Register Streaming Devices and Smart Speakers for BOWDOIN-PSK

Questions

  • How do I connect my Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV to Bowdoin Wi-Fi?
  • How do I connect an Amazon Echo or smart speaker to Bowdoin's wireless network?
  • How do I get my smart TV online at Bowdoin?
  • Can Bowdoin Bot register my TV or streaming device for me?
  • Why won't my streaming device join the BOWDOIN or eduroam network?
  • How do I register a device for BOWDOIN-PSK?
  • How do I find the Wi-Fi MAC address on a streaming device or smart speaker?
  • My device registration expired. How do I register it again?
  • I lost the password from my registration email. How do I get a new one?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin students, faculty, and staff who want to connect streaming devices, smart TVs, or smart speakers to campus wireless. These devices cannot connect to the BOWDOIN or eduroam networks because those networks use WPA2-Enterprise authentication, which most consumer devices do not support.

Bowdoin provides a dedicated wireless network called BOWDOIN-PSK for these devices. BOWDOIN-PSK uses a unique password for each registered device. This article covers:

  • Streaming devices: Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Fire Stick, Apple TV
  • Smart speakers: Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, and similar devices
  • Smart TVs and other Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics

For gaming consoles such as PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch, see Register Game Consoles for BOWDOIN-PSK in the Related Articles section.

Do not use BOWDOIN-PSK for computers, phones, or tablets. Computers, phones, and tablets should connect to eduroam or BOWDOIN instead. Devices found on the wrong network will be removed.

Some smart devices can't work on Bowdoin's network at all: Google Home, Google Nest, and Chromecast devices, smart lights and smart plugs, and any device that needs a phone, tablet, or computer on the same Wi-Fi network to set it up or control it. See Unable to set up Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Nest Audio and Unable to setup smart lights or smart switches in a dorm room or office space in the Related Articles section.

Resolution

Step 1: Find your device's Wi-Fi MAC address

Each device has a unique Wi-Fi Media Access Control (MAC) address: a 12-character identifier made up of numbers and letters, often separated by colons (for example, A1:B2:C3:D4:E5:F6). You need the device's MAC address to register it. Many devices list both a wired (Ethernet) and a wireless MAC address. Use the wireless MAC address.

If you need to power on the device and complete its initial setup to find the MAC address, choose a Private Network option if the device asks. Do not select a guest network at any point.

  • Roku: From the home screen, go to Settings > About. The wireless MAC address is listed there. The MAC address is also printed on a label on the Roku itself.
  • Amazon Fire TV / Fire Stick: From the home screen, go to Settings > My Fire TV (or System) > About > Network. The MAC address is listed there.
  • Apple TV: Go to Settings > General > About. Scroll down to find the Wi-Fi Address.
  • Amazon Echo / Echo Dot: Open the Amazon Alexa app on your phone, select your device, then go to Device Settings > About to find the MAC address.
  • Smart TV: Look in the TV's network or Wi-Fi settings menu. The location varies by manufacturer, so check the TV's documentation if needed.
  • Other devices: Check the device's network or Wi-Fi settings, or the manufacturer's documentation.
MAC address randomization: Some devices randomize the MAC address they broadcast as a privacy feature. Because a BOWDOIN-PSK registration is tied to one specific MAC address, a device with a randomized address will fail to connect even after a successful registration. Look for a setting called Use device MAC, Private address, or MAC randomization in the device's network settings and turn randomization off before you register the device.

Step 2: Register your device with Bowdoin Bot or the BOWDOIN-PSK portal

You can register a streaming device, smart TV, or Amazon Echo in a chat with Bowdoin Bot or at the BOWDOIN-PSK registration portal. Both options create the same registration and email the device's wireless password to your Bowdoin email. Bowdoin Bot also shows the password in the chat.

