Students have their own secure 250Mb/s network called PacerStudent.
If you plan to use wireless while on-campus, you will need to install Impulse SafeConnect (this is required for both students residing on campus and commuting students).
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.
YES - Continue.
NO - Can you connect to any other network such as PacerGuest, a network at your home or public Wi-Fi, Burger King, Taco Bell, etc? Also, can you connect to PacerStudent when not in the dorms?
YES - Continue.
NO - Please bring your laptop to the Help Desk for assistance.
Do you see any Wi-Fi networks/connections listed on your device?
YES - Are there any connections listed which appear to be a printer, a phone or media streaming device (Chromecast, Apple TV, Roku, etc) and do these other connections, or similar connections, show up each time you have trouble connecting to PacerStudent?
YES - If the connection you found is from another device you own, please deactivate wireless on this other device. If it is not your device, please notify your RA and the Help Desk of the interference. You should also consider picking up a free Ethernet cable from the Help Desk for use in your dorm room and bringing your device to us for further troubleshooting.
NO - Continue.
NO - Is Wi-Fi activated on your device?
YES - Try rebooting and/or turning your Wi-Fi off and then back on. If the problem continues you may have a Wi-Fi software error or other software/virus related issue. Please contact the Help Desk for assistance.
NO - If on a laptop, you may need to turn on using a physical switch on the side or front of your laptop. On some laptops and other devices you may need to enable Wi-Fi within your Network Configuration settings. If you don’t know how to do this, please bring your device to the Help Desk for assistance.
Does PacerStudent attempt to connect but fail telling you to reenter your username and password?
YES - Be sure you are using your PacerStudent username and password. Please refer to “Checking your PacerStudent account below at the end of this FAQ. If that doesn’t resolve the issue, return here and continue.
NO - Continue.
Does PacerStudent attempt to connect but fail saying the connection is unavailable or has been avoided due to a poor connection (or anything similar)?
YES - Can you connect to any other network such as PacerGuest, a network at your home or public Wi-Fi at Starbucks, Burger King, etc?
YES - Try removing or forgetting the PacerStudent connection.
If you’re using a Windows laptop, try running the PacerStudent Wireless Profile Installer
If you’re using a Mac or other device such as phone or tablet, simply try reconnecting.
NO - Please bring your laptop to the Help Desk for assistance.
NO - Continue
If you’re using a laptop, does PacerStudent connect successfully but you can’t access the internet? (If you’re using any other device, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.)
YES - Open an internet browser such as Internet Explorer, Chrome or Firefox. Try to go to google.com, cnn.com, facebook.com. Did the Impulse SafeConnect screen load and ask you to sign-in?
YES - Use that same PacerStudent username and password you used when connecting to Wi-Fi and the same one you use when logging into a campus computer.
If Impulse SafeConnect told you your password was incorrect, make sure you’re using the correct password, and see the “Checking your PacerStudent Account” section below. If you were given a new screen with an error message, you may be able to correct the issue by following the on-screen instructions. If you are unable to correct the issue on your own, contact the Help Desk for assistance.
NO - Reboot or restart your system and try again. If you still aren’t prompted to sign into Impulse SafeConnect and you still can’t access the internet, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.
NO - Please contact the Help Desk for assistance.
Checking your PacerStudent Account
To test that your username and password are correct, try to sign into a lab computer or this web page: https://vpn.usca.edu/ad
Can you sign into either a lab computer or the web page above?
YES - Your username and password are correct. Try using your PacerStudent username followed by @usca.edu For example: if your username is JOHND then you would enter This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
NOTICE that this is not your email address. It is a special way to enter your username which might help work around your sign-in issue. If you still can’t login, return to your previous section and continue.
NO - The issue may be your username or password. Contact the Help Desk for assistance.
Devices such as media streaming boxes (Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, etc), TV's, wireless printers, DVD and Blue-ray players, should not be connected to the PacerStudent network using Wi-Fi. Connecting these devices wirelessly, and even having wi-fi active on these devices, can cause major disruptions to others attempting to connect to PacerStudent.
