do I need to be able to
use the wireless services at BC?
You need a wireless 802.11a/g/n-compliant network card.
- What do I need for my computer to use bcsecure,
the secure wireless service?
Secure Wireless Requirements for Windows:
- BC username and password
- A wireless 802.11a/g/n-compliant network card that is WPA2 compliant
(typically manufactured after 2004)
- Windows XP with SP2 and greater
- Microsoft Secure Wireless hot-fix for Windows XP and updated wireless
card driver (available in the instructions link listed below)
- Complete all steps to connect to the BC Secure Wireless Network:
Windows XP |
Windows Vista
Secure Wireless Requirements for Macintosh:
- BC username and password
- AirPort compatible wireless card or a wireless 802.11a/g/n-compliant
network card
- OSX 10.3.9 or greater (Panther, Tiger v. 10.4, or Leopard v. 10.5)
- Operating system updates (available in the instructions link listed
below)
- Complete all steps to connect to the BC Secure Wireless Network:
Mac OS X
- Where do I go if I need assistance using the BC
wireless service?
Contact the Help Center at 617-552-HELP (4357) or via email at help.center@bc.edu.
- I am a visitor to Boston College. How can I access
the Internet using wireless service at BC?
Boston College provides guests of the University, including parents, visitors,
conference/meeting attendees, colleagues from other institutions, and sports
media, with limited, temporary, Internet connections. Learn more about visitor
network access.
Need more help?
- Contact the Help Center: 552-HELP (2-HELP from on-campus), help.center@bc.edu,
or www.bc.edu/gethelp.
- Students: You can also visit the Walk-In Help Desk in O'Neill 248
next to the Campus Technology Resource Center (CTRC).
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