Northville District Library

Step One: Make Sure your Computer is Compatible
The Operating System is NOT a reliable measire of compatibility here. Instead, it is the wireless card or availability of a Network Interface Card (NIC). NDL's Wireless Hotspot will support IEEE 802.11a, b, or g type protocols throughout most of the Library. We also provide patch cables for connection to the Hotspot via NIC. If you are not sure in either case, please refer to the manuals that came with your computer.

Some Laptops or Notebook computers include an ON/OFF switch specifically for wireless. This switch is intended to save battery power. Make sure your WIRELESS is switched on before you connect.

Right Click on your WIRELESS icon (usually in the lower right corner) and then VIEW AVAILABLE WIRELESS NETWORKS

You should see each of the above listed WIRELESS NETWORKS available. Almost all users will choose "ndlhotspotG". After you select the network, click on CONNECT.

There are 2 SSIDs (Service Set IDentifier) use for our Hotspot access.
ndlhotspotA is for 802.11a users
ndlhotspotG is for 802.11B and 802.11B users.

Choose the Access Point with the strongest signal for best performance. This choice may vary depending on where you are in the Library. The best signal performance will be near the INFO DESK upstairs.

Step Two: Logging in to use the Wireless or Wired Hotspot Access
There are 2 basic sets of pre-requisites you need to meet before logging in:
1. You MUST have a Valid Library Card
AND
2. You MUST have used your Valid Library Card to log into the Library's Public Internet Computers at least ONCE.
OR
3. You MUST have a VALID PICTURE ID in order to obtain a VISTOR CARD if you do NOT have a Valid Library Card.

First, Load up your preferred web browser. Microsoft's Internet Explorer 7.x or 8.x and Firefox 3.5.x  recommended, but other web browsers such as Safari, Opera, Chrome, etc will also work perfectly fine as long as JavaScript is enabled.

Security/Login Process

ALL browsers have a tendency to mishandle "self signed certificates". They claim that these certificates are "not safe". Regardless of claims made by multiple web browsers, self signed certificates can be perfectly safe. The following steps outline how to get through these prompts with both MSIE and Firefox.

MSIE and Self Signed Certificates

When loading MSIE, the first screen you will see looks like this one below. You MUST click on "Continue to this Website (not recommend)." in order to use the Wireless connection. If you click on "Click here to close this webpage", you CANNOT LOGIN TO THE WIRELESS.

When loading Firefox (versions 3.5x or higher), you'll see a screen like the one below. You MUST click on "Add Exception" to continue the login process.

Other web browsers (Safari, Opera, Konquerer, etc) may provide similar screens. You MUST confirm any security exceptions or complaints about self signed certificates in order to properly login to the Wireless Hotspot.

Logging In to the Wireless Hotspot

Once logged in, you will see a login screen like the one below (This screen is essentially the same regardless of web browser)::

Complete the login process by typing in the barcode from your VALID LIBRARY CARD or VISITOR CARD without spaces, then click on OK.

If you have login problems, the screen will reload and show "Invalid Name or Password". If this issue happens repeatedly, please contact Technology Staff at the Reference Desk for help.

Once properly logged in, you will be forwarded to a page like the following:

Please be aware of the Library's Policy on Internet Use and the Guidelines for Internet Use. You can access these documents online, or request a copy at the Reference Desk downstairs.

If for ANY reason you cannot get the above page to load, you can try to directly access the Authentication Gateway by typing the following in your web browsers address bar:
http://198.111.167.118

This should force the login steps illustrated above to load.