Short History of Wireless Networking at F&M
Franklin & Marshall was one of the first campuses to introduce wireless networking back in 2001.  In partnership with Apple Computer, the College deployed 30 Airport access points in public areas on campus, thereby beginning the age of the "untethered" connection.  This was the era of the "clamshell" iBook.  Over time more access points were installed as the program expanded and security encryption was added by using VPN or virtual private network software.  While some of this original network is still in place, we have been adding newer devices over the years that have increased the speed and reliability of the Wi Fi network.  ITS still recommends that if you on in a location on campus that has an Ethernet or wired connection, that you should use that as the preferred connection method to use internet based resources.  This will soon change.

Wireless 3.0
In late April 2009 ITS completed the installation of what we are calling "wireless 3.0" for the campus.  Nearly 250 wireless access points are in place across campus to deliver secure access to the internet at speeds that rival the traditional wired connection.  In addition, a new connection method will be used so that, as a member of the F&M community with a valid F&M username and password, you will only have to authenticate or "log in" one time at the initial connection.  In the future, the wireless network will "remember" who you are.  This new method will also assist those of you with smart phones (iPhones, Treos or Blackberrys) and other hand-held devices (iPod Touches) access the internet via Wi Fi.  Details about the new network called FandM-WiFi can be found at Connecting to FandM-WiFi