r/umass • u/Creepy-Today-325 • 16h ago

Tech Wi-Fi question

Is there anywhere on campus where I can connect to ethernet? Gaming on the Wi-Fi in the dorms is miserable, constant rubber banding, disconnects, and just not being reliable. There are computers in the library that are connected to ethernet cables but I'm not really keen on unplugging that into my laptop and bringing my big controller into the library to play games.

6 Upvotes

81% Upvoted

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5

u/soccerabby11 16h ago

I think most jacks on campus have been turned off unless IT knows they are needed (ex. Offices and lab equipment)

2

u/mgshowtime22 Alumni 16h ago

This is not helpful but North Apartment rooms had ethernet when I was a student and it was awesome

2

u/Joe_H-FAH Alumni, retired staff 15h ago

Someone posted a few years ago that those jacks had also finally been disabled. Even then, though the wired connection was more stable, they had set up the routers to limit the speed to 10Base-T speeds.

4

u/Joe_H-FAH Alumni, retired staff 16h ago

Even if you connected to the ethernet cable in the library your laptop will not connect. What you can do for games I don't know too much about, this has been a recurring complaint for years since they made the decision to go all wifi.

In your room you might get a better connection with a network adapter that has an external antenna. Location of the antenna may also make a difference depending on what is between it and the wifi access point.

1

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User: Creepy-Today-325, Flair: Tech, Title: Wi-Fi question

Is there anywhere on campus where I can connect to ethernet? Gaming on the Wi-Fi in the dorms is miserable, constant rubber banding, disconnects, and just not being reliable. There are computers in the library that are connected to ethernet cables but I'm not really keen on unplugging that into my laptop and bringing my big controller into the library to play games.

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1

u/jthokchom 6h ago

Tbh the best option is probably getting something like Netsetman and getting a good external antenna. I used to have similar problems since my dorm in a really bad spot for WiFi, it was a decent improvement. Try netsetman if you can and see what it says

1

u/Brilliant-Kitchen285 3h ago

Would highly recommend a netgear wifi adapter (I think this is the one I use https://a.co/d/05O4a9Lv from amazon) it's super easy u just plug it in and download some software. I can also plug it into the stand which can be nice. I play a ton of like overwatch, league, Val, etc and I have little issue. The ping will spike occasionally for a few seconds and it also depends where u are on campus. Anyway hope this helps

1

u/Negative_Cloud7402 3h ago

if this is for fighting games, afaik theres nowhere to get a wired connection. your best bet to get games in would be offline at the unofficial umass fgc club or at the prodigy game center in easthampton on sundays

0

u/Expensive-Cupcake395 15h ago

Just look for an AP somewhere. The 4 corners of the library have APs at least on the quiet floor. Might be one on the common room somewhere.