Connect Smart TV to University Wifi

[apizzo667]

Hello -

I attend UMass. I have access to the internet through the University's Wi Fi network on my lap top (protected Wi Fi network). I had to download a Unversity program called "Xpress Connect" to get the internet to work on my laptop.

Now, I have a Samsung Smart TV which can see the university wireless network, but can not at all connect to it.

I currently use Connectify to connect my Smart TV to the internet using my laptop as a "bridge" between the laptop and my TV.

There is NO ethernet cord in my university apartment. The university is stricly 100% wireless.

Is there any HARDWARE (such as apple airport express) that I can purchase to create a wireless network that my TV and PS4 (for simplicity sake maybe we can just say TV for now) can access my university Wi Fi by somehow creating my own subnetwork using the university Wi Fi?

I basically don't want to have to have my laptop open and running using Connectify because I would really like to run Slingbox on my home TV on Philly and watch it on my Smart TV here at school.

I really hope there is a solution for this. Also, I tried a direct ethernet connection between the laptop and Smart TV and that does not work.

Hopefully there is a wireless solution to this.

 

[noahhicks]

Since the university requires you to install and connect through their software, it seems that you need to have a computer set up that will install their software.

Have you considered asking the university IT department? You can't be the first student who want to connect a tv to the wireless network. If they don't have a solution, your best bet for a hardware option would be to purchase a used laptop or netbook and use it. It's kind of a ridiculous option, but so is their "wireless only" network with special software to connect.

 

[apizzo667]

Thanks someone else at the school also suggested this as a solution (purchasing an old computer just to use as a Connectify Hotspot. I was just hoping there was some other option that I just haven't thought of. As of now, neither the Smart TV nor PS4 can connect to the internet without the laptop connectify hotspot. It's just a hassel and I'd like to have constant internet access on the TV / PS4. I considered purchasing a mobile hot spot, but for significant data usage for something Slingbox, the prices were through the roof. My family in Philly has Comcast and they used to offer an unlimited mobile hot spot that you could 'bundle' in with your existing services for under $50 USD per month but they no offer mobile hot spots and all other mobile hot spots cost so much.

I was hoping there would be a dual band router (I think the Unversity Wi Fi is 5ghz and the TV is 5ghz but the PS4 is 2.4ghz) that I could latch onto my university wi fi and have a sort of 'ad-hoc' network.

Sorry for the rant but I am hoping there is some type of hardware solution.

thanks none the less noahhicks.