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Mobile Devices at UVa

Configure A Mobile Device for UVa

ITS does not provide step-by-step configuration instructions for all types of smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and mobile devices, nor do we support such devices beyond the instructions provided on this website. However, you can still probably successfully configure your mobile device yourself.

Before you connect your mobile device to the unencrypted wahoo wireless network, you may also wish to configure your mobile device for a UVa email account.

Connect Your Mobile Device to UVa’s Unencrypted wahoo Wireless Network

You can probably connect to UVa’s unencrypted wireless network, wahoo, by manually setting up a Wi-Fi connection on your phone, tablet, e-reader, or mobile device.

  1. First, register your device on the UVa network. If you are on-Grounds at UVa, you can register directly from your mobile device. (If you are not, follow the off-Grounds instructions instead.)
    1. Connect your smartphone or mobile device to the Welcome_to_UVa_Wireless network.
    2. Open a Web browser on your device and try to visit any website. You can use any of your bookmarks or refresh the page. You should be automatically directed to the “Welcome to UVa Wireless” portal.
    3. Under Getting Connected... Faculty, Staff, and Students, click the Continue button.
    4. At the bottom of the next page, click on the link “Connect an unsupported device,” which will take you to Unsupported Device Access to the Wahoo Wireless Network.
    5. On that page, under Requirements, click on the link “Network Registration website,” which will take you to the Network Registration page for unregistered devices on Grounds.
    6. Under Faculty, Staff, and Students, click the Enter button. Log in through NetBadge with your UVa computing ID and password.
    7. Click the Register a device for network access link.
    8. The registration form will appear.
      1. It will be pre-populated with your smartphone’s MAC address already filled in.
      2. The dropdown menu This is a wireless device should also be pre-selected with Yes.
      3. If a Contact Group dropdown menu appears, select No Group. (This menu will not appear for students.)
      4. Leave the Asset Tag (optional) and Serial Number (optional) fields blank.
      5. To differentiate this device from your other registered devices, in the Identifying Notes (e.g. Make/Model, Location) field, type some identifying information such as your UVa computing ID (example: mst3k) and the make/model of your device.
      6. Click the Submit Registration button. It may take 5-10 minutes for the registration to take place.
    9. Proceed to Step #2.

    If you are off-Grounds, you can register your mobile device on the network using your computer instead:

    1. Determine the Wi-Fi or “MAC” address of your smartphone or mobile device, so you can register it. How to do this will vary from device to device; you may need to search on the Internet for instructions specific to your device’s make and model if you do not know how to find this. Note that the Network Card Address/Physical Address/MAC Address is an alphanumeric value, which is listed in six groups of two hexadecimal digits, separated by hyphens (-) or colons (:), e.g. 01-2B-C5-67-89-ab or 01:2B:C5:67:89:ab.
    2. On your computer, go to the UVa Network Registration website. Click the Already Registered link.
    3. Under Faculty, Staff, and Students, click the Enter button. If needed, log into NetBadge.
    4. Click the Register a device for network access link. The registration form will appear.
      1. In the Physical/Hardware Address field, type the Wi-Fi or MAC address from your phone or device, which you just looked up.
      2. From the This is a wireless device dropdown menu, select Yes.
      3. If a Contact Group dropdown menu appears, select No Group. (This menu will not appear for students.)
      4. Leave the Asset Tag (optional) and Serial Number (optional) fields blank.
      5. To differentiate this device from your other registered devices, in the Identifying Notes (e.g. Make/Model, Location) field, type some identifying information such as your UVa computing ID (example: mst3k) and the make/model of your device.
      6. Click the Submit Registration button. It may take 5-10 minutes for the registration to take place.
  2. Then, configure your smartphone or mobile device to recognize the UVa wireless network wahoo. To do this:
    1. Make sure you are on Grounds and within range of the wahoo network, so your smartphone or mobile device can successfully detect it and connect. (Anywhere you see the cavalier network being broadcast at UVa, the wahoo network is also available, though hidden.)
    2. Navigate to a new network settings or Wi-Fi connection setup screen on your phone or mobile device.
    3. Enter the appropriate settings as provided on Unsupported Device Access to Wireless Networks.
  3. Test your configuration. Make sure you are in an area where UVa’s unencrypted wahoo network is available (you will see the secure network, cavalier, listed anytime you are in range of wahoo, even though wahoo may not display), and then attempt to connect.
    • After you have configured your device to use UVa’s unencrypted wahoo wireless network (where it is available), your smartphone or mobile device will autodetect the network from then on.
    • Should your device fail to autodetect the network when you are within range, you will need to manually select the UVa unencrypted wahoo wireless network.

Optionally, you may also wish to configure your mobile device for your UVa email account.

Troubleshooting Wireless Connection Problems

The unencrypted wahoo wireless network SSID is not broadcast. If you are having problems connecting to wahoo, be aware that some mobile devices have difficulty connecting to non-broadcast wireless networks. Check with your mobile device manufacturer or provider.

Also, make certain you have enabled Wi-Fi on your device; it may be turned off and simply turning Wi-Fi on will allow you to connect successfully.

  Page Updated: 2012-02-16

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