Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I access the CCSF Wi-Fi Network? How do I sign up?
2. Can I sign up more than one laptop or WiFi-enabled device at the same time?
3. What are the hardware requirements to use the wireless network?
4. Do you support Linux, iPhone & iPod touch?
5. Do I need a username and password to login to the network?
6. Do I need to sign up every semester?
7. What is the Network Use Policy?
8. What is the wireless coverage on campus? Where are the hotspots?
9. What is the SSID and WPA key?
10. What is a wireless card physical address and how do I find mine?
11. Do I need to logout when I am finished?
12. I have changed a laptop or WiFi-enabled device that has a different physical address.
13. I have replaced a new wireless card.
14. Is there technical support provided?
15. I have not yet received a confirmation email from wlan@ccsf.edu.
16. How do I print from the CCSF Wi-Fi Network?
17. How do I connect to the wireless network using some form of WEP?
1. How do I access the CCSF Wi-Fi Network? How do I sign up?
You need to sign up a Wi-Fi account first before connecting to the CCSF Wi-Fi Network. Please get more details from our Sign Up home page.
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2. Can I sign up more than one laptop or WiFi-enabled device at the same time?
Yes, each user can sign up for two devices (laptop or WiFi-enabled device).
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3. What are the hardware requirements to use the wireless network?
You'll need the following:
- Laptop, notebook, or WiFi-enabled devic
- Operating system that supports wireless and WPA (i.e. Win XP with Service Pack 2 or 3, Vista or MAC OS X)
- Wireless network card compatible with WPA
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4. Do you support Linux, iPhone & iPod touch?
We offer Wi-Fi support on iPhone & iPod touch but not Linux.
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5. Do I need a username and password to login to the network?
No! The new Wi-Fi system no longer requires login. Your Wi-Fi account will be authenticated by your wireless card physical address.
If you provide the incorrect wireless card physical address on the online sign-up form, your portable device will be unable to get on to the Internet through our network.
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6. Do I need to sign up every semester?
No! But if your account is not being used throughout the semester, it will automatically be removed from our system.
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7. What is the Network Use Policy?
Please refer to our documentation: Network Use Policy
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8. What is the wireless coverage on campus? Where are the hotspots?
Please refer to our Hotspots page.
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9. What is the SSID and WPA key?
SSID: CCSF WiFi
WPA key: freewireless4all
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10. What is a wireless card physical address and how do I find mine?
Every network card has a Media Access Control "address," also known as physical address that uniquely identifies that card.
It is made up of 12 characters (6 pairs of 2) which is expressed as 00:12:34:56:78:ab (or separated by dashes "-" i.e. 00-12-34-56-78-ab).
Think of it as a Serial Number. You can find out how to display your physical address by referring to Find Wireless Card Physical Address page.
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11. Do I need to logout when I am finished?
No! The new Wi-Fi system no longer requires logout.
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12. I have changed a laptop or WiFi-enabled device that has a different physical address.
Please email us at wlan@ccsf.edu.
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13. I have replaced a new wireless card.
Please email us at wlan@ccsf.edu.
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14. Is there technical support provided?
Yes, please visit us during our office hours.
You can also look through this FAQ page, the Troubleshooting Guide page or send a detailed e-mail to wlan@ccsf.edu and we will try to help as time and resources are available.
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15. I have not yet received a confirmation email from wlan@ccsf.edu.
We no longer send out a confirmation email about your new Wi-Fi account. After you sign up for two business days, please follow the instructions to connect your device to the CCSF Wi-Fi Network: Connect to Wi-Fi
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16. How do I print from the CCSF Wi-Fi Network?
Unfortunately, you are unable to print directly from the CCSF Wi-Fi Network. You can, however, copy your work on to a floppy disk or a flash drive or e-mail the document to yourself and go to one of the computer labs on campus to print.
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17. How do I connect to the wireless network using some form of WEP?
The CCSF Wi-Fi Network is using WPA, the latest wireless encryption scheme. Unfortunately, WPA and WEP are not compatible. You may have to upgrade your operating system and/or network card.
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