How to connect an XBox, PlayStation, Switch, Ring or other specialty device to WiFi?

Useful for: Student, Staff, Affiliates, Guests 

Overview

This article explains how to connect specialty devices (like Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or Ring cameras) to the University of Idaho's AirVandalGuest WiFi network. These devices are not supported on enterprise networks such as AirVandalGold, AirVandalHome, eduraom, and require special registration on the AVSetup portal to avoid daily re-authentication.

Instructions

• Locate Device MAC Address
• Register Device
• Connect to AirVandalGuest

Unsupported Devices

• Why These Devices Are Not Allowed

Instructions

Locate Device MAC Address

Every device has a MAC address, a unique value made up of 12 characters, 1-9 A-F (ex. 00:11:22:AA:BB:CC:DD). Some devices have both a wired (or Ethernet) MAC address and a wireless MAC address. For this process, it is important to find the wireless address and not the wired address. 

Each device will have it's own instructions for finding the MAC address. Here are some instructions for a few common devices:

Consoles:

• XBox
• PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5
• Switch

Security Cameras:

• Ring

OIT makes no guarantee of availability or suitability of the UI network for a particular purpose. Networks may be unavailable during maintenance and power outages.

Register Device

To register the device, connect to https://help.uidaho.edu/avsetup and complete the registration process.

You will need to wait at least 1 minute after registration before continuing.

Connect to AirVandalGuest

From the now registered device:

1. Locate your device's WiFi network settings
2. Connect to the AirVandalGuest network
   • Enter the password: GoVandals!

Unsupported Devices

Certain smart devices such as, the Echo Dot, Alexa, google smart speakers, and other smart voice assistants are not supported on the University of Idaho network.

Why These Devices Are Not Allowed

• Network Security Risks: These devices often rely on connection methods that do not meet university security standards and can be vulnerable to misuse.

• Privacy Concerns: Alexa devices are always listening by design, which poses risks in shared environments like dorms and can conflict with privacy and FERPA regulations.

• Piggybacking Risk: Some voice assistants can be exploited to create unsecured network bridges, potentially allowing unauthorized access to the campus network.

If you attempt to register one of these devices, it may not connect successfully and could be blocked automatically by the network.