Stay Connected: Your Guide to UMBC Wireless Networks
Retriever Home or Eduroam? Finding Your Perfect Connection
To ensure the best possible connectivity experience on campus, the Division of Information Technology (DoIT) recommends two primary wireless networks tailored to your needs.
1. Retriever Home (For Residents Only)
Retriever Home is a secure, encrypted network designed specifically for UMBC residence halls to provide a private, "home-like" experience.
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Best For: Connecting all your personal gadgets in your room, including gaming consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo), smart speakers (Amazon Alexa, Google Home), streaming devices (Roku, Apple TV), wireless printers, and mobile devices.
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The Advantage: Unlike standard enterprise networks, Retriever Home allows your personal devices to "see" and communicate with each other, making it easy to print wirelessly or use smart home features.
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How to Connect: You must log in to myUMBC to generate a unique personal WPA2 password. For easy-to-follow instructions, see our Retriever Home FAQ’s.
2. Eduroam (For All Students)
Eduroam is the preferred, high-speed encrypted wireless network available in all academic and administrative buildings.
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Best For: Laptops, tablets, and smartphones used for coursework, research, and general browsing across campus.
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The Advantage: It provides robust WPA2 Enterprise encryption for superior data security. Additionally, once configured, your device will automatically and securely connect at thousands of participating educational institutions worldwide without needing new credentials.
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How to Connect: Simply run the eduroam configuration tool and follow these easy step-by-step Eduroam instructions to set up each of your devices.
Need Configuration Assistance?
For detailed setup instructions, troubleshooting tips, and FAQs, please visit our official support page at https://help.umbc.edu or contact the DoIT Technology Support Center.