Welcome to campus! Moving in to a campus residence means figuring out how to get all of your devices connected so your room is ready for studying and relaxing. OU IT is here to help you connect your questions to answers!
Which WiFi Network should I use?
- WIFI@OU is the name of the network designated for use by anyone with an OU account to connect your phone, laptop, or desktop computer. It's also the best for iPads and other tablets that have a browser. Take a look through our article on Connecting to WIFI@OU for instructions on how to connect.
- AccessOU is the name of the network that must be used for most smart devices in campus residences, such as smart TVs and most gaming consoles. Many smaller items such smart bulbs, e-readers, Chromecasts, Amazon Echos, Google Nests, etc., must also connect to AccessOU. These devices must be registered before they are allowed to connect to AccessOU using the process described in our AccessOU article.
- The OUGuest network is typically available only in areas of campus where campus guests frequent; it is typically not available in campus residences. OUGuest should never be used by OU account holders. If you have an OU account and have connected to the OUGuest network on accident, you should "forget" this network on your device and only connect to WIFI@OU moving forward.
- You can read more about these networks in our OU WIFI Networks article.
I'm having trouble connecting my smart device to AccessOU. How do I get someone to help me?
- OU IT is able to provide assistance with getting most devices to connect to a campus network.
- Before you contact us, please ensure you have followed the instructions in our AccessOU article carefully.
- The most common reasons we see that a device is not connecting are that they are not registered at all or "AccessOU" is not typed in with the correct capital letters.
- We also frequently see issues with typos in the registered MAC address or the user has accidentally registered the wired MAC address instead of the wireless/Wi-Fi MAC address. AccessOU is a wireless network that requires the wireless MAC address. Check out our article on Finding a MAC Address for instructions for common devices. If your device is not listed, you may need to locate instructions on the manufacturer's website on how to locate the MAC address.
- We also typically recommend that after you register your device at access.ou.edu, that you complete a hard power cycle on your device before attempting to connect to AccessOU. A hard power cycle typically involves using menu options to completely power down the device or unplugging the device completely, not just pushing the power button on the device or remote.
- If your device is still not connecting, you can contact OU IT via phone or by creating a General Help ticket. Please be prepared to provide your wireless/Wi-Fi MAC address to us, as well as the type and brand of your device. If you opt to call us, please do so while in your campus residence so we may ask you to try different troubleshooting steps.
- Please note - not all smart devices are able to connect to the campus network.
Can I use my own WiFi access point?
- No. Use of switches, hubs, and routers (typically integrated into private access points) as well as creating a back-end network are not allowed under OU IT’s policies.
Can I get a wired connection? How would I connect to that?
- All campus residences (excluding Headington Hall) should have at least one working wired port somewhere in the residence. For larger residences (such as apartments), this port may be in a shared space or in a bedroom. The port may be on an Access Point (these look like modems and may be attached to a wall) or it may be a wall port.
- In order to connect your device to our wired network, you must first register your device at net-reg.ou.edu. You can read more about this process in our Register a Wired Device article.
My gaming console is connected, but multiplayer gaming is not functioning correctly. Am I allowed to utilize multiplayer gaming on campus?
- Due to network security settings, multiplayer gaming is not available in your campus residence. OU IT will not open ports or change NAT types.
- OU IT encourages anyone in the university community to look into the OU Esports & Co-Curricular Innovation Department for information on how and where you can experience gaming on campus. The Esports & Gaming Complex is ready for you to come play!
- The Esports & Gaming Complex is the only place on campus where OU Provided Wi-Fi allows for full multiplayer and network capability for Nintendo Switches.
I'm having trouble with my Sooner Card mobile ID. Who can help me?
- If you have questions about your Sooner Card, how to activate the mobile ID, how to report a lost/stolen card, etc., please contact Sooner Card or visit them in person.
- If your physical card or mobile ID are not working on a door in housing that you need to access, please contact Sooner Card.
- If you are experiencing an issue with PingID that is preventing you from utilizing your mobile ID, please contact OU IT.
Can I use a wireless printer in my room?
- No. Wireless printing is not available in campus residences due to network security settings.
- Wepa printer kiosks are available in several locations across campus, including most campus residential areas. These kiosks allow you to print directly from Office365, Canvas, your phone, your email, etc. Please visit our Wepa Service Catalog page and scroll to the lower half of it for locations of Wepa printers across campus.
I'm having trouble with my OU Account, PingID, accessing my email, etc. Who can help me?
- OU IT can assist with all of these questions. Please contact OU IT or view any of the articles listed below.
- Set Up Your OUNet Account - Setting up your account is the first step to accessing all digital resources that OU has to offer, including email, campus WiFi, Canvas, and your digital Sooner Card, just to name a few.
- PingID Enrollment - PingID is required to access your OU email, Sooner Card mobile ID, and several campus resources. OU IT strongly recommends that you have at least two methods enrolled at all times, as this will make it easier for you to update authentication methods if you get a new phone, change your number, etc.
- Microsoft 365 Mail Instructions - This article includes links to help you access your OU email via several different methods.
I moved in! Is there anything else OU IT recommends that I do next?
- Hooray! Thanks for asking! We recommend taking the following actions listed below.
- Keep your OU password unique and complex. OU IT highly recommends ensuring that your OU password is not utilized for any other non-OU systems/services. This helps to keep your account and our network of thousands of other accounts more secure. If your OU password is used for other services, please change it. You can find instructions in our Change Password article. After the change, don't forget to update any saved passwords in your browser, password manager, keychain, etc.
- Set your OUIDPIN for the 1st, 5th, or 10th time! The best way to get account assistance from OU IT is to ensure that you have set your OUIDPIN and that you remember it! Not sure what it was? No problem! Log into One and set a new one that you know. Visit our OUIDPIN Verification article for instructions.
- Enroll at least two PingID authentication methods. Visit link.ou.edu/pingid to log in and see all of your enrolled authentication methods. If you only have one, OU IT strongly recommends that you add another. Visit our PingID Enrollment article for instructions or our article on PingID Multi-Factor Authentication Information article for more details.