You got a new Alexa and are excited to bring it to your university campus. But for a working Alexa or Alexa device, you always need an internet connection. Alexa needs Wi-Fi or the internet to listen to and answer your queries. If you are using it in a university dorm room, you need to access university Wi-Fi.
However, there are certain protocols when using university Wi-Fi. Some of the devices and websites are restricted. Moreover, some smart devices like Amazon Echo are not compatible with university Wi-Fi. The Alexa app may show ‘This device is not compatible when you start connecting it to your university Wi-Fi.
College network security protocols, Peer to Peer network systems are a few of the reasons for such incompatibility.
Here are some of the potential solutions or a workaround to use for connecting Alexa devices to university Wi-Fi.
Further reading: What Is Alexa And What Does Alexa Do?
Connecting Alexa to University Wi-Fi
Take help from your college
There is no harm in seeking permission directly for a service that doesn’t pose any harm. The very first way to connect Alexa to university Wi-Fi is by following the right procedure.
Contact your college’s network administrator to know the procedure. Sometimes, due to security configuration, students cannot connect Alexa to university Wi-Fi, but that isn’t equivalent to now being allowed to connect.
Certain college websites even mention the steps by which students can connect Alexa devices (echo dot) to university Wi-Fi. A few of these include West Virginia University, the University of York, and others.
Here are some of the common steps we found on university websites to connect Alexa to the university website.
Assuming that the Alexa device is completely set up and ready to use.
- You need to find the MAC address of your device.
- Open the Alexa app preferably on your mobile device, and sign into your Amazon account
- Find the wireless MAC address of the device at the bottom of the Echo setup screen. It’s a 12-character-long code.
- Once you have the MAC address, visit your university’s device registration portal.
- Log in with your student Id and follow the steps for device registration.
- Enter the MAC address of your Alexa device to add it under registered devices.
- Now, you will be able to connect to the university’s Wi-Fi.
If you cannot find your Alexa device’s MAC address, you can contact the device manufacturer through customer care support.
We also suggest visiting your college website first. They may have a blog explaining how you can connect your Alexa device to university Wi-Fi.
You may also like: Does Alexa Need WiFi
Use a router or Wi-Fi extender of your own
Follow this solution only when you know it is okay to use a router or wifi-extender in your university dorm room. Some university does not allow to use of them or are on the list of compatible devices.
After confirming with your IT department, you will have to buy an ethernet jack used to set up the router in the room. Your room may possibly have one, but there are equal chances of not having such a jack. You will still need to buy a splitter to complete the setup. Splutter can easily be bought from any online store like Amazon.
Alternatively, you can simply buy a wifi-extender. Google and Linksys are two brands that have the easy to configure wi-fi-extenders. You can take the help of any video to set them up.
Using a Wi-Fi extender is used to extend the Wi-Fi coverage of the current network. To set it up, all you need to do is plug in the extender. Connect your device to the Wi-Fi extender and follow the steps depending on the brand of wifi-extender you are using.
After the Wi-Fi extender is set up, you should also be able to connect your Alexa device.
Make sure to buy a Wi-Fi extender that supports connecting to the WPA Enterprise network. Some of the extenders may lack this feature which would make the whole setup useless.
Create a hotspot with third-party software
This third-party software is like a wireless router that creates a wireless hotspot on your device (mobile or desktop).
As you always need a computer or mobile device connected to the internet to run Alexa, such software has also helped many college students connect their Alexa. There are many free Wi-Fi hotspot tools suitable to use like Connectify, mHotspot, MaryFi, and many others.
This way, you won’t need your university Wi-Fi to connect to Alexa. This is also best used by travelers who take their Alexa with them on business trips or leisure.
You can use the free version for a while (by tolerating ads) and then switch to the premium version if you find it worth it.
Conclusion
There are three ways to connect your Alexa to University Wi-Fi. The first method requires students to register their Alexa device to the university network using the Alexa device’s MAC address. Secondly, you may use a router or Wi-Fi extender to connect to Alexa, provided this is not against the university’s security policy.
Thirdly, you can use Wi-Fi hotspot software to create your own little hotspot network to connect to your Alexa.