We currently have wireless connections available in all public spaces and classrooms, including the library, academic buildings, and the dining commons.

Hampshire's wireless network is powered by Cisco 1131 (802.11a/b/g), 1142 (a/b/g/n), and H3C 2620/2620E (a/b/g/n) Access Points at various locations around the campus, ensuring connectivity in all public areas of the campus, as well as all of Dakin and Merrill, most of Enfield and Greenwich, and the renovated areas of Prescott.

There are two discrete wireless networks available in academic areas:

1. Hampguest (public): This network does not require a login and has an entirely separate connection to the Internet. In this way, it is like sitting in an internet cafe; you are not really on Hampshire's network while using this wireless network, and as such cannot access anything that is on-campus only, and on-campus services will be slower than when using wallace or the dorm networks. This network is only available in the public areas of campus. Students should register their guest's computers under their names if they have guests that need access in the dorms. In this way, you are taking responsibility for the actions of your guests on our network.

 2. Wallace (private): This network requires a Hampnet login, and provides full, direct access to on-campus services.

In the dorms, the network name matches the housing area, and requires a Hampnet login, like wallace. For instance, in Merrill, the network name is "merrill".

Hampshire also maintains a secure encrypted network available only to faculty and staff. Please contact the helpdesk for more information regarding this network.

Private wireless access points are not recommended or supported because they are often configured incorrectly and can create problems with the campus network. You will also find that the wired ethernet access is significantly faster then wireless. Additionally, unencrypted wireless networks are vulnerable to sniffing and expose users to possible loss of sensitive information. The IT staff may disable wireless access points that are found to be creating a problem with the network.

Accessing Hampshire's Wireless Network

The wallace wireless network uses active roaming. This means that your computer determines which signal is the strongest and uses that access point to connect. As you move around, if another access point signal becomes stronger, you will automatically be connected via that access point with no reconfiguration required.

Quick Setup

In academic/administrative Buildings:

In your wireless utility, select wallace
The first time you open a web browser (Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer) you will be redirected to a NetReg page. Enter your username and password then wait a few minutes. After your computer registration is complete, you will be able to navigate to any web page.

In your wireless utility, select hampguest.
Note: The hampguest network provides Internet access only. Some Hampshire webpages are not accessible using hampguest.

In the dorms:

In your wireless utility, select the network name that matches your housing area. For instance, in Merrill the network name is "Merrill". The first time you open a web browser (Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer) you will be redirected to a NetReg page. Enter your username and password, then wait a few minutes. After your compuer registration is complete you wil be able to navigate to any web page.

Need help? Call or email the help desk: helpdesk@hampshire.edu or call 413.559.5418