What is MacConnect wireless?

Our campus wireless network complements the wired network, providing convenient access to mobile laptop users in common areas. It's a tool to let you use both the Internet and McMaster's internal resources when you can't plug into a network port.

Where is wireless available?

You can see a list of areas with wireless coverage, and a map, at this site. We're working to expand the coverage dramatically: we want to make wireless access available in common areas where people might want to use computers.

How do I use MacConnect wireless?

1. The computer must have a wireless network card (typically internal in recent laptops & notebooks). It should be an 802.11/g card, although an 802.11/b interface will work.
2. Wireless access must be configured on the machine – see Detailed Setup.
3. You must have an active MAC ID account (students use it to register and access their personal records using MUGSI, as well as to access email on Muss; faculty and staff may have a MAC ID to use the VPN or for the former modem pool service – if not, contact the UTS Service Desk utshelp@mcmaster.ca or extension 24357).
4. Access an external web page and you will be prompted to install the Clean Access Agent and thereafter be able to login using that.

Once you're in a MacConnect Wireless area, and you can see that your computer is seeing the available access point, you just right-click the Clean Access agent, and log in with your MAC ID account to connect to the Internet.

You can read the Detailed Set-Up Information for more information.

Do I need to use the Virtual Private Networking (VPN) client?

Using the VPN client encrypts your data on-campus as it travels over the wireless network. It is recommended if you are accessing sensitive or confidential information and aren’t using an encrypted web-access (SSL-enabled or https protocol) application. It can be invoked after using the Clean Access agent to log in.