SDCPLL - Wireless Information

By using computer and internet services at the San Diego County Public Law Library, each user will be deemed to have agreed to the Public Internet Access Policy.

The Library is a public space and your rights are constrained by the rights of others. In order to provide all users with a healthy working environment, the following activities are strictly prohibited:

Using the Library’s internet connection for illegal purposes,
Displaying inappropriate content or disturbing other users, which includes playing video or audio without the use of head phones.

Users who violate these rules will be asked to leave the Library. Violations of this policy should be reported to the Circulation Department.

Please see our Limitations and Disclaimers section on this page before connecting to the wireless network.

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Wireless Q & A

Top of Page

This section describes how to connect to the wireless network and discusses the various services which are available.

Do I need to become a member to use the wireless network?
Where is wireless access available?
Can I access the Library's electronic legal resources over the wireless network?
How do I connect to the wireless network?
Are there any electrical outlets I can use to plug in my wireless device?
Can staff help me connect to the wireless network?
Are there any other restrictions to the wireless network?
Can I print from my wireless device to the Public Law Library printers?
Is your wireless network secure?

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.

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
Computer Room
Pioneer Room

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.

Can I access the Library's electronic legal resources over the wireless network?

Yes! Users can access 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 electronic legal resources section of our Useful Links page to access most of these resources directly from your wireless laptop. Links to these resources are also available from our online catalog.

How do I connect to the wireless network?

You will need a WiFi-compliant 802.11 b/g/pre-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

Are there any electrical outlets I can use to plug in my wireless device?

Unfortunately, most of our electrical outlets are inaccessible from the work surfaces. Users are not permitted to run power cords across open pathways, as this creates a safety hazard. Please come with a fully charged battery.

If you are able to set up near an outlet, we strongly recommend bringing your own surge protector to protect your equipment.

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.

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.

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.)

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?

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.

I can see the wireless network, but I cannot connect.

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.

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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