girl on computer

Internet Access

San Jac is dedicated to providing you with the best resources possible to succeed in your academic endeavors, and this includes access to the internet. Take a look at how you can stay connected, stay productive, and achieve your goals with our resources.

Connecting to Wi-Fi On Campus

San Jac offers a secure way for students, faculty, and staff to connect your laptop or mobile device to the College’s Wi-Fi network. This Wi-Fi can be used on any campus, at the district office, and campus parking lots located near the Interactive Learning Centers at Central, North, and South campuses.

Select SJCD-Secure SSID From the Wi-Fi Connections on Your Device

Only registered students and employees can access SJCD-Secure. If you are a visitor or business partner on our campus, check out our instructions on how to use our Guest Wi-Fi on this page or read this Knowledge Base Article - Campus WiFi - Secure Access.

Log in Using Your Username and Password

If this is your first time connecting, complete the registration process for each device you want to use, including College-issued devices. If you are a returning user who is having issues signing in, go to your device’s Wi-Fi setting and select “Forget This Network” before trying to connect again. 

Connecting to San Jac’s Guest Wi-Fi

If you are a visitor at San Jac and would like to use our Wi-Fi, please follow the following steps. Once completed, your account will remain active for 180 days. Have questions? Read this Knowledge Base Article - Campus WiFi - Guest Access.
  1. Click or Tap SJCD-Guest Using Your Computer or Device

  2. Complete the Form

    Make sure to read the terms and conditions before clicking “Register.”

  3. Check Email for Confirmation Link

    You will not have Wi-Fi access until you confirm your account. Once you confirm, the “Log in” button will become available. If you are using a separate device to validate the link and are able to return to the post-registration page, you will need to click the “Log in” button at the bottom of that page to complete the connection.

Get Internet At Home

Students who need help getting internet access at home can explore some of the options available including the Affordable Connectivity Program and by creating their own hotspot.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for school. Click the button to see a list of programs available in Texas.

Xfinity Internet Essentials
1-800-331-0500 or 611 from your mobile phone.

25 Mbps No Term Contract No Credit Check In-Home WiFi for $9.95 per month + Tax

Comcast provides the Internet Essentials program, which offers affordable high-speed internet access and an option to purchase a computer. You may qualify if you are eligible for public assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service if you apply and are approved by June 30, 2021. For all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service has increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream.

Click the button to apply for more information & to apply for Xfinity’s Internet Essentials Program.

AT&T Access
1-800-331-0500 or 611 from your mobile phone.

25 Mbps No Term Contract In-Home WiFi for $10.00 per month + Tax

AT&T offers Internet access for qualifying limited income households through the Access from AT&T program. AT&T have expanded eligibility to Access from AT&T to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start.

Click the button to apply for more information & to apply for the Access from AT&T Program.

The Affordable Connectivity Program is an FCC benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for school. Click the button to see a list of programs available in Texas.

Xfinity Internet Essentials
1-800-331-0500 or 611 from your mobile phone.

25 Mbps No Term Contract No Credit Check In-Home WiFi for $9.95 per month + Tax

Comcast provides the Internet Essentials program, which offers affordable high-speed internet access and an option to purchase a computer. You may qualify if you are eligible for public assistance programs such as the National School Lunch Program, Housing Assistance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, and others. New Internet Essentials customers will receive two free months of Internet service if you apply and are approved by June 30, 2021. For all new and existing Internet Essentials customers, the speed of the program’s Internet service has increased to 25 Mbps downstream and 3 Mbps upstream.

Click the button to apply for more information & to apply for Xfinity’s Internet Essentials Program.

AT&T Access
1-800-331-0500 or 611 from your mobile phone.

25 Mbps No Term Contract In-Home WiFi for $10.00 per month + Tax

AT&T offers Internet access for qualifying limited income households through the Access from AT&T program. AT&T have expanded eligibility to Access from AT&T to households participating in the National School Lunch Program and Head Start.

Click the button to apply for more information & to apply for the Access from AT&T Program.

