wireless internet
Does the library offer a wireless connection to patrons with laptops and PDAs?
Yes. As of October 13, 2003 the Orange Beach Public Library offers wireless
hotspots to patrons with wireless capable devices. You must provide your own
wireless capable device.
What do I need to connect to a wireless hotspot in the library? You need a
laptop or other device that conforms to standard 802.11b, commonly known as
Wi-Fi. New laptops may come already wireless capable. Laptops with a PCMCIA slot
or USB port can be adapted with an external wireless network card for about $60
or less. Check with your local retailer or computer store for technical details
and configuration.
Is it difficult to connect to a wireless hotspot? Not usually. Most laptops with
built-in wireless come automatically configured to pick up the wireless signal.
When using an external card, use the wireless card's software to configure your
laptop to connect to the wireless hotspot. TCP/IP protocol should be set to
"Obtain an IP address automatically". In the SSID box, type "any". "WEP" must be
diabled. Mode is "Infrastructure". Specific Laptop Tips.
Is technical support available from the library staff? No. Technical support
from the library staff is not available. You must be familiar with your device
and know how to set it up for wireless access.
When can I use the wireless access? Wireless access is available in the library
during business hours and on the front and rear patios 24 hours/day, 7 days a
week.
Is there a charge for using the wireless access? There is no charge to use
library computers, either cabled or wireless. If you print from the cabled
computers, black & white copies are .15, and color copies are .50.
Can I connect to the printers and other software via the wireless network? The
wireless hotspots enable patrons to use our Internet connection with their own
laptop. Software is not available via the wireless connection. To access the
wireless printer, you must add a new printer under the printer control panel.
The location of the printer is http://192.168.1.16, or you may copy to a disk or
CD and print from one of our cabled computers during business hours. Black &
white copies are .15, and color copies are .50.
How far does the wireless connection reach? In our experience, the wireless
connection reaches to the rear patio, and front patio and all the way to the
Adult Activity Center front covered entry. The library connection will not be
available inside the Adult Activity Center. However, the Adult Activity Center
also provides wireless access. Connection quality will vary according to demand
on the system, and your laptop.
ABOUT WIRELESS ACCESS IN THE LIBRARY
The Orange Beach Public Library now offers “hot spot” wireless internet access
for library patrons. Public hot spot services—instant, high speed Internet
connections for visitors’ laptop computers and handheld personal digital
assistants (PDA’s) via wireless connections, once the domain of business-class
hotels and other public spaces such as coffee shops, bookstore cafes, and
airports are now available through the Orange Beach Public Library.
Hot spots are available at the front and rear patios, the reading, meeting, and
audiovisual rooms, the computer lab, and the children’s computer lab. The
hotspots on the front and rear patio are available 24 hours a day. Technicians
from Computer Backup, Inc. were instrumental in consulting on and installing the
wireless hot spots. A generous donation to the library made it all possible.
Orange Beach Library is the first Baldwin County public library to offer hot
spot Internet access service for patrons’ portable computers.
Patrons must have a wireless capable computer. The new wireless service uses
standard 802.11b and is free to patrons who bring their own appropriately
equipped devices. No technical support is available from the library staff so
users will need to know how to operate their own equipment. For more
information, visit Frequently Asked Questions on the web site,
www.orangebeachlibrary.org.
Specific Laptop Tips: Try these tips if you still can't connect after following
the procedures above. Below are tricks and tips we've learned the hard way;
through experience. You may want to try them:
On new Dell laptops delete the MAC Network Bridge.
On some new Dell and Compaq laptops with built-in wireless capability, you must
unpack/install specific software that came bundled with the computer. It is
usually found under programs, and "Dell Software", or "Compaq Software". You'll
need to install the driver for standard 802.11b.
When installing a PCMCIA wireless card, if you use MacAfee anti-virus, you will
have to disable it, install the drivers and software, then enable it again.
If you have installed your PCMCIA card and software and it still won't connect,
try shutting down your computer, re-seating the card (pull it out and put it
back in firmly) and then restart the computer.
As a last resort, ask us and we'll try to help you briefly. Other library tasks
prevent us from in-depth troubleshooting of your wireless laptop.
The new Microsoft Firewall may block our wireless signal, so try turning it off
and then connecting. After that you can enable the firewall again.
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