- What is a Wireless Hotspot?
- Is there an access fee?
- Do I need to have a library card?
- Is there a time limit for the wireless access?
- What kind of wireless network do you have?
- Is this wireless network secure?
- Is this wireless network safe?
- I need help connecting to the wireless network, who can help me?
- I have a Macintosh computer; can I still use your wireless network?
- I need to print something, how can I do that?
- Will there be power outlets available for my device?
1: What is a Wireless Hotspot?
A “hotspot” is an area that offers wireless (Wi-Fi) access to the Internet. Wi-Fi computer networking technology allows computers and PDAs to send and receive Internet data via a wireless network. If your computer or PDA is Wi-Fi enabled you can connect to the Internet wirelessly at the Library free of charge.
2: Is there an access fee?
No, Contra Costa County Library is providing this service free of charge to its customers. Customers must have their own equipment, wireless card and software. In order to access the wireless network, you must agree to our acceptable use policy.
3: Do I need to have a library card?
Currently, we do not require a library card number to access the wireless network.
4: Is there a time limit for the wireless access?
We do not limit the time a customer can use our wireless network, but reserve the right to change this based on demand.
5: What kind of wireless network do you have?
Devices that support the wi-fi standard –802.11b or 802.11g – should be able to use the wireless Internet connection.
6: Is this wireless network secure?
- Wireless networks are less secure than other forms of data transmission because wireless data is sent through the air. Because of this, there is no way to control what may receive the signal.
- Encryption (scrambling data to make it unusable to anyone except the recipient) can be employed, but is often easy to break and complicates connections so we do not use it.
- The best way to be secure on a wireless network is to not transmit information of a personal nature, such as social security numbers, bank accounts numbers, etc.
- We also strongly recommend that you have Antivirus and personal firewall software, and make sure that it is up to date.
7: Is this wireless network safe?
- Most wireless networking equipment operates on the 2.4 or 5-gigahertz frequency, which is the same frequency that most cordless phones operate on.
- According to Lucent technologies, a major manufacturer of wireless equipment: most WIFI operates at .25 watts (cellular phones go up to 3 watts and microwave ovens leak more than that), a person is probably at greater risk when talking on the car phone or cooking dinner than they are when using wireless Ethernet.
8: I need help connecting to the wireless network, who can help me?
Because of liability concerns, Library staff cannot provide any technical support for your wireless device. We do provide written instructions for connecting to our wireless network. If you are still having issues connecting, we suggest you refer to your wireless device’s technical support.
9: I have a Macintosh computer; can I still use your wireless network?
Yes, as long as your Macintosh computer has the appropriate hardware (802.11(b, g) enabled wireless device, also called “airport”) you can use the wireless network. Please note: logging onto the library wireless network may not be supported by your version of the Safari browser. If you can connect to the wireless system, but cannot bring up the user agreement page in Safari, use another browser such as Internet Explorer to accept the user agreement. Once you are logged in, you are free to browse with Safari or any other browser. For more information, please see our detailed user instructions.
10: I need to print something, how can I do that?
Printing from the wireless network is not available at this time. If you need to print something, you can do so from any of the available library computers (printing is 10 cents per page).
11: Will there be power outlets available for my device?
- We cannot assure that there will be outlets available for everyone. We recommend that customers charge their devices before hand.
- You may not unplug power cords already plugged in, or interfere with normal library use or safety in any way.