SUNY New Paltz provides wireless network service for use by the students, faculty, and staff of the college. If you have wireless network support in your laptop or wireless device you can now connect to the Internet in the following locations:

• Athletic and Wellness Center - Main Floor
• Center for International Programs
• College Hall - Teaching and Learning Center, Honors Center
• College Terrace
• Coykendall Science Building - Entire Building
• Dorsky Museum - Entire Building
• Esopus Hall - First Floor Lounge
• Faculty Office Building - Entire Building
• Hanmer House
• Hasbrouck Dining Hall - Entire Building
• Hopfer Admissions and Alumni Center
• Humanities Building - Entire Building
• Resnick Engineering Hall - Entire Building
• Smiley Art Building - Entire Building
• Sojourner Truth Library - Entire Building
• Southern Classroom Building - Academic Areas
• Southside House
• Student Union Building - Entire Building
• Teaching and Learning Center (College Hall)
• van den Berg Hall - Entire Building
• Welcome Center (HAB 1st Floor)
• Wooster Science Building - Ground/Basement Floor Offices, 2nd Floor Adjunct Center

Official SUNY New Paltz wireless service is provided with either the network name (SSID) “SUNY New Paltz” or “newpaltz”. The network name “newpaltz” is being phased out and all wireless in academic and administrative areas will use “SUNY New Paltz”. You will need to tell your computer to connect to the “SUNY New Paltz” or “newpaltz” name depending on where you are on campus. After your computer connects to the wireless service you will need to open a web browser and attempt to visit a website such as “www.newpaltz.edu”. Your web browser should be redirected to the wireless login page. You will need to enter your NPCUID as the username and use your password on this site. Once you are logged in through this web page you will be able to access the Internet.

Click here for directions on Wireless Printing

All wireless hotspot locations support the 802.11g and 802.11b wireless standards. Most locations also support the 802.11a standard in addition to 802.11b/g. If you wish to purchase a wireless network adapter we recommend you purchase one that supports all three (802.11a and 802.11b/g). Such cards are quite common these days in retail stores and are being built into most new laptop computers.

We do not support 802.11n and currently have no plans on supporting 802.11n as the standard in its current form provides no real benefits for our environment. If you purchase a 802.11n network adapter please be sure that the same adapter supports 802.11g or you will not be able to use the wireless service available on campus.

Security Warning: Wireless service is currently completely unencrypted. Anyone in range could potentially see any unencrypted data sent from your laptop or other wireless device. The use of secure websites (https) and VPN is strongly recommended if any sensitive data is involved.

Windows XP

When you turn on your laptop or enter an area with wireless service Windows may will inform you that wireless service is available. You should see an icon in the notification area at the bottom of your screen with a picture of two computers screens. When you right-click on this icon you should see a popup menu with the option “View Available Wireless Networks”. Selecting this option should bring up a list of available wireless networks. Select the “SUNY New Paltz” or “newpaltz” wireless network and click Connect. Windows may warn you that the network is not secure. The wireless network currently offers no encryption so you will need to tell Windows that the connection should be allowed.

After a few seconds the connection to the wireless network should be ready. Open a web browser and sign into the login page with your NPCUID and password.

Windows Vista

The easiest way to connect to the wireless network is to click on the Start menu (the Windows logo on the bottom left-hand side of your screen) and select Connect To. You should then see a list of available networks. Select the “newpaltz” wireless network and click the Connect button. Find the wireless networked named “SUNY New Paltz” or “newpaltz” and click the “Connect” button. If Windows complains that you are attempting to connect to an “unsecured network” click the “Connect Anyway” button.

After a few seconds the connection to the wireless network should be ready. Open a web browser and sign into the login page with your NPCUID and password.

Getting Support

The quality of wireless support built into laptops, available as add-on adapters and built into wireless devices varies greatly. If you run into problems connecting or staying connected to the “SUNY New Paltz” or “newpaltz” network please make sure you are using the newest version of drivers available for your wireless chipset. Also make sure to use the wireless network selection tool built into the operating system and not the tools made available by other parties such as Linksys and DLink.

If you are a student, guest, faculty or staff member and need help with wireless network service please contact the Student Help Desk at 845-257-3597 (x3597).

If you are a faculty or staff member using college provided equipment please contact the Faculty/Staff Help Desk for support at 845-257-3449 (x3449).