There is a lot of misinformation about this subject, I'd like to clear up some of the misconceptions.
Q: Why was this information previously wrong?
A: Some faculty who I consulted may not know all the facts at the time, but I am blaming myself for spreading these incorrect rumors.
Q: Why can you not connect to your own access point?
A: The access points are cloning the address of your wireless router and sending disassociation messages to your wireless device preventing it from connecting to your wireless router. The ability to have this kind ofservice costs money, you are paying for it with your tuition.
Q: Why is RIT blocking my AP?
A: This is not being done to prevent piracy, but to make sure your personal credentials are secure while being transmitted over RIT's wireless network. If RIT didn't block rogue access points, then any script kiddie could throw up a "RIT" wireless point and unsuspecting students would connect, possibly giving up their personal information in the process. This is a very valid reason for preventing private Wi-Fi. To provide a service with 100% connectivity, RIT must shut down access points that would interfere with their system. ITS cannot provide support for third party wireless network issues.
Q: Why are there so many access points?
A: You demanded them. The biggest complaint to student government by student and parents was RIT's lack of wireless internet in student housing. Now there are at least 4000 APs around RIT. This is the single biggest wireless network Cisco has made and the kudos to RIT for spending the millions it took to put us at the top. All the access points are underpowered so everyone on a floor connects to different access points. This way no sole access point connection gets clogged with data. If you get a chance, put your hand up to the AP and notice how hot it gets.
Q: What is happening to RIT unsecured Wi-Fi and WPA?
A: Who knows? First RIT tells you to spend $60+ on a wireless router if you want wireless in the dorms, and now they've disabled your ability to use them. Only ITS knows when they'll flip the kill switch. If your device only supports WEP, you're shit out of luck once they disable open Wi-Fi.
Q: What can I do about this?
A: Spread the word. Complain to whoever pays for your tuition, tell a friend who tells another friend, bitch on forums, and more importantly, talk to people in Student Government. There is way to get your wireless working again, but you must demand it from RIT.
If you want to connect to your own network wirelessly, your current solution is to set up your own VPN with OpenVPN, or make all of your shared folders open to the web with password based access. Otherwise I'd suggest researching "frequency hopping", it will work with limited amount of "success" depending on how much throughput you require.
I'd like to thank everyone for showing their support, if you think anything here should be changed please let me know @ #wifi on irc.ritirc.com. You can connect through Mibbit using the above link.
