Resnet FAQ





FAQs about Residential Network (ResNet) Services Is it true there will be changes to ResNet for the fall 2007 semester? Yes! Many improvements will be made to ResNet this summer, including the addition of wireless access in all residence halls. The University has partnered with a company named Apogee in order to provide new and improved services to residential students. What's included in the new service? ResNet services are integrated with your residential package. The new service will provide: Wired and wireless Internet access 24/7 customer service Enhanced support with dedicated bandwidth for gaming consoles An on-site technician No restrictions or throttling of certain applications (it's your bandwidth, use it how you want- but always follow the law!) Where can I connect to the new network? Do I have to be on my quad? Once you have activated your account, you can access the service anywhere, even from another quad or Empire Commons. Wireless access is available in all residence halls and outdoors for 50 feet around all buildings. You will no longer have to re-register if you want to connect from another residential area. How do I get connected? Students will be able to sign up for an account online over the summer. The University will send information to all residential students about how to activate their Apogee account beginning in May. When you return to campus next fall, you'll be connecting to the new ResNet. How fast will the Apogee network be? The new ResNet service is configured to dedicate bandwidth to each student; Apogee and UAlbany are committed to providing you with access that is equal to or better than broadband access at home. Can I sign up for phone service in the dorms? Yes. You can request optional Internet phone service when you sign up for your new account. I already have a VOIP service of my own (such as Skype or Vonage). Can I keep using it? Yes. Just call Apogee toll-free at 1-866-478-8861 to have your VOIP device connected to the network. Will we still have 911? Yes. Each suite will have a phone available for 911 use and on-campus calls. How secure is my connection? The new ResNet service will be a protected environment. It will only be accessible to residential students who have activated their Apogee account. Wired connections are very secure. We recommend that any time you are conducting business involving sensitive and/or personally identifiable information, you use a wired connection. We recommend having an Ethernet (CAT 5 patch) cable so you can connect as necessary. Wireless connections in public places are inherently less secure. Only residential students will be able to access the wireless network, but these connections are not encrypted or secure the way wired connections are. You should avoid conducting any business involving sensitive information using a wireless connection. Can I use my own Wireless Access Point? You won't need it! You can connect to the wireless network from any quad and outdoor areas within 50 feet of all residence hall buildings. Wireless networks are very sensitive and service is easily compromised by equipment that is not part of the network. Routers and access points are prohibited. Please read Apogee's end user agreement at http://www.apogeenet.net/support/albanyeula.pdf for more information. I have an X-Box (or other gaming device) and want to play on-line. How do I do this? To set up your gaming device (such as X-Box, Playstation, and Nintendo), simply call Apogee toll-free at 1-866-478-8861 to have it connected to the network. If I have my own VOIP service or gaming device set up on the Apogee network, will it affect the connection speed on my computer? No. You'll still have a high-speed connection to the Internet. All VOIP and gaming devices will have their own dedicated bandwidth. What other Optional Services will be available and how do I subscribe? In the fall 2007, you will be able to sign up for optional services: Silver Service-$39.00/semester 5.0 Mbps wired connection Gold Service-$69.00/semester 10.0 Mbps wired connection Internet Phone Service $24.95 per month What if I have other questions? If you have questions or concerns about the new ResNet service, please contact the Department of Residential Life at reslife@albany.edu.