During the 2019 summer semester there was a testing period for a new WiFi network which would implement many changes to the original WiFi network at Citrus College.
The new WiFi network was launched during the second week of the 2019 fall semester.
Information about the changes to the WiFi were stated in the Citrus College monthly text newsletters along with emails sent by tech services.
Citrus College Tech Center Faculty, Tom Cheng, spoke on the recent WiFi issues.
Cheng runs the technological hardware, work stations and computers on campus.
In regards to the new WiFi servers, Cheng said, “It’s more of a security upgrade, as well as a use upgrade.”
Citrus students seem to be loving the new WIFI server.
One student, Mariana Juarez, 19-year-old nursing major, said, “the wifi hasn’t gone down or anything. I have been able to submit my assignments on time, instead of having to worry.”
“We decided to revamp and change up the wireless to add security and also to add another wireless network for guests, who do not have credentials, network credentials to login. So, now we have two wireless networks that work out there,” Cheng said.
The two networks are the Citrus Secure WiFi network, which is available for students and faculty to use and the Citrus Guest WiFi, which is available to anyone visiting the campus.
For Citrus College students, changes to the login system are not drastic.
“For the Citrus Secure, all they (students) have to do is connect to the Citrus Secure network and it will come up with a prompt for their username and password and it’s the same username and password that they would use to log into the computers on campus, to canvas, to their email,” Cheng said.
“I like it because previously, you would have to sign in all the time, so this way it’s automatic. So, even if you don’t have to sign in, when you open your laptop it’s just there. So, it’s great,” said 26-year-old art major, Paula Jamin.
The only thing that students seemed to feel negatively about was the lack of notification through email or website announcement to students about the new WiFi system.
For guests of Citrus College, the login process is different than the CCAP WiFi network. In order to access the WiFi on the Citrus Guest network, a valid email must be provided and verified.
Students and faculty are still having trouble logging in.
“…Some of the older systems, Windows 7 and below laptops and a few of the older phones that do not connect automatically or has problems connecting to the network,” Cheng said.
“We have instructions on how to remedy that,” Cheng said.
If assistance is needed, the help desk at Citrus College tech services can help with any tech issues for students and staff. The help desk can be reached at (626) 857-4100 or at extension 4357 from an on-campus phone.
