Wireless
By using computer and internet services at
the San Diego County Public Law Library, each user will be deemed
to have read and agreed to the terms of the Technology
Use Policy.
- Connecting
- Wireless Q&A
- This section describes how to connect to the wireless network
and discusses the various services which are available.
- Limitations
and Disclaimers - Important information regarding
the limitations of the wireless network.
- Troubleshooting
Your Wireless Connection - This section contains
a list of common problems that users experience when attempting
to connect to a wireless network, along with some simple steps
to help you troubleshoot and, hopefully, resolve the problem.
Connecting
Network Name or SSID: SD County
Public Law Library
WEP: Disabled
IP or Network Settings: DHCP enabled; obtain an
IP address automatically
DNS: Obtain DNS address automatically
Gateway: no default gateway needs to be set; obtain
the gateway address automatically
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Wireless Q & A
This section describes how to connect to the wireless network and discusses the various services which are available.
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Do I need to become a member to use the wireless network?
No. Membership to the Public Law Library is not required
to access the wireless network. Wireless access is available to
all users of the Law Library free of charge.
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Where is wireless access available?
Wireless access is available at all of our facilities.
Main Library:
Wireless access is available in the following locations at the Main Library:
- California Reading Room
- Downstairs Lobby
- Federal Reading Room
- Conference Rooms
The construction materials in the stacks may prevent your wireless device from ‘seeing’ the wireless network. Wireless access in the stacks is not supported at this time.
East County:
Wireless access is available in the conference rooms and the main seating area. Access in the stacks may be limited.
North County:
Wireless access is available in the conference rooms and the main seating areas. Access in the Federal Reading Room stacks may be limited.
South Bay:
Wireless access is available in the conference room and all of the seating areas.
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Can I access the Library's electronic legal resources over the wireless network?
Yes! Users can access several of our electronic legal
resources directly from their wireless device. The Library subscribes
to many electronic legal resources, including databases, e-books
and e-journals from a variety of legal information providers. Visit
the e-resources section
of our web site to access these resources directly from your wireless
laptop. Links to these resources are also available from our online
catalog.
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How do I connect to the wireless network?
- You will need a WiFi-compliant 802.11 b/g/n wireless
Ethernet device to connect to the SDCPLL public wireless network.
- Configure your wireless hardware to automatically obtain an IP address. (This is usually the default setting.)
- Your wireless device should automatically detect the wireless network. (You may need to refresh your device list.) Use the information below to verify your configuration:
Network Name or SSID: SD County
Public Law Library
WEP: Disabled
IP or Network Settings: DHCP enabled; obtain
an IP address automatically
DNS: Obtain DNS address automatically
Gateway: no default gateway needs to be set;
obtain the gateway address automatically
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Are there any electrical outlets I can use to plug in my wireless device?
We have a limited number of electrical outlets available
to the public in wireless coverage areas. Refer to our Technology
Use Policy for guidelines, sign up requirements, and prohibited
uses of outlets throughout the Library. We recommend that all users
come with a fully charged battery and that they bring their own
surge protector to protect their eqiupment.
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Can staff help me connect to the wireless network?
You are responsible for configuring your own hardware.
Due to the number of wireless devices on the market today, it is
not possible for Library staff to provide individual support. Users
may be able to resolve their connectivity issues after reviewing
the provided troubleshooting section. The documentation which came
with your hardware or the hardware manufacturer's web site may provide
helpful information, as well.
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Are there any other restrictions to the wireless network?
Internet access is limited to ports 80 and 8080. You will not be able to access web sites or web content which require the use of a different port from any of our libraries.
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Can I print from my wireless device to the Public Law Library printers?
We do not offer wireless printing services at this
time. However, you can transfer information to a USB key, CD-ROM,
or diskette and print from one of the Public Law Library's public
use computers. (USB keys, CD-ROMs and diskettes can be purchased
at the Circulation desk.)
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Is your wireless network secure?
No. As with most public wireless "hot spots," our wireless network is not secure. Information sent over the library's wireless network is unencrypted and could be intercepted. Users accept all risks and responsibilities when accessing the internet over non-secure connections.
We recommend that users disable file and print sharing prior to connecting to the internet over a non-secure network. We also strongly encourage users to have current anti-virus software and definitions installed.
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Limitations and Disclaimers
The wireless network is not secure. Information sent over the wireless network may be intercepted by other users.
The San Diego County Public Law Library cannot provide technical assistance, nor can we guarantee that you will be able to connect to the wireless network.
The user assumes all responsibility for the safety of their equipment, hardware & software configurations, and security of their information.
The Public Law Library reserves the right to limit downloading and to reduce the amount of available bandwidth per connection, in order to ensure equitable use of these services by all Library users.
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Troubleshooting Your Wireless Network Connection
This section contains a list of common problems that users experience when attempting to connect to a wireless network, along with some simple steps to help you troubleshoot and, hopefully, resolve the problem.
- My wireless device cannot locate the network.
- I can see the wireless network, but I cannot connect.
- I have a compatible wireless network card and my firewall is not the problem, but I STILL cannot connect to the network. Now what?
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My wireless device cannot locate the network.
Our wireless network supports 802.11 b, g, and pre-N. Make sure your wireless card supports one of these protocols. The manual that came with your system will indicate which protocols your wireless adapter supports.
Some wireless devices have a function key to quickly disable/enable your wireless connection. Usually, this is the FN (function key) / F2 key combination. Check your user manual for more information.
Is your wireless adapter enabled? On Windows systems, go to Control Panel->Network Connections. Does the wireless device appear in this list? If not, you will need to add the device. If a wireless device is listed, is it enabled? To enable a wireless device, right click the icon and select enable.
Are you using a firewall? Do you have more than one firewall installed? Some anti-virus solutions install an additional firewall service, by default. If so, this may be preventing you from seeing the wireless network. Windows firewall settings can be accessed from the Control Panel.
You can temporarily disable the firewall(s) to see if this resolves the problem. If this works, we recommend re-enabling your firewall(s) and figuring out how to enable wireless connections. Consult the help menu or the manual that came with your system for additional tips.
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I can see the wireless network, but I cannot connect.
Are you connecting to the correct network? Make sure
you are selecting SD County Public Law Library from the list
of available wireless networks.
Check your wireless settings. In order to make our
wireless network easier to use, we do not use encryption.
Check your firewall settings. You can temporarily disable the firewall(s) to see if this resolves the problem. If this works, we recommend re-enabling your firewall(s) and figuring out how to enable wireless connections. Please consult the manual that came with your system for assistance.
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I have a compatible wireless network card and my firewall is not the problem, but I STILL cannot connect to the network. Now what?
Is your network card set to automatically obtain an IP address? On Windows workstations, you can check this by going to Control Panel -> Network Connections and checking the TCP/IP properties of your wireless device.
If your wireless device is set to obtain an IP address automatically, try repairing the connection. On Windows systems, right click the wireless device and select Repair from the menu.
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