Wi-Fi on a Blackberry for DC/UOIT

by Rohan on January 14, 2010

So a few people have asked how to get Wireless on their Blackberries already..so I finally got it with a bit of help from my friend, Albert.

Before we begin: These instructions will only work on the most recent phones/OS’s. The latest Blackberry OS (v. 5.0.0.411)was leaked out on the internet, but any of the new phones (Bold 9700, etc. will work as well). More info available at http://crackberry.com/leaked-os-5-0-0-411-blackberry-bold-9000-and-blackberry-curve-8900

So, let’s begin:

Assuming you’ve installed the new O/S already, or you have one of their newer phones (I think most of the new ones with the trackpad instead of the trackball should be fine..haven’t tested any other than the Bold 9700 though.

Start by going to “Manage Connections” and select “Set Up Wi-Fi Network” then choose “Manually Add Network” (you can also scan, does prettymuch the same thing).

If manually adding, the network name would be CAMPUS-AIR

On the next screen, set the different values as follows:

  • Security Type: PEAP
  • Username: <your student number>
  • Password: <your network password>
  • CA Certificate: <choose any certificate, you’ll be ignoring it anyways>
  • Inner link security EAP-MS-CHAP v2
  • Token: <none>
  • Disable Server Certificate Validation: CHECKED

Now you can save the connection, or if you don’t want to save, just click connect.

That should be it..

Feel free to comment!

Thanks to Albert and Drew for helping/validating things for me

pixelstats trackingpixel
  • http://TedAvery.ca Ted Avery

    And if you have an iPhone, just hop onto the network with your Student ID and password! ;)

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1644360096 facebook-1644360096

    Pretty sure I love you, Rohan.

  • Rohan K

    Haha…thanks Kev…I think..lol

  • Rohan K

    Shhh

  • Shiva

    wat about with nokia e73

  • Rohan K

    Nokia's are really weird to get on the campus network..I haven't tried with any e-series phones, but I know with the N-series, something's wacky. Try using similar settings, and you'd have to try all 5 of the itsosrds certs.

    OR if you'd rather not go the cert route…
    try using your username and password with WPA1-Enterprise, TKIP encryption, PEAP authentication using EAP-MSCHAP v2. if there's an option to use the server certificate, then disable that (i.e. don't use the cert)

    Like I said, I haven't tried it with a Nokia in a very long time, so I'm not sure how/where you'd enter this, but those are the settings on my laptop and it SHOULD work.

  • Drew Baldock

    I didnt need any certificates :P I just chose the Rogers Wireless certificate and turned everything else off and just use my student number and network password, I got Wi-Fi and UMA access no problem, I wasnt even on 411! Not sure why, but I turned off my Mobile Network option and still could text browse and make calls on UMA!

  • Rohan K

    Thanks for bringing that up, Drew..I was going to try that by choosing a random cert, but kept forgetting about it while I was on campus…I kept getting distracted lol.

    And yeah, if you have UMA, you can text/browse/make calls over your wi-fi connection.

  • natordude

    does not work

  • http://karamandi.com Rohan

    What version of the OS are you running?

    Also, the campus wireless has been on and off for the last couple of days..hopefully it will be back to normal soon

  • uoitstudent

    AS I TOLD YOU IN SCHOOL

    YOU ARE A HERO

  • rakash

    how would yo do on android devices ??
    and thanks

  • Rohan K

    Hey Rakash,

    I'm not sure exactly what menu's etc to go through, but the settings should be similar. Unfortunately, I don't have access to an Android device, so I can't confirm it for you.

    Either way, the security settings would still be the same. If I get my hands on an Android phone, I'll make a post on how to connect an Android on CAMPUS-AIR.

  • mricard

    the last option on your instructions which wants me to “check” the disable server certificate validation is not there on my phone. it is a curve 8520 i believe and the options it gives me are server subject followed by server SAN, these come with no check box option it wants me to type something in, any suggestions???

  • Rohan K

    mricard,

    Sorry for the late reply.

    If you don't see it, I'm guessing you've got the older version of the operating system, which doesn't support ignoring the certificate. You used to be able to import the certificate from your laptop, and choose that certificate, but the last couple of times I've tried it, it hasn't worked for some reason. I know that other people had that same problem as me when they tried to get it to work.

    You can give it a try; there's 5 certificates from ITS to choose from, try all of them.

    If you don't know how to do that, just post a message and I'll write up a quick tutorial for it

  • Knh_32

    This didn’t work for my 9700…..

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com Rohan K

    It should..I just tried it yesterday afternoon to make sure.

