Frequently Asked Questions about Airbears

A. Please be aware that the traffic on the AirBears wireless network is NOT encrypted. Traffic you send and receive over the AirBears wireless network is visible to any other person with a computer and 802.11b wireless ethernet card. Due to this, we strongly recommend that you only use applications that encrypt data for security, that is:

• only read from and submit confidential data to webpages that are secure - the lock in your browser window should be closed (https and not simply http).
• retrieve your email via CalMail and NOT via Eudora or any mail program that uses unencrypted POP or IMAP.
• login to UNIX shell accounts using ssh or kerberized-telnet and NOT telnet.
• be especially careful in ensuring that the application is encrypted and secure when providing usernames and passwords.

A. Any member of the campus community who has a valid CalNetID and passphrase may login and use AirBears. Accounts for guests may be created by Faculty and Staff using the AirBears Guest Account Service.

A. AirBears is currently provided free of charge to members of the campus community.

If you have a recommendation on locations that would serve a large number of users, please send them to the airbears-wireless mailing list.

A. Students can receive help after November 1st, 2001 at the Student Computer Consulting Service. Faculty and staff should contact their departmental IT staff or Dr. Micro as appropriate.

A. No, you do not need to register your wireless card in order to use AirBears. AirBears uses a "captive portal" to authenticate your session with CalNetID and the associated passphrase.

A. Any WiFi compatible 802.11b ethernet card should work with AirBears. Here is a list of cards we know work with AirBears:

• * tried and works
• + tried and works with OS specfic changes
• - tried and did not work
• ? did not try
• d Driver software only supports one config at a time (cannot automatically adapt to different SSIDs)
• NOTE: Macintosh laptops that have built-in antennas must use Apple Airport cards only

A. Many computer stores online and off sell the cards. The Scholars Workstation sells and supports laptops and wireless cards for campus users.

A. AirBears supports Internet Protocol (IP) over 802.11b wireless ethernet only. This allows authenticated users to run all common and popular internet applications.

A. 802.11b wireless ethernet networks are a shared medium and the bandwidth of your connection will vary depending on your location (with respect to the wireless access point) and the number of other users you are sharing the service (at that location) with. 802.11b has a theoretical rate of 10Mbps in either direction (half-duplex). In the ideal case, a single user can expect upto 4Mbps with no other users at the access point. The 802.11b standard allows for wireless client cards to automatically adapt their connection rate with the closest access point for best performance.

Various objects between an AirBears user's computer and the access point may interfere with the wireless network connection including large metal objects (ie. elevators), microwave ovens and 2.4Ghz cordless phones.

You can expect a signal to be strong enough to connect to AirBears upto 100-300ft from the wireless access point at a location. Some locations may have multiple access points.

The current setup of AirBears allows you to move around at the same location (ie. inside the Cesar Chavez Study Center) and retain your connection. Depending on the wireless network signal, your connection bandwidth will vary as you move.

There is also limited, experimental support for roaming between covered locations. Needless to say, you will not have a connection while you are in transit through areas without coverage. If you get to the new site and do not receive the AirBears login screen on your web-browser, then your session is still active and will continue to work.

A. Due to the dynamic IP addressing and shared, limited bandwidth of a 802.11b wireless network, it is not a suitable service for non-interactive use or running servers. The AirBears wireless network service is not a replacement for the higher-bandwidth, wired campus network.

A.Go to the CalMail "Manage Your Mailing Lists" at:

A. If you are able to use AirBears in one location but not in another one that is advertised as currently served, please report the problem to the IST Trouble Desk.

A. See the Health and Safety Issues section of the AirBears website for details.

A. Several universities around the world offer 802.11b wireless networks to their students, faculty and staff, including:

• Wireless Andrew at CMU
• UCSD NGN Wireless
• UC Irvine
• University of Tennessee, Knoxville
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• UCLA
• Stanford
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• University of Wisconson, Madison
• MIT

A. There are many commercial and free 802.11b networks listed at the following sites:

• http://www.wifinder.com
• http://www.freenetworks.org

A. The Bay Area Wireless Users Group might be a start.