Frequently Asked Questions

General | Network | Television | Telephone



GENERAL


Where is the ResNet office?
A. In the Commander Building (the same building as the West Campus Housing Office). Go here for more info.

Where do I go for assistance with computer problems?
A. Depending on the issue, either OIT or ResNet will be able to help you. Check out our websites (www.oit.gatech.edu & www.resnet.gatech.edu ) or give either of us a call to find out what issues we support.

I live in a fraternity/sorority and am having issues, can you help me?
A. Greek housing gets their internet through EastNet, not ResNet, and we do not support EastNet. Please contact your house's HTA or OIT Customer Support for assistance.

What equipment do I need to access the internet, cable TV, and telephone system as an incoming freshman?
A. You will need a computer and ethernet cable for the network, an RG-6 quad shield coaxial cable for the television, and a telephone with cable if you want to use a landline phone. Go here for more info.

Does GaTech provide cables?
A. No. You will need to purchase your own ethernet, television, and telephone cables. These items can be purchased at the Barnes and Noble bookstore at Technology Square and Burdells in the Student Center.

What computer should I buy?
A. GaTech requires all new students to own a laptop. See www.sco.gatech.edu for more information on computer ownership requirements. Note that not all of the standard software is necessary. You should check with your department to see what you will need.

Do I need a certain operating system to log on to the GaTech network?
A. Though we only recommend and support Windows, Mac OS, and Linux, any device with a web browser should be able to log in to the network fine.

Where do I go to get software?
A. Some software, such as antivirus, antispyware, Zimbra, and a number of other things are provided at software.oit.gatech.edu. You will need to login with your prism account (i.e. jsmith3) and password.

Am I allowed to use file sharing programs on campus?
A. ONLY for files that have licenses that allow legal copies to be made. Typically, movies, popular music, TV shows, and computer programs are NOT legal to be downloaded. As a precaution, we recommend that you do not download these items on or off campus.

Is there a way to legally download music?
A. Unfortunately, no. Again, we strongly recommed that you do not download items illegally.

Can you help me set up my Wireless Printer?
A. While we primarily help with network, tv, and telephone problems, we give our best-effort for other issues. See our multiple devices page for more information.

How can I get my VoIP Phone to work on the network?
A. If your phone connects directly to an ethernet port, you will need a router. See our multiple devices page for more information or our router page for more information about setting up a router.

I have a question/issue that's not listed on here. What should I do?
A. Our website has many tutorials and information. If you can't find the answer there, contact us! Our contact information is below.


hours 9am - 7:45pm Monday-Thursday, 9am - 4:45pm Friday
phone number 404.894.0044
fax number 404.894.1230
mailing address   Dept of Housing, ResNet
353 Ferst Drive, Rm 102
Atlanta, GA 30332-0459
street address   871 McMillan Street NW
Atlanta, GA 30318

NETWORK


How fast is ResNet internet?
A. The residence halls have gigabit connectivity.

What is START?
A. START is the system GaTech uses to track each wired computer's network activity throughout campus. In order to get full access to the internet, GaTech requires each computer plugged in to be registered for security reasons.

Can I have two computers that work on the same Ethernet jack?
A. YES. You will need a router. If you register your computer through the router, you can hook up as many devices to it as you want. You can use a wireless router, but you must disable the wireless functionality.

Do I have Wireless Internet in my dorm or apartment?
A. YES! All buildings now have GTwireless access.

What is LAWN, and why do I have to keep logging in on my laptop?
A. LAWN stands for Local Area Wireless/Walkup Network. The login page that pops up every time you connect wirelessly is part of our security measures to ensure only approved accounts can access our network.

How do I access the wireless network?
A. Go here and follow the instructions on connecting to LAWN. The SSID and WEP key are available at the SSID and WEP key page for LAWN.

How many devices can I connect to the wireless network?
A. Each student can connect up to ten devices to the wireless network.

Can I set up my own wireless network for my room?
A. NO. You are not allowed to setup your own wireless network on campus for security and network interference reasons. If you DO have a wireless router, disable the wireless functionality or call us for assistance.

Should I use wireless or wired Internet while in my room?
A. WIRED. The wired network is one of the fastest in the nation. It's also twenty times faster and much more reliable than the wireless network, so we recommend that users connect to the wired network whenever possible.

Can I use game consoles over the ResNet network?
A. YES. You will need a router. Register your computer through the router and then connect the game console to the router. However, if your game console supports wireless you can register it over LAWN.

I have a friend visiting with me, can they access GTwireless?
A. NO. Visitors to Georgia Tech must use the FASTPASS network, a low cost visitor network, in order to access wireless internet at Georgia Tech.

I got an email saying that my account has been placed into Limbo or Disabled status. What should I do?
A. There are many reasons why an account might be put into Limbo or Disabled status, so please call the ResNet offices to find out what steps need to be taken to get your access back.

What inbound / outbound filters are in place for the Georgia Tech network?
A. OIT has more information on their site. (OIT Information Security Reference :: Campus Border Filters).

TV

Does my room receive HDTV channels?
A. YES. See the online channel guide. Go to our TV page for more TV info.

When will I be able to watch HDTV programming?
A. Currently, we are evaluating HDTV options. However, if you have a QAM 256 tuner, you can watch the channels we receive from our pilot program.

Can I use any television to get HDTV at GT?
A. No. You will need a TV capable of decoding QAM 256 signals.


Who do I contact if I need help?
A. Contact ResNet at 4-0044 for any questions you may have.

What is 480p?
A. Most channels are broadcast at 480p, which means 480p refers to "480 progressive", a form of standard definition digital television broadcast comparable to computer displays but not considered high definition. Each line of the screen is painted before the next line.

What is 720p?
A. HDTV, meaning "high definition television", is the highest of the digital television standards. HDTV displays pictures either in 720p or 1080i. 720p refers to "720 progressive", a form of high definition digital television that comprises 720 vertical pixels by 1,280 horizontal pixels. Scanning is done by painting a line of pixels before the next one is painted. Because of the sequential scanning, 720p is better able to handle motion and is actually superior to 1080i for that reason.

TELEPHONE

Does my room phone have long distance service?
A. No. Residents must use cell phones, calling cards, or Google Voice to make long distance calls. More info on telephones can be found on our telephone page.


Support
Call the ResNet office at 404.894.0044, submit a Help Request, or email us at support[at]resnet.gatech.edu.