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Connecting to UNW Network

Connecting to UNW Network

Owned by Adam Janecke
Last updated: yesterday at 10:27 AM
9 min read

Overview

The University of Northwestern St. Paul offers Wi-Fi coverage for the majority of campus buildings and dormitories. The University of Northwestern St. Paul also offers wired connections in most dorms on campus. Once your computer is registered on the network it will automatically switch between the two networks. The available University Wi-Fi networks are:

  • Eagles: Is available in the dorms

  • UNW Wireless: Is available on campus

Please follow the instructions below to register your computer or other device, to the wireless/wired network at the University of Northwestern Saint Paul.

Windows or Apple Computer

Please note, that in order to connect to Northwestern's wireless/wired network on campus with your computer, you are required to have an anti-virus program with up-to-date virus definitions. In addition, by connecting to the university network, the student agrees to abide by the policies which govern computing on campus located in the Acceptable Use Policy

  1. Connect to UNW Wireless if you are in any of the academic buildings. If you are any of the dorms, connect to the Eagles network.

    1. Windows Security is included in Windows 10. You can view windows security and its settings by opening the start menu and typing in Windows Security. You can learn more about windows security here: LINK 

  2. Open any internet browser and it should show this page below. If the browser does not redirect you, click or copy the following link into your browser:  https://rx.unwsp.edu

     

  3. After reading the Agreement Policy, click Agree. Then Click one of the following options:

    1. Register your Computer, Smartphone or Tablet: 

      1. This is for registering your computer, smart phone, or tablets. 

    2. Guest Self Registration

      1. This gives 48 hours of access to the internet but not internal UNW sites like myUNW, Moodle, or anything with a " unwsp.edu " extension. 

    3. Other Devices

      1. This is for gaming consoles, smart TVs, or any other internet devices

         

  4. Enter the username and password that you use to login to myUNW.

     

     

  5. After the process is completed successfully, you should be automatically redirected to unwsp.edu.

  6. Now your computer has internet access to internet through the UNW wireless and Eagles Networks.

  7. If you are unsuccessful in registering your computer please contact the IT Service Desk. You can:

    1. Call us at 651-631-5699

    2. Stop down to the IT Service Desk located in the lower level of Riley Hall room number 0107.

    3. Create a ticket for the IT Department by going to the Information Technology link under Student Services on myUNW and clicking Submit a Ticket or click Here

Mobile Devices

  1. Connect to UNW Wireless if you are in any of the academic buildings. If you are any of the dorms, connect to the Eagles network.

  2. Open any internet browser and it should show this page below. If the browser does not redirect you, click or copy the following link into your browser:    

    1. https://rx.unwsp.edu/registration

  3. After reading the Agreement Policy, click Agree.

     

  4. Click the following option:

    1. Register your Computer, Smartphone or Tablet: 

      • This is for registering your computer, smart phone, or tablets. 

  5. Enter your username and password 

    1.  



  6. The screen below should appear. After 60 seconds it should disconnect your device and automatically reconnect your device back to the network. Your device should now be registered and should work on the campus network.

    1.  

  7. If you are unsuccessful in registering your computer please contact the IT Service Desk please:

    1. Call us at 651-631-5699

    2. Stop down to the IT Service Desk located in the lower level of Riley Hall room number 0107.

    3. Create a ticket for the IT Department by going to the Information Technology link under Student Services on myUNW and clicking Submit a Ticket or click Here.

 

Gaming Devices, Smart TV, and All Other Devices

  1. After registering your personal computer onto the network, open any internet browser on your personal computer (not on your gaming console or internet enabled device that is not registered) and click the following link:

    1.  https://rx.unwsp.edu/registration

  2. This will bring you to the UNW registration page. After reading the Agreement Policy, click Agree.

  3. Next click on the Other Devices section (Typically this section is for Gaming Consoles (Xbox, Playstation, Nintendo, etc), smart TV's, or other Internet enabled devices)





  4. Next find your device's wireless or wired MAC address of the device. Normally this can be found by accessing your device's network set up and take note of the MAC address (or physical address) of the device.

    1. The MAC address is a 12-character alpha-numeric string usually separated by colons every two characters. 

      1. e.g. 00:01:e3:a4:f0:da

      2.  

  5. Please note: We also recommend that you plug your gaming console using an Ethernet cable if that is available in your dorm room. A wireless connection can be used after you have registered the device. 

    1. After registering the device, test the internet connection either through the online game or through the console settings to see if you are already registered. 

      1.  (This should fail if you are not registered.) 

  6. After acquiring your device's MAC Address, please go back to your computer that has the registration page open.

  7. You will need to enter all of the information in the picture below and click Register 

    1. Note: If your device has both wireless and wired connections you will have to register both the wireless MAC Address and the wired MAC address. 

    2. Device Type: Please select the closest option to your device

    3.  

  8. If you are unsuccessful in registering onto the wired/wireless network please contact the IT Service Desk: 

    1. Create a ticket for the IT Department by going to the Information Technology link under Student Services on myUNW and clicking Submit a Ticket or click Here.