    Make sure you didn’t miss anything like the check box which you need to check for certificate validation.

  • Clyde

    yeahhh… this didnt work. stupid blackberry

  • Nick Pc3

    Can you post up a quick tutorial for the 8520?

  • Djmiller_45

    you have to put oncampus
    before your student number….THANKS ROHAN!!!

  • http://karamandi.com Rohan

    Not a prob.

    Hmm..you shouldn’t have to enter in the domain :\ I know I don’t have it, and it works perfectly. Perhaps it’s something thats specific to the version of the OS you’re using :\

  • Wrewqrw

    Thank You

  • ASMason

    I can’t check that box, to disable server certificate validation, because the box doesn’t exist. Any help?

  • Rohan K

    What’s the version of your O/S on the Blackberry?

    You can check by pressing Alt+Shift+H, which should take you to the “Help Me!” screen.

    The App Version has to be at least 5.

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com rohank9

    Not a prob..glad I could help.

    P.S. as far as I know you don’t even need the oncampus =S I’ve never put it in on mine or others’ Blackberries. Not that it should make a difference…

  • Angela

    This was really helpful! I couldn’t figure out how to get it to work on my roommates blackberry!

  • Stefanbleau

    How come the wifi is slow at certain times

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com rohank9

    I’m not sure, it must be something in the way they’ve set up the network

  • Disoneg

    Any chance you can provide a solution to connecting an nokia e63 to the network? Thanks for providing this too!

  • Snipes_mcgee16

    do you know how to connect to the internet via i pod touch?

  • http://karamandi.com Rohan

    Yep. It’s actually a lot easier with iOS devices. All you need to do is go to Settings -> Wi-Fi -> Choose CAMPUS-AIR and it should prompt you for your network username and password (I believe)

    Once you do that, you should be able to connect out to the internet.

  • http://karamandi.com Rohan

    Unfortunately, I don’t have a Nokia device I can test with. I believe they have some guides in the computer commons have a look there, but I don’t know if Nokia/Symbian is one of them.

    Try having a look.

    Sorry =(

  • Darryl_hylton

    eyy thanks!!

  • Reuben_m20

    hey would you know how to set up a wifi connection on the HP touchpad?

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com Rohan K.

    Not sure. You were pretty lucky to get one though! The security settings should be very similar to the Blackberry and Windows 7. It’s just the prompts that will be different

  • playbook enthusiast

    First of all, thanks so much really appreciate what your doing. would you know how to connect to a playbook?

  • Mafiosa31

    rohan….how do you connect campus air to iphone 4

  • Mafiosa31

    rohan….how do you connect campus air to iphone 4

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com Rohan K.

    Hmm..not sure to be honest: I’ve never tried it..I don’t see it being too difficult. As far as the steps go, I’m not sure, but the settings should all be the same as the BB/Windows 7 Tutorials

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com Rohan K.

    Should be pretty straight forward – Select the network, and it should just ask you your username/password (use your network username/password – same one you use on your laptop) and you should be good to go.

    They have apparently started doing guides now at the IT helpdesk in computer commons, those SHOULD be the most up to date instructions

  • Michelle

    It doesn’t work for me. I have the Blackberry Curve 9300 3G. I have tried everything but it’s not working for me. It connects and then fails giving this message “Failed to authenticate against the network” Please help!

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com Rohan K.

    Hmm what’s the exact version of the OS you’re using? Also, make sure you did everything on there.
    That being said, they may have changed something. I believe ITS provides current instructions now for how to connect your devices.
    Sorry, I wish I could help more, but I don’t have access to the network anymore.
    Good luck!

  • Janahan Nirmalan

    The Wi-Fi does not work for me, I have an LG Optimus 2X and I am unable to connect to the schools wi-fi, it is Running on Android 2.2 Froyo and I have followed the steps and you have given and I am unable to connect. 

    Please Help.

  • http://saerilee.tumblr.com SaeRi

    Any idea how to connect a Nokia (X7) to CAMPUS-AIR? Apparently Symbian OS doesn’t work with wpa-enterprise but a lot of people from different schools (and different workplaces where they do use enterprise) managed to get it to work…I just figure our settings would be different ;

  • Amir

    Does the university WiFi have any server certificate? Apparently, Nokia phones do not let you connect to a wifi network without server certificate validation as Nokia believes it is extremely unsafe.

  • http://rohan.karamandi.com Rohan K.

    I know they used to when I was in first year. I’m not sure exactly how it works now… You’d have to check with ITS.

    Sorry, I wish I could help more!