WiFi

Heriot-Watt University provides the eduroam wireless service for staff and students on campus.

The eduroam wireless service provides staff and students with the following benefits: -

  • The wireless traffic is encrypted making it more secure
  • Better bandwidth speeds
  • Access to HWU library resources
  • It’s flexible. Once you have configured your device to access eduroam at HWU, you can visit other eduroam-enabled institutes and connect using your HWU credentials

If you are intending to visit other institutions offering eduroam you should first ensure that you can connect to the eduroam wireless service at Heriot-Watt University.

At the Scottish Borders Campus eduroam is provided by Borders College ICT - see below.

eduroam setup

For all campuses (including SBC High Mill)

New students and members of staff: -

  • Select HWU WiFi setup when you try to connect your device to the wireless service for the first time

This takes you to the eduroam automatic configuration tool (If it doesn't load, open a browser and type https://cloud.securew2.com/public/12133/eduroam/) - just follow the steps to set up your device.

When prompted for your HWU UserID (the one you use for Canvas, myHWU, the university desktop PCs and your university email)  enter your UserID followed by @hw.ac.uk (so it's in the format abc123@hw.ac.uk)

If you have any problems connecting using the HWU WiFi setup, you can manually configure your device - instructions below

Staff and students at other SBC buildings see Scottish Borders Campus info below

Login and password

Use your HWU UserID (the one you use for Vision, the university desktop PCs and your university email) - followed by @hw.ac.uk - and password to login to eduroam.

Remember to include @hw.ac.uk (abc123@hw.ac.uk)

Connecting a SmartPhone/mobile device

The majority of current smartphones/PDAs can connect to the eduroam wireless service when on campus. Any device supporting WPA2 with 802.1x authentication should be able to connect. Unfortunately, it is not possible to provide instructions for every mobile phone and operating system on the market due to the huge variety.

To connect to eduroam for the first time:

  1. Select wireless network HWU WiFi Setup
  2. Open up a web browser
  3. Click on the following link: https://cloud.securew2.com/public/12133/eduroam/ to launch the auto configuration software
  4. When prompted enter your username with @hw.ac.uk, eg ab123@hw.ac.uk

The above steps are valid for iOS and Android and do work for most devices.

More detailed instructions for supported devices

It is likely that settings detailed within the instructions will be fairly general to similar operating systems and smartphone hardware.

Manual setup instructions and connection issues

If you have difficulties with the secureW2 App, please try the following manual setup instructions:

Android.
Click Settings then select Wireless & Networks and WiFi settings
Select eduroam
For EAP method select PEAP
For Phase 2 authentication select MSCHAPV2
Set CA Certificate to Use system certificates and Domain to hw.ac.uk
Enter your Identity as your username plus @hw.ac.uk, e.g. abc2012@hw.ac.uk
Anonymous identity field. Leave this blank.
Enter your HWU password.
Tap Connect
Your device should show "Obtaining IP address from eduroam..." then shortly after Connected to eduroam.

Generic settings for eduroam:
Network name (SSID)
The network name for the secure WiFi network is eduroam. This must be all lowercase.
WiFi authentication and encryption
The WiFi Network Authentication type is WPA2 Enterprise.
User authentication
The "EAP Authentication Type" or "Outer Authentication Protocol" is PEAP or PEAPv0.
The "Authentication Method", "Authentication Protocol" or "Inner Authentication Protocol" is MS-CHAPv2.
Your username is in the format abc2012@hw.ac.uk
Your password should be the password you use to access Office 365. 
If asked for an "Outer Identity", "Anonymous Identity" or "Roaming Identity", leave it blank.
If asked for a realm, leave it blank.
Server authentication
You should choose to Validate the Server Certificate.
Although you may be able to connect to the eduroam WiFi network without validating the server certificate, your connection will not be secure. You must ensure server certificate validation is enabled.

Disconnect from eduroam and reconnect.
Windows
Click Start > Control Panel, select Network and Internet and then click Network and Sharing Center.
Choose Manage wireless networks.
Select the existing eduroam profile and click Remove (and if necessary, OK).
Go back to Network and Sharing Center and choose Change adapter settings.
Right click Wireless Network Connection and click Connect/Disconnect.
Refresh the available networks and click Connect on eduroam.
Mac
Click the Wi-Fi icon toward the upper right of your screen in the menu bar.
Click Network Preferences > Advanced and click the Wi-Fi tab.
Select the eduroam network and click on the minus (-) button. Press OK and Apply.
Retry connecting to eduroam.
If issues persist, go to Apple menu > System Preferences and check if there is a Profiles section there. If so, remove any eduroam profile inside it and retry connecting as above.
iOS
Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on Wi-Fi.
Tap on the info button next to the eduroam network name.
Tap on Forget This Network.
Retry connecting to eduroam.
If issues persist, go to Settings > General > VPN & Profiles and remove any Heriot-Watt or eduroam profile and retry connecting to eduroam.
Android
Go to the Wi-Fi section of your settings menu.
Find the eduroam network.
Tap and Hold, then chose Forget.
Retry connecting to eduroam.

If you are using Autocomplete to enter the username then make sure that you remove the trailing space after @hw.ac.uk

If you are connected to eduroam and webpages will not load make sure the DNS settings are set to Automatic.

Security certificates

Heriot-Watt University's authentication servers require most devices to install and validate a trusted root certificate before connecting to eduroam.

If you are having problems with certificates or cannot get your device connected, you may need to download and install the attached certificate to your device.

Scottish Borders Campus

Apart from the High Mill building, the Scottish Borders Campus eduroam is provided by  Borders College ICT, who provide configuration instructions.

Heriot-Watt users working in buildings on the Galashiels campus other than High Mill will connect to eduroam as if visiting another participating institution. Access to some Heriot-Watt resources may be restricted in this case.

Having problems? If you have problems with certificates or cannot get your device working try eduroam security certificates.

You can contact the Campus HelpDesk by

  • phoning from a dedicated line in the Campus Library
  • calling 01896-66-2645
  • visiting the HelpDesk in the Campus ICT Office (Room 0.051)
Guest WiFi (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, Malaysia and Orkney Campuses)

Heriot-Watt University offers visitors two different wireless services on the Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, Malaysia and Orkney Campuses.

Eduroam

A secure (encrypted) service available to all visitors from eduroam participating institutions. Visitors from participating institutions can connect to the eduroam network on the Heriot Watt University campus by using their credentials provided by their home organisation.

HWU_Guest

This service is available for visitors to the University (not staff or students).

An unsecure (unencrypted) service available to all academic visitors or external companies on University business.  This service is intended for short-term visitors only (up to one month duration).

Temporary usernames and passwords can be requested from the IT Helpdesk by emailing ishelp@hw.ac.uk, from most academic school computing officers and some academic school administrators and secretaries.

This service generally provides limited internet access only.

You will be required to sign an agreement confirming that you will abide by the University IT equipment usage policies, see About us, Rules and regulations

See Basic settings for guests

Independent Distance Learners

You may have a local library that uses Eduroam. If so, you can configure your device at it, and then access HWU library subscription resources via Eduroam.