Register your device with Bowdoin Bot

  1. Open Bowdoin Bot from the chat button on any page of the Bowdoin IT knowledge base, and type Register my TV for BOWDOIN-PSK (or the name of your device).
  2. Sign in with your Bowdoin account when Bowdoin Bot asks you to.
  3. Select the kind of device (TV or streaming device, Amazon Echo, or Something else), then type a name for the device (for example, Alex's Roku) and the device's Wi-Fi MAC address.
  4. Bowdoin Bot registers the device and shows the device's wireless password in the chat. The BOWDOIN-PSK registration system also emails the same password to your Bowdoin email.
  5. Connect the device to BOWDOIN-PSK, then tell Bowdoin Bot whether the device connected. If the device still can't connect, Bowdoin Bot sends what it did to Bowdoin IT so someone can follow up.

Register your device at the BOWDOIN-PSK portal

  1. On a computer or phone, open a web browser and go to bowdoin-psk.bowdoin.edu.
  2. Sign in with your Bowdoin email address and password. The portal uses Single Sign-On (SSO), so you may already be signed in.
  3. Select Create.
  4. Enter your device's Wi-Fi MAC address in the field provided.
  5. Enter a descriptive name for the device (for example, Alex's Roku) so you can identify the device later.
  6. Select Create to complete the registration.
  7. Check your Bowdoin email for a message containing the device's registration details and its unique wireless password. You can also print the registration details from the portal.
Save your password email. The BOWDOIN-PSK portal will not display the password again after you leave the page. If you lose the password, ask Bowdoin Bot for a new one, or return to bowdoin-psk.bowdoin.edu, open the device's registration, and generate a new password.

Step 3: Connect your device to BOWDOIN-PSK

  1. On your device, open the Wi-Fi or network settings and select BOWDOIN-PSK.
  2. Enter the device's unique password, from the Bowdoin Bot chat or your registration email, exactly as shown, including capital letters.
  3. The device should now connect to the BOWDOIN-PSK network.
Do not connect your device to BOWDOIN-GUEST at any time. A device that connects to BOWDOIN-GUEST, before or after registering for BOWDOIN-PSK, will be unable to join BOWDOIN-PSK. If that happens, tell Bowdoin Bot My TV won't connect to BOWDOIN-PSK (or the name of your device). Bowdoin Bot can clear the BOWDOIN-GUEST record and give the device a new password. See Troubleshoot Devices on the BOWDOIN-PSK Network in the Related Articles section for more help.

There is no set limit to the number of devices you can register. Registrations carry over between semesters but expire once a year. If a device's registration expires, register the device again with Bowdoin Bot or at the BOWDOIN-PSK portal.

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
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Register Game Consoles for BOWDOIN-PSK
Instructions for registering a game console (PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch) for the BOWDOIN-PSK wireless network, either in a chat with Bowdoin Bot or at the BOWDOIN-PSK registration portal. Also covers finding the console's Wi-Fi MAC address and connecting with the console's own password.
Supported Roku Devices for Xfinity on Campus
Which Roku devices work with Xfinity on Campus on the Bowdoin network, recommending the Roku Ultra (or Roku Streaming Stick+) for best performance, noting that wireless Roku devices must be registered on the network first, and that Roku-integrated smart TVs are also supported. Applies to on-campus students.
Troubleshoot Devices on the BOWDOIN-PSK Network
Troubleshooting for gaming consoles, smart TVs, streaming devices, and smart speakers that won't connect to the BOWDOIN-PSK wireless network. Explains how Bowdoin Bot can fix a device that was on BOWDOIN-GUEST and give it a new password, and covers wrong passwords, expired registrations, MAC address randomization, and devices that aren't compatible.
Unable to set up Google Home, Google Home Mini, Google Nest Audio
Explains why Google Home, Google Nest, and other Google smart speakers cannot be set up on Bowdoin's campus wireless network due to WPA2-Enterprise security requirements and network segmentation. Applies to all students and staff.
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Register a game console, smart TV, or streaming device on Bowdoin's BOWDOIN-PSK network. This button opens the self-service registration portal — it does not create a ticket.