Wireless Internet Access
 

The Pasadena Public Library is pleased to offer free wireless Internet access to patrons with appropriately equipped wireless devices, a valid Pasadena Library Card and PIN.* The service has been designed to support a wide range of 802.11b/g (Wi-Fi) notebooks,  PDAs, and other devices.

Just launch your web browser to establish a connection to our wireless gateway server.  If your device does not connect, review the configuration settings listed at the bottom of this page.

The library provides and maintains this wireless network as a public service. Patrons are responsible for the setup and configuration of their own equipment. Library staff cannot assist in setting up laptops to work with the wireless network.

Locations

Wireless Internet access is available from any public room at any Pasadena Public Library location, except the Central Library circulating stacks.

Advantages

No waiting for a free public PC

No enforced time limits

Save files to your own system

Work when and where you want to

T1 (1.54 MB) high-speed access
Digital Library eBooks, audio eBooks, and music may be downloaded and accessed on your
    laptop

Limitations

No printing services available at this time

Wi-Fi networks can be less secure

Varied signal strength

Configuration Settings

In many instances wireless devices will automatically detect the Library’s wireless gateway and configure themselves to use the system.  If your device does not connect right away please try the following:

Make sure your wireless network adapter has been properly installed according to the manufacturers
    instructions.
Use the management software that came with your wireless device to confirm that your configuration
    settings match the values shown below.

    NETWORK NAME or (SSID): any

    NETWORK MODE: Infrastructure

    WEP: Disabled

    IP or NETWORK SETTINGS: DHCP enabled or Obtain an IP address automatically

    DNS: Obtain DNS address automatically

    GATEWAY: No default gateway set – your card should detect it automatically
 

Save any modified settings and restart your device as required.

Frequently Asked Questions

If the terms and procedures used here aren't familiar, try WiFi 411 Online Hotspots Directory : Tutorials & Guides, or check with Library staff -- they may be able to find additional instructional materials for you to use.

My laptop doesn’t see your wireless network. Why?

• Our net is 802.11G, backward compatible to 802.11B.  Is yours one of these?  If not, that could be the problem.
• Are you using a firewall?  Many firewalls prohibit the wireless connection.  The easy solution is to turn off your firewall.  The better solution is to determine how to set your firewall to allow outgoing wireless connections.

I see the Wifi, but I cannot connect.

• Are you using a firewall? Many firewalls prohibit the wireless connection. The easy solution is to turn off your firewall. The better solution is to determine how to set your firewall to allow outgoing wireless connections.
• Are you using Wifi encryption? For ease of use and universal access, we do not use any encryption, so you will need to turn your encryption off.

My laptop says it’s connected, but my browser can’t see anything.

• Many firewalls do not allow “redirects.” However, whatever your homepage is, you are first redirected to our logon page. If you do not allow redirects, you cannot logon so you cannot surf the web. You can either turn off your firewall or learn how to allow redirects.
• Is your browser compatible? We know our system works very well with the current versions of IE, Mozilla, and FireFox, but we also see that many versions of Safari do not work.

*A valid Pasadena Library Card and PIN are required to access the library's wireless Internet services.  Library cards are available at all Pasadena locations free of charge to any resident of the State of California.  Temporary library card numbers, which can used for certain online services (including onsite wireless) and which can be converted to permanent library cards within 60 days, are available online.