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Study Abroad (High-Speed Access)

CITES > network > scenarios > study abroad

Scenario: High-speed access from a home or hostel in another country

If you're traveling in a foreign country, possibly bringing along an American-made laptop computer, you may encounter some challenges in getting network access. You may not be completely fluent in the other country's language yet. You'd like to get computer and network access to be able to work on assignments or research projects, and probably to send pictures to your friends and family at home as well.

You'd probably like to have high-speed network access, since you might need to log into an online interface that won't work at dialup speeds, such as Illinois Compass. (Note: if you want 56K dialup access, see the Choosing a Dialup ISP page and its international service providers as well.)

Getting connected and staying secure

There are several networking issues to handle when studying and working abroad:

• Language and keyboard issues

  Many computers can have additional language and keyboard support installed, so that you can select whether you're writing and reading in English or in another language. (Make sure you choose usernames and passwords you can type on any keyboard, too!)

• Power issues

There are three main considerations when it comes to using domestic computers with foreign electricity: the voltage, the frequency, and the shape of the power plug. This section guides you through the maze of international power options.

• Keeping a laptop safe

General laptop security precautions are described in the CITES Security Scenarios, particularly the Laptop Security scenario and the Traveling with a Laptop scenario.

International travelers will need to make sure that their security updates are still taking place as scheduled. If you're accustomed to having your laptop on campus and using UIUC-configured antivirus update or software update locations, you may need to change your update process. You can either connect with the campus VPN server to update from an on-campus repository, or change your configuration so that your laptop updates from the software manufacturer's site (for example, Network Associates for antivirus software or Microsoft for Windows and Office patches) instead.

• Network access by country and region

  In general, home-based high-speed access is faster in foreign countries than in the United States thanks to the availability of higher-bandwidth ADSL technologies, but coverage is not always countrywide. In addition, some countries' network access depends on complex corporate and political issues that have nothing to do with the physical ability to plug in a network cable.

• Reaching UIUCnet from anywhere off campus

  Many campus and CITES services, such as Express Email, NetFiles, and UI Integrate Self-Service for class registration, can be accessed through web browsers from any location in the world.

  However, some campus resources are restricted to users who have established that they belong to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus network community. You can access these resources from anywhere by authenticating through the campus VPN.