Where on campus can I connect to RedRover? Check the RedRover map to find out where you can connect. These locations are called access points or hot spots. Back to top
Can I connect to RedRover on the campus at Weill Medical College? Information about RedRover and Weill Medical College is available on the RedRover-Secure at Weill/WMC Secure in Ithaca page. Back to top
What connection speed will I get? In general, your RedRover connection speed will be faster than a dial-up modem but slower than wired Ethernet (such as ResNet). The connection speed may be as high as 54 Mbps (megabits per second); however, there are several factors that can affect the actual speed. Back to top
My connection speed says 11 or 54 Mbps; why is my data transfer rate slower? In the 802.11a/b/g protocol, the connection speed rate encompasses all data transfer, including necessary administrative exchanges that take place between the Wi-Fi card and the access point. This slightly lowers your actual data transfer speed ("actual" data refers to the visible data, for example, actual data might be the e-mail message you are sending or the web page you're viewing).
Several other factors can affect the actual speed :
Can the RedRover signal be blocked in my classroom? The subject of activation/deactivations of RedRover has come up and been discussed by policy administrators in the past. It was determined the effective method for sequestering communication access is by utilizing a software package on the client computer in the classroom.
This is because other Wi-Fi services of both infrastructure and ad-hoc types exist, along with cellular carrier service providing both data and voice, that are controlled and operated by third parties that continue to operate and be accessible from the classrooms even if the RedRover service is off. This availability generally defeats the purpose of having RedRover turned off in the classroom.
The access to third-party connection also needs to be sequestered for a classroom policy to be effective. Because of these points and others, our administration has decided not to provide this service. Back to top
Can other devices affect my connection? Yes. This might be happening to you if you frequently lose your RedRover connection or get an unusally slow connection speed. Some of the more commonly found items that will interfere with your Wi-Fi signal include:
This list is not exhaustive; other devices may also interfere with your connection. For help locating the source of your poor or erratic Wi-Fi connection, follow the guidelines in the RedRover Troubleshooting section. Back to top
Do I need to pay for RedRover Wi-Fi access? No. RedRover access is free. All traffic to or from on-campus sites is also free.
For students, Internet usage to or from off-campus sites via RedRover is included in the network usage-based billing (NUBB). NUBB already includes this type of usage on the wired networks. Use of Cornell's web sites and services is not counted, and will not be counted, as a result of this change. For information about additional NUBB billing changes for students, see What billing changes for students went into effect June 1, 2008?.
For faculty and staff, internet usage via RedRover is not included in the network usage-based billing. Back to top
What billing changes went into effect for students on June 1, 2008? Starting June 1, 2008, Cornell's network usage-based billing (NUBB) changed in these ways for all students:
None of the changes listed above apply to faculty and staff. Back to top
What kind of Wi-Fi card do I need for my laptop? See Technical Requirements. Back to top
What is Wi-Fi? Is it the same as wireless? "Wireless" is often used to refer to everything from cell phones to Palm Pilots, but it simply describes a process in which data is transmitted over electromagnetic waves.
So what's the difference between RedRover Wi-Fi and your cell phone service? Each device conveys information in a different format or protocol; for example, a cellular phone uses the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and RedRover uses the 802.11a/b/g protocol. Although both protocols provide you with mobility, using your laptop allows you greater flexibility because of the laptop's larger screen and keyboard and ability to run a wide range of applications and perform complex functions. Back to top
How does Wi-Fi work? Devices called access points are connected to the regular wired network on campus. Access points broadcast a radio signal that is picked up by the Wi-Fi card in your laptop. Your laptop communicates with the access point and the data is conveyed to the network. Check the RedRover coverage page to find out where you can connect. Back to top
What platforms is CIT supporting with RedRover? CIT supports Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Macintosh OS X and OS 9. Back to top
Will RedRover drain my laptop battery? Depending on the power setting of your Wi-Fi card, you may get fewer hours of use from your laptop battery.
Wireless cards have two power consumption modes: Constantly Awake Mode (CAM) and Power Save Polling (PSP).
To extend your battery life, use the Power Save Polling (PSP) mode. Consult the manufacturer's manual to set up this mode. Back to top
Can I use Wi-Fi for my desktop computer? CIT recommends that you use the wired network for your desktop computer because your connection will be faster and more secure. On the wired network, you could achieve a connection speed of up to 100 Mbps.
On RedRover's Wi-Fi network, the top connection speed will be significantly lower and is affected by several factors, including the number of people connected to the same access point. Back to top
Can I use my PDA (personal digital assistant), such as a Palm Pilot or Visor, with RedRover? Yes. You'll need to register your PDA first. Back to top
How can my department or college become part of RedRover? To learn about the costs associated with RedRover, see RedRover Installation Information. Back to top
Which channels/frequencies does RedRover use? RedRover provides Wi-Fi service for IEEE 802.11b/g devices utilizing channels 1-11 radio frequencies 2.412GHz to 2.462GHz in the 2.4GHz Industrial Scientific Medical (ISM) band.
RedRover also provides Wi-Fi service for IEEE 802.11a devices utilizing channels 36, 40, 44, 48, 56, 60, 64 frequencies 5.15GHz to 5.35 GHz and channels 149,153,157,161,165 frequencies 5.725GHz to 5.825GHz in the Unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (UNII) Bands.
The UNII bands are under utilized on RedRover and it is recommended when purchasing Wi-Fi devices for use with RedRover to look for Wi-Fi approved devices that support Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and will connect on all three IEEE 802.11 specifications a/b/g; sometimes this type of equipment is referred to as a dual-band Wi-Fi interface. This type of interface will provide flexibility when connecting to other Wi-Fi networks that may support a limited set of these standards. Back to top
Can I use Net-Print while I'm on RedRover? Yes, thousands of Net-Print documents have been printed successfully from computers using RedRover. Back to top
How do I connect to a Microsoft server from RedRover? If the server administrator permits connections from RedRover, you can connect by mapping a network drive. For step-by-step instructions on how to map a network drive, see the map a drive page. Back to top
