SBTS Campus Technology is happy to offer widespread coverage of WiFi internet across campus to faculty, staff, students, residents, friends, and guests of the seminary. The SBTS_OpenWiFi network utilized client isolation so that no device on the network can see or access any other device on the network. This ensures a certain level of security for every device on the network. However, it also means that certain WiFi-enabled devices like wireless printers and screen casting devices are unusable in residential halls.

All students, residents, guests, and most personal devices of Faculty and Staff are only authorized to connect to the SBTS_OpenWiFi network. The SBTS_FacStaff network is only authorized for use by seminary-owned devices as well as those Faculty and Staff members who need to use seminary resources (Apple TV’s, printers, etc.) from their personal devices.

Areas not covered by SBTS WiFi – Grinstead Apartments, Springdale Apartments, Foster Hall

Myth – The SBTS_FacStaff network is faster than the SBTS_OpenWiFi network.
Truth – SBTS_FacStaff and SBTS_OpenWiFi travel to the internet across the same internet line, with absolutely no distinction in terms of speed. The only difference between the two WiFi networks is in what on-campus administrative resources are accessible. Additionally, the fact that a greater number of devices are connected to SBTS_OpenWiFi on your nearest WiFi access point does not affect your speed experience because both WiFi networks are being broadcasted by the same WiFi access point, so it is the total number of devices on both networks that could potentially create slowness. Switching to SBTS_FacStaff will not increase your speed any more than disconnecting and reconnecting to SBTS_OpenWiFi.

Myth – If my device can “see” the WiFi network, I can use the WiFi network.
Truth – The antenna in the WiFi access point is very big. The antenna in your phone or tablet is very small. A good WiFi connection relies not only on the WiFi access point being able to send signal to your device, but also on your device’s ability to send signal back to the WiFi access point. If you are out in the middle of the center lawn, you may be able to pick up the SBTS_OpenWiFi network, but your device will likely be unable to transmit signals all the way back to the WiFi access point.