Continue Connecting
Due to Illinois Executive Staty-at-Home order, all people aside from essential employees need to stay home, except when doing a few allowed activities, such as buying groceries or medications, going to a doctor, or helping relatives in need. All co-working spaces, cafes, and other public spaces that normally have free Wi-Fi internet connection are now effectively closed.
Your options for internet connection are limited to what's available at your residence and on your mobile device. If you don't have dedicated internet at home and are not able to order one through a local provider, such as RCN or Comcast (cable providers) or AT&T (DSL), your remaining options are as follows:
1. Wi-Fi Sharing with a Neighbor. If your immediate neighbor has internet connection and a Wi-Fi router with a strong signal, contact your neighbor by email or phone (do NOT physically go to him/her) and ask if he/she would be willing to share internet access with you. If so, your neighbor will provide you with network name and password to connect to his/her Wi-Fi connection.
Please understand that your neighbor is not at all obligated to share internet and is doing you a big favor. Consider reimbursing him/her for part of the monthly cost (do NOT physically go to your neighbor's house to do this), and also be mindful of bandwith limitations. This means limit your usage of shared Wi-Fi to necessary work and personal communication, and abstain from bandwidth intensive applications, such as streaming YouTube videos or playing video games.
2. Drive-Up Wi-Fi Hotspots. These public drive-up Wi-Fi hotspots in Illinois are intended for remote learning during the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The interactive map provides drive-up Wi-Fi hotspots with specific guest log-in instructions by site for educators and students engaged with PreK-12 and higher education. The map is housed at the Illinois House of Broadband, and was created with a help from the Illinois Board of Higher Education, Illinois State Board of Education, and other Illinois public agencies.
3. Comcast Xfinity Wi-Fi Free for Everyone. Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots across the country will be available to anyone who needs them for free – including non-Xfinity Internet subscribers. For a map of Xfinity WiFi hotspots, visit www.xfinity.com/wifi Once at a hotspot, select “xfinitywifi” network name in the list of available hotspots, and then launch a browser.
Comcast is also helping customers in the following ways:
- Pausing Data Plans: With so many people working and educating from home, Comcast says they want their customers to access the internet without thinking about data plans. Comcast says while the vast majority of customers do not come close to using 1TB of data in a month, they are pausing our data plans for 60 days giving all customers Unlimited data for no additional charge.
- No Disconnects for Late Fees: Comcast will not disconnect a customer’s internet service or assess late fees if they contact them and let them know that they can’t pay their bills during this period. Comcast says care teams will be available to offer flexible payment options and can help find other solutions.
How would I know if I'm within range of free Xfinity hotspot or my neighbor's Wi-Fi?
Follow instructions below to see a list of Wi-Fi networks available near you and signal strength. If xfinitywifi is available, it will be listed. Search for networks with Good or Excellent connection level. Many networks with weak signal will also show up on the list, but are generally of little use to you.
Network names with a word "Secured" or closed lock sign indicate that password is required (e.g. your neighbor's Wi-Fi). Network names with a word "Open" or open lock sign indicate open access (e.g. xfinitywifi).
IMPORTANT: Sometimes, Wi-Fi network names appear legitimate / official, but are actually fake. This is called Wi-Fi spoofing. If you connect to a fake Wi-Fi, it will allow the intruder to intercept all your information. To avoid becoming a victim, always double-check the name and connect ONLY to known networks. For example, only xfinitywifi, NOT yfinitywifi, xfenity, freexfinitywifi, etc. If using your neighbor's Wi-Fi, first get the exact name of the network, match that name to the name on the list, and only then connect. Never connect to unknown open networks.
How to find available Wi-Fi connections on your device?
- Xfinity Wi-Fi Instructions (different devices Mac and Windows): https://wifi.xfinity.com/connect-devices.php
- iPhone, iPad: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202639
- Mac: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201735
- Android devices (e.g. Samsung): https://support.google.com/android/answer/9075847?hl=en
- Windows 10: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4027030/windows-10-connect-to-a-wi-fi-network
- Windows 10 Mobile: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17237/windows-10-mobile-wifi-connections
- Windows 7 (Samsung): https://www.samsung.com/za/support/computing/how-do-i-connect-to-a-wireless-network-on-windows-7/
- Windows 7 (Lenovo): https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/solutions/ht500407
Off-campus organizations and resources listed on this website are provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute or imply an endorsement of the organization by National Louis University. The views and opinions expressed in any referenced document do not necessarily state or reflect those of National Louis University.