Devices such as these are not designed for a campus environment and cause severe interference in campus networks.
Instead these devices should be connected to the PacerStudent wired network using an Ethernet cable. Ethernet cables are available for purchase in the bookstore and at the nearby retail stores.
Setting up a wireless device like a phone or tablet for PacerStudent Wi-Fi is quick and easy. You shouldn't require any special setup or assistance to connect to Wi-Fi.
Just locate "PacerStudent" in the list of available Wi-Fi connections. Connect to it by entering your Pacer Account username (without the @usca.edu) and password when prompted.
If your device asks for additional settings during setup, make sure to use the following :
If you don't see "PacerStudent" listed or can't connect, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.
Setting up a Mac OS X computer for the PacerStudent Wi-Fi network is quick and easy. You shouldn't require any special setup or assistance to connect to Wi-Fi.
Just locate "PacerStudent" in the list of available Wi-Fi connections. Connect to it. Enter your PacerStudent username and password when prompted.
If you don't see PacerStudent listed, please select the "I'm having issues connecting to the internet" question for troubleshooting information. You may also want to try manually creating a Wi-Fi connection (see below). If you still can't connect, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.
What's Next?
Once you've connected to PacerStudent you'll be prompted to install and/or sign-in Impulse SafeConnect. This is the security software used to maintain the high level of security enjoyed by students on PacerStudent. Installation is easy and takes only a minute or two the first time you sign-in.
Create a Manual Profile for PacerStudent Wi-Fi
From your desktop, click the apple icon in the top-left hand corner of the screen and select System Preferences.
In the System Preferences Panel, select the Network icon:
In the Network Preferences Window, be sure Airport is selected on the left-hand side and that the status is "On" and then choose the "Advanced" button:
You should then see the following window:
Select the button labeled 802.1X:
In the bottom left-hand corner of the screen, select the plus symbol (+) and choose "Add User Profile":
You should then see the following screen:
Change "untitled" to "WPA:PacerStudent" and then fill out the right-hand side with your PacerStudent username and password and type PacerStudent in the wireless network or if you are on-campus simply choose PacerStudent from the drop-down menu. For Authentication method ONLY PEAP should be checked-you should uncheck all others. Then, you can select PEAP and drag it to the top of the list. When you are finished your screen should look similar to this one:
Next, simply click the OK button.
You should now be back at the "Advanced Settings" screen. If not, simply repeat Steps 1-3 above to return to that menu. Click the plus symbol (+) on this screen to add a preferred network.
For Network Name enter PacerStudent. For security, enter WPA 2 Enterprise. Then, you can enter your PacerStudent username and password and beside 802.1x select WPA:PacerStudent (note: by first selecting WPA:PacerStudent beside 802.1x you may avoid having to type your username and password in this window as they should be auto-filled for you).
Your final screen should look something like this:
Finally, select "Remember this network" and then click the Add button and click "apply" or "OK" on any open windows. You should now be connected to PacerStudent!
Sometimes it can take a moment or two before you join the network. Sometimes it helps to turn your airport off and then back on so it can rescan for available networks.
Also remember that if you ever change your PacerStudent password, you'll need to go back into your 802.1x settings and update your password there so that the password saved in these settings will match your password on the network!
As always, if you have any questions or need help setting up your computer for our network, please feel free to contact us! Our contact information is at the bottom of this page.
The PacerStudent Wireless Profile Installer, provides Windows users with an easy option to set-up and configure their computer's for access to the PacerStudent Wi-Fi network.
You can even install the profile before you arrive on campus. Then when you turn your computer on for the first time on campus, it will automatically detect and connect to PacerStudent Wi-Fi. All you'll have to do is enter your PacerStudent username and password when prompted.
You must set your Pacer Account password before connecting to the PacerStudent Wi-Fi network. If you don't see PacerStudent listed, please select the "I'm having issues connecting to the internet" question for troubleshooting information. If you still can't connect, please contact the Help Desk for assistance.
