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Q/A: Where’s the dang K-State wireless (WEP) key?

The wireless encryption key (WEP key) to access K-State’s wireless computer network can be a bit hard to find on the university website. One reason is that K-State users and techies refer to it with various labels — including these, in alphabetical order:

  • airport key (Macs)
  • card configurations
  • encryption key for wireless access
  • K-State WEP settings
  • network key (PCs)
  • password for the (wireless) network
  • WEP key
  • wireless encryption key
  • wireless network card configurations

The easiest way to find it? Look for any of the above terms in the IT Index list of resources. Regardless of how you find it, a K-State eID and password is required to access the encryption key for K-State’s wireless network.

WEP key to be removed from guest wireless network

Next week, the WEP key will be removed from guest access to K-State’s wireless computer network to make it easier for visitors, vendors, and other non-K-Staters to access the Internet while on campus. The change is planned for 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24.   Those who’ve been using K-State’s guest wireless with a WEP key will need to reconfigure their wireless settings in order to continue using the service.  See the Windows and Mac steps below to reset a guest-wireless connection.

For new users who connect after the change, the guest wireless network should appear automatically and allow them to connect without entering a WEP key when on the K-State campus.

The guest-wireless network is more restricted than K-State’s wireless network.  Guest wireless allows access to remote e-mail and basic web browsing but not to campus infrastructure systems.

To reconfigure guest access in Windows:

  1. Go to the Control Panel and  then click Network Connections.
  2. Right-click Wireless Network Connection and then click Properties.
  3. Select the Wireless Networks tab and then select k-state.guest.
  4. Click Properties.
  5. In the Data Encryption box, select Disable.  Click OK.
  6. Click Continue Anyway.
  7. Click OK.

Note : If you use a third-party wireless-configuration tool, follow vendor-recommended procedures for modifying wireless network settings.

To reconfigure guest access in a Mac:

  1. In the menu bar, click the wireless signal icon (it looks like a little antenna).
  2. Click Open Network Preferences… and then click Airport.
  3. Click the Advanced… button and double-click k-state.guest.
  4. In the Security box, select None, then click the Add button.
    If prompted to use information stored in your keychain, click the Allow button.
  5. Click OK. Back in Network Preferences, click Apply.
  6. Exit System Preferences.

For assistance with guest wireless, contact the IT Help Desk, 785-532-7722, helpdesk@k-state.edu.