As announced in the 2023 Networking Annual Report, UNC’s guest wireless networks (UNC-Guest and UNC-Guest-PSK) will soon be more widely available on campus. Currently, the UNC-Guest Wi-Fi network is available in select parts of campus, usually deployed at the request of a department.
To prepare for the expansion, UNC guest Wi-Fi networks (UNC-Guest and UNC-Guest-PSK) will limit access to some University resources.
Later this summer, users connected to guest Wi-Fi networks will not be able to access some UNC services and websites.
These changes will happen in two phases. In phase one, which will begin on June 4, 2024, users connected to UNC’s guest Wi-Fi networks, UNC-Guest and UNC-Guest-PSK, will no longer be able to access some University resources, including locally hosted file shares and some devices on campus, such as departmental printers.
In phase two of the project, guest Wi-Fi users will not be able to access some UNC websites, including, but limited to, live.unc.edu, heelmail.unc.edu, office.unc.edu, sharepoint.unc.edu and onedrive.unc.edu. ITS is determining the timing of phase two.
UNC’s other Wi-Fi networks, eduroam and UNC-PSK, will not be affected by these changes.
ITS recommends that UNC students, faculty and staff connect to eduroam or UNC-PSK instead of using guest Wi-Fi networks. If users try to access a blocked website while using guest Wi-Fi, they will be redirected to a page encouraging them to register devices with eduroam or UNC-PSK.
Ensuring Wi-Fi networks are used for their intended purposes and by the intended users strengthens security of University resources. If you have questions or need help registering a device, contact the ITS Service Desk.
About Wi-Fi at Carolina
UNC has three main wireless networks on campus to support the needs of students, faculty, staff and visitors.
ITS Networking maintains more than 12,000 access points that blanket campus (and off-campus facilities) with Wi-Fi coverage. ITS is constantly adding and upgrading our Wi-Fi networks, including improving outdoor coverage and installing the latest technologies like Wi-Fi 6E, to strengthen our networks for work and play.
eduroam
Eduroam is the recommended network for UNC students, staff and faculty. It provides a secured and encrypted connection to the University’s resources and the internet. Eduroam is a worldwide consortium of networks. When you register your device with eduroam at UNC-Chapel Hill, you’ll automatically connect whenever you’re in range of an eduroam hotspot.
You can eduroam in more than 100 countries and connect at more than 1,000 partners in the United States. If you’re traveling closer to home, most of the UNC System schools are also eduroam members. Visitors who have registered with eduroam at their home institutions are welcome to connect to eduroam at UNC.
UNC-PSK
UNC-PSK is for devices that aren’t compatible with eduroam, like smart TVs and game consoles. To configure UNC-PSK, you’ll need your device’s MAC address. The UNC-PSK password changes each academic year, so you’ll need to reregister your device once a year.
UNC-Guest
UNC-Guest is intended for temporary use by those with no affiliation with the University. The UNC-Guest network is open and unencrypted, like Wi-Fi networks found in public places such as coffee shops and is not recommended for UNC students, faculty or staff.