Connect Your Computer to PacerStudent Wi-Fi
To install the Wireless Profile, simply click the link below and save the file to your desktop. Alternatively, you could save it to a flash drive for later use on additional computers.
Click here to download the script: PacerStudent Profile Installer
After saving the script to your desktop or flashdrive, you should see an icon like the one shown here. To install the profile, double-click this icon.
The installer will open, displaying the screen shown below. Read the instructions included in the installer window. Then click the Install button near the bottom of the installer window. Within a few seconds you should see a window open, complete a script, and then close. That's it. You're all done. The PacerStudent Wireless Profile has been installed.
If you'd like to confirm that the installation took pace, just go to following folder and ensure that you see two files there. If so, then the wireless profile has been installed successfully. Check the folder: C:\PacerStudent_Profile
When you arrive on campus and your system detects the PacerStudent wireless network, you'll see a pop-up like the one shown here from the Windows Task Tray. Simply click the pop-up.
A login screen like the one shown below will be displayed. Just enter your PacerStudent username and password. The Domain field should be left blank. Click OK.
Within one to two minutes at most, you should see a notice that you are connected to PacerStudent.
NOTE: Each time you change your Pacer Account password, you will see a similar pop-up to the one above. You will need to click it and reenter your username and password.
What's Next?
Now that you've connected to PacerStudent you'll be prompted to install and/or sign-in Impulse SafeConnect. This is the security software used to maintain the high level of security enjoyed by students on PacerStudent. Installation is easy and takes only a minute or two the first time you sign-in.
Students should connect their laptops and wireless devices to the PacerStudent wireless network, which uses Impulse SafeConnect software.
Desktop users connecting through a wired connection will also need to install the Impulse software.
The setup for Impulse is very simple. As a result, the screen shots and instructions below are not meant to be step-by-step instructions or to walk you through installation. These instructions are provided only to make you familiar with what you will likely see the first time you open your web browser after connecting to PacerStudent.
Off-Campus Install
If you are off-campus and would like to pre-install the SafeConnect client, you may do so by downloading and installing it directly. After running the downloaded file, the installation process will be similar to the screens shown below.
Install Impulse on a Windows system: Impulse SafeConnect Installer
Install Impulse on a Mac system: Impulse SafeConnect Installer
On-Campus Install
You should first connect to PacerStudent through wireless, or by connecting your computer through a wired connection (wired connections are not available in all dorm rooms).
To install Impulse SafeConnect, open your web browser. You should immediately see a screen similar to the one show below.
NOTE: In some cases this screen may take several minutes to appear. If the screen doesn't appear immediately just continue to use the web as you normally would until the screen is displayed, then continue with the instructions. If the screen fails to eventually display, or if you are off-campus, you should follow the Off-Campus Install instructions.
Enter your PacerStudent username and password as shown. Then click Submit.
You'll be shown this screen, and given the chance to read the terms and requirements regarding use of Impulse. To continue, and receive access to the internet, you must click Yes stating that you accept the terms as shown below.
At this point the software will automatically begin downloading. You may see a pop-up bar at the top of your browser asking if it is OK to download or install the software, if so, you must permit it.
A pop-up window similar to the one shown below will be displayed. To begin installation click Run.
You may be presented with a second pop-up window, if so, again click Run as shown below.
Within just a few seconds, the software will be ready to install. You'll then see the window below. Click Install.
The installation should take only a few moments. When it's complete, you'll be show the window below. Just click OK. Impulse SafeConnect is now fully installed on your system.
You should be left with a web page like the one shown here. Close and reopen your web broswer. Impulse SafeConnect will then automatically check your computer to ensure that all anti-virus and Windows Updates are fully updated. If anything is found to require an update, Impulse will instruct you on how to proceed.
You should not connect to PacerNet, PacerGuest or any other campus network.
Student owned devices which accidentally connect to another network will need to be switched over to the PacerStudent connection.
PacerGuest is not secure and using it puts your devices at risk. PacerNet is optimized for connections to administrative and staff systems, meaning you'll get less bandwidth for sites like my.usca, Blackboard, Facebook, YouTube, gaming, etc.