Visit a T-Mobile store or apply online. You can qualify for Project 10Million through participation in many government programs, including:

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) via P-EBT or EBT
  • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)
  • Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
  • Medicaid
  • Head Start
  • Foster youth, migrant, homeless, or runaway youth

If approved, you will receive Free 100GB of internet per year for 5 years, free hotspot with free shipping, and no fees, costs, or annual re-certifications.

Do you already have a smartphone with a data plan? Check out how to turn your phone into a hotspot with some of the most popular carriers:

Slow Internet or Computer?

Slow computer performance may be caused by your browser, computer, home WiFi signal, your Internet service, or a combination of these factors. Below are some easy tips that could help improve performance.

If you are still experiencing problems, submit a service request, and a member of our team will reach out to help.

A common problem is a loose or unplugged cable. Check & make sure everything is hooked up properly.

Try a few other websites to see if any of them load. If one website loads and another doesn't, the problem is probably with that website and not you.

Check if there are known disruptions with our service partners affecting the services you are trying to access:

Systems and Software

Internet Services

Weather and Power
Check for the latest on power outages and severe weather in your area:

Clear some space on your hard drive if you are approaching a full drive. Most software require free space to run.

By clearing your cache, you can speed up your a page's loading time and get to your destination faster. Here's some help on how to clear your cache and cookies:

Make sure to close your browser and re-open it after clearing your cache.

Check that you or anyone sharing your Internet connection aren’t downloading or uploading anything that is consuming your Internet bandwidth.

Switch to a wired connection if you are using WiFi or Mobile broadband.

Mobile broadband delivers slower and less consistent speed than a fixed-line. Network coverage in your area, the amount of network traffic at any given time, weather conditions, if you're on the move or static, and interference from other devices can affect your mobile Internet speed. Depending on the coverage in your area, you may have access to 3G, 4G network, or the new 5G network. Click here to read “1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, & 5G Explained”.

Scan your computer for malware using a reputable anti-virus software.

The recommended minimum computer specifications are:

Hardware Recommended Specifications
Operating System

Windows 10

MacOS 11.0 Big Sur

Processor

Intl or AMD 64-bit

Quad-core or better for graphic design and video rendering

RAM

8 GB

16 GB for music and video rendering 

Storage

500 GG

SSD recommended for performance

Display

1024 x 768

1920 x 1080 for graphic design and video rendering

Graphics

1 GB VRAM

4 GB VRAM for graphic design and video rendering

Required Peripherals

Webcam

Headphones with built-in microphone

Browser

Google Chrome

 

We recommend the following minimum Internet bandwidth specifications to support your online coursework & online classroom video & audio conferencing when using Blackboard Collaborate Ultra or Zoom.

Use Recommended Bandwidth
1080p HD Video Receiving requires 2.5 mbps (up/down)
720p HD Video 1.5 mbps (up/down)
Audio 60 - 80 kbps

 

Click here to test your home Internet speed. Your Upload and Download Speeds should be at least 50 percent of your Internet service provider’s advertised speeds.

If your computer doesn't meet the recommended minimum specifications, we can provide a virtual desktop. These desktops are hosted in the cloud & only require a working computer with a browser.

Make sure that it is away from walls or obstructions; above ground level; or near the center of your home. This reduces the workload of your router & the distances the signal needs to travel.

Many old & inexpensive routers can have fairly weak antennas & a limited range, which means your connection will be worse if you’re several rooms away from the router.

What appears to be slow internet speeds may actually be slow processing speeds from your computer. Working with an outdated or damaged computer will affect your Internet speed, especially when video conferencing or accessing websites featuring multimedia content.

The speed of the connection provided by your Internet service provider (ISP) is the single most important factor in your overall Internet connectivity.

A Network of Support

If you need any tech-related assistance or just have any tech questions, please request help or contact one of our support services below. You can also visit the Technical Support Homepage.

In-Person

ITS Service Desk Hours of Operation & Locations

Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

  • Central Campus: C-1.129
  • South Campus: S-12.120
  • North Campus: N-8.112

Phone or Email

ITS Help Desk Hours of Operation

  • Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. -  10 p.m.
  • Saturday/Sunday:  8 a.m. - 5 p.m

On-Campus Phone:
6137

Off-Campus Phone:
281-998-6137

Email:
techsupport@sjcd.edu