I'm moving into student housing in a few days and I'm bringing a router so I hopefully will have internet access. The internet is almost essential to me as a student. If I plugged the router in and turned it on, would it work? Or would I have to call an internet provider to get it set up? Also what is an Ethernet cable and do I need it to make the router work? It might also be worth mentioning that the complex does have internet but I think it's a bunch of hotspots or maybe it's just inside the front office? (I wont be living anywhere near the office anyway. I'm in s a back building.) I can't imagine that it would be very fast anyway with so many people using it.
GTB2017-08-25T20:30:11Z
I cannot think of any University today that fails to provide high quality Internet connectivity in University sponsored student housing. I also cannot think of any University today that will permit you to connect your router to their network either. Check w the residence hall people on this.
The router on its own will provide you with a private local network offering Ethernet and WiFi (if it is a wireless router). You will need to have a connection from the router to the Internet. This might be through an Ethernet port in your room, or you might need to arrange an alternative Internet connection. The router on its own will NOT magically connect to the Internet.
Maybe, maybe not. If you haven't already got an internet signal in the property you can't simply plug in a router and expect internet access. You need an internet provider to supply and bring in the signal from the street into the property. This involves setting up a contract (usually a minimum of 12 months) and the ISP usually will supply a modem/router as part of the deal. Also bringing in your own router may not work as often they have to be approved/activated by the ISP. This is done to reduce support costs - if there are problems the ISP will remotely access/check the router and also can manage firmware updates seamlessly Some student acccomodation, especially more recent student blocks, will have already wifi or ethernet internet access included in accomodation fees. For wifi or ethernet you go through an authentication login process for each session after which you are granted access. With ethernet you simply plug in a cable into the wall and proceed as for wifi