The University's Secure*Air Wi-Fi offers the secure way to browse the Internet on campus.
Tim Crouch, associate director of networks and operations, said Secure*Air uses Secure Socket Layers and Wi-Fi Protected Access to keep your information encrypted and protected.
Patriot*Air is unprotected and unencrypted. An unprotected connection means other people might intercept sensitive or confidential information sent over the connection.
Crouch said both wireless connections still use the 802.11 g/b standard for information transmission, meaning there is no performance difference between the two connections.
The reason there are two connections is because some older wireless devices may not be WPA2 compliant, meaning they are unable to connect to Secure*Air, Michael Vick, manager of Campus Computing Services, said in a previous interview.
"We are currently working on upgrading the hardware of the 120 wireless access points to the 802.11 n standard," Crouch said. "We want to provide students with faster access."
Crouch said the 802.11 n standard allows more clients and allows a larger amount of data to be transmitted.
The connections require a user to login with one's Patriot username and password.
The login procedure for the two connections is different. Directions for using Patriot*Air may be found at http://ccs.uttyler.edu/?page=patriotair.
Users choosing to connect by a secured connection are prompted to install an add-on, which allows them to connect to Secure*Air.
The add-on asks for a Patriot account username and password along with other information. Upon finishing installation, users are automatically connected to Secure*Air.
Once users have connected Secure*Air, logging in is no longer necessary, unless the user changes his or her Patriot password.
"I use it (Patriot*Air) because it's quick and easy," junior Jeff Williford, a journalism major, said.
"I'm going to start using it now," senior Annaliza Gideon, a education major, said after finding out about the benefits of Secure*Air.
As stated on the University Web site about Patriot*Air, all users of Patriot*Air and Secure*Air are subject to security testing and monitoring, as well as the University information technology acceptable use policy.
Patriot*Air and Secure*Air are available in the following buildings:
Crouch said in the 2011 spring semester, the temporary classroom building in front of the library should get a wireless hotspot.
He said the Internet in Ornelas Hall and University Pines student housing is providing a challenging problem.
He said if the University installs dedicated hotspots, then the signals used by students from different Internet service providers would interfere with each other.
"We are going to survey the students this fall to get their input on the matter," Crouch said.
There are four wireless access points available on the Longview campus.
Outdoor wireless hotspots include the Harvey Lake deck and the study area in front of the library.
Users may also notice limited access in some locations because buildings and other structures can interfere with the wireless signal.
The sole hotspot on the Palestine campus is unsecured and requires no Patriot credentials to log on.
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