      1. Note: Please include your wired and wireless MAC address

    2. Call us at 651-631-5699

      1. Note: Please have your wired and wireless MAC address available

    3. Stop down to the IT Service Desk located in the lower level of Riley Hall room number 0107

Smart Speakers

Amazon Echo/Alexa

  1. Download the Amazon Alexa app to your phone or computer and sign in with your Amazon account.

  2. Connect to the wireless network transmitted by your Echo device.

  3. The wireless MAC address for your Echo can be found at the bottom of the Echo Setup screen in the Alexa app.

Amazon Alexa support site

Google Home & Chromecast

  1. If your device has been used on a different Wi-Fi network in the past, perform a Factory Reset before continuing:

    • Google Home: Press and hold microphone mute for 15 sec.

    • Home Mini: Press and hold FDR button under power cord for 15 sec.

    • Chromecast: While powered on, hold button on side of device, wait for LED to turn from orange to white, then release button.

  2. Open the Google Home app.

  3. Follow setup instructions for your device.

  4. When you reach the "Connect to WiFi" step, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and choose "View MAC Address."

Google Home support site

Gaming Consoles

If you are having issues with a Strict NAT type when gaming. Please follow this link for instructions (Video Game Issues On UNW Networks)

Nintendo 3DS

  1. Go to System Settings.

  2. Tap on Internet Settings.

  3. Tap Other Information.

  4. Tap Confirm MAC Address.

Nintendo 3DS support site

Nintendo Wii U

  1. From the Wii U menu, Select System Settings.

  2. Select the Internet icon and Press the A button.

  3. Select View MAC Address.

Nintendo Wii U support site

Nintendo Switch

  1. Select System Settings from Home menu.

  2. Scroll to Internet and press A.

  3. MAC will be listed under System MAC Address.

Nintendo Switch support site

Xbox One

  1. Press the Xbox Button on Controller.

  2. Scroll to gear icon and click on All Settings.

  3. Scroll to Network and Press Network Settings.

  4. Press Advanced Settings – You should now see Wireless MAC.

Xbox One support site

Playstation 4

  1. Power up PS4 without a disk.

  2. From main menu, select Settings.

  3. Select System > System Information.

  4. MAC address will now be displayed.

Playstation 4 support site

Streaming Devices

Amazon Fire TV/ FireTV Stick

Brand new devices

  1. If your Fire Stick is brand new, it may attempt to connect to our Guest network when you first turn it on.

  2. Press your remote's back button to return to the "preferred language" screen.

  3. Choose your language.

  4. When asked to choose a network, scroll to the end, and your MAC address will be the last tile.

Older devices

  1. From FireTV home screen, Navigate to settings.

  2. Click on System > About > Network.

  3. Scroll to the end, and your MAC Address will be the last tile.

Amazon Fire support site

Google Chromecast

  1. If your device has been used on a different Wi-Fi network in the past, perform a Factory Reset before continuing. If the device is brand new and has never been setup before, skip to step 2.

    • Google Home: Press and hold microphone mute for 15 sec.

    • Home Mini: Press and hold FDR button under power cord for 15 sec.

    • Chromecast: While powered on, hold button on side of device, wait for LED to turn from orange to white, then release button.

  2. Open the Google Home app.

  3. Follow setup instructions for your device.

  4. When you reach the "Connect to WiFi" step, tap the three dots in the upper right corner and choose "View MAC Address."

Chromecast support site

Apple TV

  1. Navigate to Settings (Gear Icon) using remote.

  2. Select General > Network.

  3. MAC address will show up as Wireless ID.

Apple TV support site

Roku

  1. Go to Settings from Home Screen.

  2. Go to Network.

  3. Select Wireless connection.

Roku support site

Dorm Cisco Wireless/Wired Access Points

About

Buildings equipped with Cisco Wireless/Wired Access Points (APs) have excellent wireless coverage in individual rooms and provide 3 wired network jacks on the bottom for additional devices to connect.

At this time, Moyer Hall is the only building to feature this model of AP, however more buildings will be upgraded to feature them in the future.


 

How to connect

Connecting a wired network device to the Cisco Wireless/Wired Access Point (AP) is straightforward and very similar to registering any other device.

  1. Connect your device via a wired network cable to any of the yellow ports labeled 1, 2, or 3. Most do not have the additional gray port connected and it is likely covered with a sticker. Do not connect a device to the blue port at any time.

  2. Register the device by one of the following methods outlined in another section of this page.

    1. If this is a computer with a web browser, follow the steps listed in the Windows Computer or Apple Computer sections of this page.

    2. If this is a gaming console or another kind of permitted network device (Smart TV or streaming device), follow the steps in the Gaming Devices, Smart TV, Other Devices section of this page.

      1. Note: Make sure to use the wired network adapter MAC Address when registering the device, and not the wireless one.

  3. Once the device has been successfully registered, disconnect the wired network cable from the AP for about 5 seconds. Reconnect the wired network cable to the AP.

  4. Verify you are now connected to the network by browsing to a web page or running a network diagnostic test.

    1. An IP address that begins with 172.16 has not been registered successfully or has not had enough time to change. Verify that the correct MAC address was registered and attempt to disconnect/reconnect the cable again.

  5. If you are unsuccessful in registering your device please contact the IT Service Desk: 

    1. Create a ticket for the IT Department by going to the Information Technology link under Student Services on myUNW and clicking Submit a Ticket or click Here.

      1. Note: Please include your wired MAC address you are trying to connect.

    2. Call us at 651-631-5699

      1. Note: Please have your wired MAC address available