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Current Students

Help Desk

Housing Residents

PacerStudent Wired should be considered the primary connection while in housing.

Campuses across the country are dealing with the explosive demands placed on Wi-Fi within university housing environments.  USC Aiken continue to work with vendors to expand Wi-Fi network access and reliability for our resident students.

What other devices are prohibited from use on campus?

The following devices are prohibited from use on campus. Using these in a crowded wi-fi environment like the campus and…

The following devices are prohibited from use on campus. Using these in a crowded wi-fi environment like the campus and housing networks leads to interference in wi-fi connections for other devices.  Therefore we ask that these technologies not be used on campus.  When they are detected, you will be asked to disable the wi-fi portion of the device.

  • Personal wireless routers (and/or activating the personal hotspot on a mobile device)- STRICTLY PROHIBITED
  • Wireless printers (these are a leading cause of wifi issues within the dorm/residence hall setting)
  • Some wireless streaming devices such as Roku and AppleTV (these can be connected via network cable, but not wireless)
  • Xbox 360 controllers (the Xbox 360 also features wireless connectivity of accessories via a proprietary 2.4 GHz radio system. This is mainly used to connect the official wireless controllers, but is also used for other devices such as the wireless racing wheel and wireless headsets. With the exception of some rhythm game controllers, and the Fanatec CSR wheel, this wireless connectivity is limited to first-party Microsoft accessories. We encourage you to being game controllers that plug-in to the console.)
  • Cordless phones

If you have any questions about these technologies or any other questions regarding usage of devices on the campus wi-fi network, please contact the Help Desk.

How do I connect to the PacerStudent wired network?

What Do I Need You will need an Ethernet cable. Note that this cable is different from a phone cable…

What Do I Need

You will need an Ethernet cable. Note that this cable is different from a phone cable and can be purchased anywhere that electronics or office supplies are sold, including Wal-Mart and Target.

Housing residents may pick up a free Ethernet cable at the Help Desk.  Just stop by the Help Desk with your student ID card to pick yours up.  Only one cable per resident.

How Do I Connect

Just plug the Ethernet cable into the nearest Ethernet jack and the other end into the Ethernet connection on your laptop.  If you need help locating the Ethernet port on your device, just bring it by the Help Desk for assistance.

You should use the bottom-left port of your jack if it's installed vertically.  Use the bottom-right jack if it's turned on its side horizontally.

No other ports area active on Ethernet jacks and they should not be used.

What Else Should I Know

Computer will still need to connect to Impulse SafeConnect.  Most other devices such as TV's, media streaming boxes, and video game systems should be able to connect directly to the internet.

If you are prompted for your username and password, try entering your PacerStudent username and password.  If this doesn't work, ensure you have the correct account information.  If so, you may need to contact the Help Desk for assistance.

Please note that not all devices are compatible with the level of security provided on the PacerStudent network.

Why is it recommended that I primarily use the wired connection, instead of wireless?

The wired network is more reliable and has faster speeds and more stable connections. If you would like to stream…

The wired network is more reliable and has faster speeds and more stable connections.

If you would like to stream media-rich content such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, etc, you should plug your device into an Ethernet port.

Ethernet connections are more reliable for streaming media-rich content even when many users are connected to the internet during evenings, weekends, and peak times.

Each room in housing has at least one Ethernet port available for Internet connectivity; most bedrooms have two available connections.

Housing residents may pick up a free Ethernet cable at the Help Desk.  Just stop by the Help Desk with your student ID card to pick yours up. Only one cable per resident.

I have a bad Wi-Fi connection in my room.

Bring your device by the Help Desk...it could be something easy to correct.  If we can't fix it, you can…

Bring your device by the Help Desk...it could be something easy to correct.  If we can't fix it, you can opt to go wired instead.

Housing residents get a FREE Ethernet cable at the Help Desk.

Just request your free Ethernet cable.  Only one cable per housing resident with current USCA ID card.

Can I bring my wireless printer?

Wireless printers are no longer allowed on campus because a printer's wireless connection interferes with secure networks causing those in…
Wireless printers are no longer allowed on campus because a printer's wireless connection interferes with secure networks causing those in surrounding areas to be kicked off Wi-Fi.  Wireless printers have proven to be the #1 cause of students dropping Wi-Fi connections in housing.  If you plan to bring a printer to campus, any wireless features must be disabled and a USB cable used instead to connect to your computer. The Help Desk can help you find instructions for disabling wireless on your printer.