General Information

These instructions assume the following:

*Instructions for this step can be found in the Configuring your Macintosh for ResNet - Mac OS X instructions on the ResNet web site. Click on the Macintosh Connection Information link in the left column for the documentation. College-owned computers with a software image installed on it by Information Technology have the starred steps abve already addressed.

Please confirm which version of Mac OS X your computer has installed - version 10.1.x, 10.2.x, or 10.3.x - before continuing. There will be some minor differences in these connection instructions for the versions.

To check which version of Mac OS X in installed on your computer, go to the Apple menu in the upper left corner and select About the Mac.

Under the Mac OS X text, you will see the version number you have installed on your computer. Please follow the instructions for the version you have installed.

Mac OS X version 10.3.x

  1. Click on the System Preferences icon in the dock at the bottom of your Macintosh desktop. (It looks like a light switch with an Apple on it.) If you do not see this item listed in the dock or you do not have the dock enabled, you can also select System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
  2. Click on the Network icon to open the Network pane.
  3. In the top part of the Network pane, in the Location: field, make sure that Automatic is selected in the pop-up menu.
  4. In the Show: field, make sure that Airport is selected.
  5. In the By default, join: field, select A specific network.
  6. In the Network: field, select BelleAire. If you do not see BelleAire listed, it is possible that your computer is not in the range of one of Saint Mary's wireless access points.
  7. Please check the box next to Show Airport status in menu bar. This will allow you to see the wireless signal strength your computer has in the upper right corner of your screen, near the clock. The icon will show four bars in an arched pattern. If you see four light grey bars, your computer cannot detect a wireless signal. If you see four black bars, your computer can detect a strong wireless signal. (The display of wireless signal strength is very similar to signal strength for cellular phones. The stronger the signal, the better the access.)
  8. Click Apply Now.
  9. Close the Network window.
  10. Open a web broswer (Safari, Internet Explorer, Netscape).
  11. You may see an error that there is a problem with the security certificate or that the security certificate was signed by an unknown authority. If you see this error, click Continue.
    Note: This message is normal and you may see it every time you open a web browser to connect to BelleAire.
  12. The Saint Mary's College Wireless Network Access Page will appear.
  13. Type in your Saint Mary's username and password in the appropriate fields.
  14. Click Continue.
  15. You will see a message that you have been successfully logged on the network. You may now check your e-mail and the surf the web as normal.
To reconnect to the BelleAire network:
  1. Click on the icon that shows wireless signal strength in the menu bar in the upper right corner of your screen.
  2. Make sure that you see Airport: On.
  3. If Airport is not on, select Turn Airport On.
  4. If you are near a Saint Mary's BelleAire wireless access point, you will see the bars in the arched pattern darken, and the BelleAire network should appear in the menu.
  5. Make sure there is a checkmark next to BelleAire.
  6. Open a web browser and type in your username and password where prompted.
  7. You will see a message that you have been successfully logged on the network. You may now check your e-mail and the surf the web as normal.

Mac OS X version 10.2.x

  1. Click on the System Preferences icon in the dock at the bottom of your Macintosh desktop. (It looks like a light switch with an Apple on it.) If you do not see this item listed in the dock or you do not have the dock enabled, you can also select System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
  2. Click on the Network icon to open the Network pane.
  3. In the top part of the Network pane, in the Location: field, make sure that Automatic is selected in the pop-up menu.
  4. In the Show: field, make sure that Airport is selected.
  5. Click on the Airport tab.
  6. In the Preferred Network: field, select BelleAire. If you do not see BelleAire listed, it is possible that your computer is not in the range of one of Saint Mary's wireless access points.
  7. Please check the box next to Show Airport status in menu bar. This will allow you to see the wireless signal strength your computer has in the upper right corner of your screen, near the clock. The icon will show four bars in an arched pattern. If you see four light grey bars, your computer cannot detect a wireless signal. If you see four black bars, your computer can detect a strong wireless signal. (The display of wireless signal strength is very similar to signal strength for cellular phones. The stronger the signal, the better the access.)
  8. Click Apply Now.
  9. Close the Network window.
  10. Open a web broswer (Safari, Internet Explorer, Netscape).
  11. You may see an error that there is a problem with the security certificate or that the security certificate was signed by an unknown authority. If you see this error, click Continue.
    Note: This message is normal and you may see it every time you open a web browser to connect to BelleAire.
  12. The Saint Mary's College Wireless Network Access Page will appear.
  13. Type in your Saint Mary's username and password in the appropriate fields.
  14. Click Continue.
  15. You will see a message that you have been successfully logged on the network. You may now check your e-mail and the surf the web as normal.
To reconnect to the BelleAire network:
  1. Click on the icon that shows wireless signal strength in the menu bar in the upper right corner of your screen.
  2. Make sure that you see Airport: On.
  3. If Airport is not on, select Turn Airport On.
  4. If you are near a Saint Mary's BelleAire wireless access point, you will see the bars in the arched pattern darken, and the BelleAire network should appear in the menu.
  5. Make sure there is a checkmark next to BelleAire.
  6. Open a web browser and type in your username and password where prompted.
  7. You will see a message that you have been successfully logged on the network. You may now check your e-mail and the surf the web as normal.

Mac OS X version 10.1.x

  1. Click on the System Preferences icon in the dock at the bottom of your Macintosh desktop. (It looks like a light switch with an Apple on it.) If you do not see this item listed in the dock or you do not have the dock enabled, you can also select System Preferences from the Apple Menu.
  2. Click on the Network icon to open the Network pane.
  3. In the top part of the Network pane, in the Location: field, make sure that Automatic is selected in the pop-up menu.
  4. In the Show: field, make sure that Airport is selected.
  5. Click on the Airport tab.
  6. In the Preferred Network: field, select BelleAire. If you do not see BelleAire listed, it is possible that your computer is not in the range of one of Saint Mary's wireless access points.
  7. Please check the box next to Show Airport status in menu bar. This will allow you to see the wireless signal strength your computer has in the upper right corner of your screen, near the clock. The icon will show four bars in an arched pattern. If you see four light grey bars, your computer cannot detect a wireless signal. If you see four black bars, your computer can detect a strong wireless signal. (The display of wireless signal strength is very similar to signal strength for cellular phones. The stronger the signal, the better the access.)
  8. Click Apply Now.
  9. Close the Network window.
  10. Open a web broswer (Safari, Internet Explorer, Netscape).
  11. You may see an error that there is a problem with the security certificate or that the security certificate was signed by an unknown authority. If you see this error, click Continue.
    Note: This message is normal and you may see it every time you open a web browser to connect to BelleAire.
  12. The Saint Mary's College Wireless Network Access Page will appear.
  13. Type in your Saint Mary's username and password in the appropriate fields.
  14. Click Continue.
  15. You will see a message that you have been successfully logged on the network. You may now check your e-mail and the surf the web as normal.
To reconnect to the BelleAire network:
  1. Click on the icon that shows wireless signal strength in the menu bar in the upper right corner of your screen.
  2. Make sure that you see Airport: On.
  3. If Airport is not on, select Turn Airport On.
  4. If you are near a Saint Mary's BelleAire wireless access point, you will see the bars in the arched pattern darken, and the BelleAire network should appear in the menu.
  5. Make sure there is a checkmark next to BelleAire.
  6. Open a web browser and type in your username and password where prompted.
  7. You will see a message that you have been successfully logged on the network. You may now check your e-mail and the surf the web as normal.

Last Modified February 5, 2004