Overview
Personal wireless access devices and access points are becoming more and more ubiquitous in today's world. Most home routers offer wireless capabilities, and wireless printers are commonplace. Additionally, the ability to create wireless networks through internet sharing on your laptop or computer, your cell phone, and dedicated wireless hotspots is easier than ever. However, we do not allow these devices on the Texas A&M Network or on campus in most locations. This document will explain the reasons why we do not allow them.
Why Personal Wireless Devices are Not Allowed
Security
The most important reason we do not allow personal wireless access devices on campus is security.
Texas A&M University is a top-tier research university, and as such hosts many research and computer systems of a secure nature. The networking infrastructure that Texas A&M University Technology Services has put into place has been carefully designed to protect these systems as well as the systems which are used for storing personal student and employee information. A key part of this infrastructure is maintaining access to the network. This is why computers on the ResNet must be registered, and why you must enter your NetID and NetID password when connecting to the TAMU_WiFi wireless network. This is to prevent unauthorized access to our network.
Connecting a wireless router to a campus Ethernet port creates an unauthorized and un-monitored access point. Because connections to your personal wireless router are not authenticated against the campus authentication server, we have no way to prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing the campus network. Additionally, you will be held responsible for any unauthorized access through your wireless router. It is for your protection, as well as the protection of campus resources and systems, that we do not permit unauthorized wireless access points.
While wireless routers are the most common way an unauthorized wireless access point can end up on the system, it is not the only one. Some wireless printers available now can act as a wireless access point. Be sure to turn this feature off on your printer, if it has it. Additionally, many computers have a feature called "Network Sharing" which turns your computer itself into a wireless access point. Make sure you do not turn on this feature.
Reliability
The second most important reason we do not allow personal wireless access devices on campus is reliability.
Wireless networks operate on certain frequencies, called "Channels." When multiple wireless devices use the same channel, the performance and reliability of both devices degrade. Some channel interference is inevitable, however, because many consumer electronics such as microwave ovens, cordless land-line telephones, Bluetooth devices, some car alarms, and some wireless video solutions, operate in the same frequency spectrum as wireless network access points. However, network degradation due to these devices is often minimal due to their low power output (microwave ovens being a notable exception).
Multiple wireless access points on the same channel, however, can significantly interfere with each other. In buildings with multiple access points (such as residence halls and office buildings), the channel on each access point is deliberately set to not interfere with the other access points in range. By adding a personal wireless access point, it is very likely that it will be operating on a channel that interferes with one or more of the TAMU Technology Services access points in the building around you. This will cause the wireless network for all wireless devices around you to become degraded. This interference can be caused by wireless routers with the wireless capability enabled, computers set up with network sharing enabled, and with consumer wireless hotspots such as those sold by many major wireless telephone service providers.