After you've got your computer online, it's time for the fun stuff. Connecting an entertainment device (smart TV, console, streaming device, etc.) to Emerson's network is a bit different from connecting your computer, but fear not, the instructions below will get you up and running in no time!
Note About ELA
If you are connecting an entertainment device in ELA, please reach out to ela_it@emerson.edu for the wireless information. Device registration in https://mydevices.emerson.edu is for the Boston campus only.
Connecting via Wi-Fi
We recommend you bring 5 GHz Wi-Fi capable devices for use in dense urban areas (like Emerson's residence halls), as 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi devices tend to encounter too much interference for a reliable connection.
Emerson's Wi-Fi uses a strong, enterprise-based security protocol called WPA2-Enterprise (and WPA3-Enterprise on the 6GHz band), which computers and smartphones support, but many other devices do not.
NOTE: If your device can connect to eduroam and supports using your Emerson username and password, you don't need to use these instructions! See our typical Wi-Fi connection instructions. These instructions are for devices such as the Nintendo Switch, Roku TV, Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X.
To connect these other devices, you will register them for the Emerson Devices network using Emerson's Privileged Access Management (https://mydevices.emerson.edu) portal at https://mydevices.emerson.edu.
Before you start
The https://mydevices.emerson.edu portal only loads when you are on the Emerson network. Register your devices from a computer, phone, or tablet that is already connected to eduroam. You cannot reach mydevices.emerson.edu from off campus or from the device you are trying to register before it is on the network.
- Find your device's Wi-Fi hardware/MAC address using the instructions below. NOTE: For some devices, you can't see the Wi-Fi MAC address until you've connected to a network. In these rare cases, connect temporarily to a network such as a hotspot or the cell plan from your iPhone, simply to collect the MAC address, then continue.
- From a device already on eduroam, go to https://mydevices.emerson.edu and log in with your Emerson credentials. In the left menu, under Network, open My Devices.
- Click Register Emerson Devices Wi-Fi.
- Under What device are you registering?, select your device type, for example PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, or Smart TV.
- (Optional) Enter a Device Name to help you recognize the device later, such as "Living Room Roku."
- Enter the device's Wi-Fi MAC Address. Use colons or dashes as separators, for example 00:1a:2b:3c:4d:5e or 00-1a-2b-3c-4d-5e. If your device has both a Wi-Fi and an Ethernet MAC, enter the Wi-Fi MAC here. They are different.
- Click Register Device. https://mydevices.emerson.edu generates a password for that specific device.
- In your device's network settings, connect to Emerson Devices and enter the generated password.
- You can review your registered devices and their passwords any time at https://mydevices.emerson.edu under My Devices.
- EVERY DEVICE must be registered to join Emerson Devices. Each generated password works only for the specific device it was created for.
- Each registration generates its own password tied to that device's MAC address.
- Devices that have been offline for 6 months will be de-registered. If the device returns to campus, it will need to be registered again.
Almost every kind of device can join the Emerson Devices network. You need to find its MAC address, register it in https://mydevices.emerson.edu, get its password, and then set up the device so it knows what network to join. My Devices also includes a built-in How do I find my device's MAC address? helper that shows steps for your specific device type.
Even though your device connects via Emerson Devices, rather than eduroam, it still joins our internal Student or Staff network, depending on your role at Emerson. Thus, your computer can be on eduroam and still connect to your devices on Emerson Devices, because they connect to the same networks. There is usually no need to put your phone or computer on to Emerson Devices, even if you want to stream video to your device.
Stay Secure!
We recommend setting up any security options your device may offer. Your device is joining the same network as everyone else in the dorm.
Finding the MAC Address
Here is how to find the MAC address on the more common devices at Emerson. If your device isn't listed here, look through its menu for Settings or Information, and try Google! There, you will usually find a Network Information or Network Setup section where the MAC address will be listed. You can also contact the Help Desk and we'll help!
Please consult these instructions from Nintendo to locate the MAC Address for your device:
1. Go to the main menu on your Apple TV device, and select Settings
2. Select About from the menu for the network information.
3. The MAC Address will be listed as either Wireless ID or Ethernet ID. If you are connecting via wireless, note the MAC address for Wireless ID, and if you are connecting via Ethernet, use Ethernet ID.
1. From the Home screen, press Menu.
2. Select Settings.
3. The Wi-Fi MAC Address is located toward the bottom of the screen in the Device Info section.
The MAC address is also on the Connect to your network page during setup by scrolling to the right.
If the above is not available, go to Settings MyFireTV About to locate the MAC address.
The MAC address is shown at the very bottom of the list of WiFi networks. Scroll all the way down to the end of the list to find your Show's MAC.
NOTE: There is a bug in the display of MAC addresses, so leading zeros are not shown. The MAC must have two digits, 0-9 and a-f, between each pair of colons. If your device has only a single digit, add a zero before it when you register the MAC. For example, the MAC display may start with "d4:91:f:", but the actual MAC is "d4:91:0f:"
1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Scroll down and select Settings.
3. Scroll down and click Network.
4. Select About
5. Locate the Wireless MAC address.
Note: Roku players (Express, Premiere, Stick+, Ultra, etc.) may also have their WiFi MAC address printed on the physical device as well.
Caution: Some Roku TVs DO NOT show their MAC address when they are not connected to any network; instead, the network display shows only "None (Not Connected)", with the Serial Number and Device ID, but no MAC.
In this case, try connecting the Roku TV temporarily to Emerson Guest, since this is an open network, the device will "connect", but it will not be allowed online. However, this internal connection may be enough for the Roku to display its MAC. Then you can register the MAC and join Emerson Devices as usual.
1. Select System.
2. Select System Information.
3. Your MAC address will be displayed on screen.
1. Select the Gear icon in the upper right corner.
2. Select System then Console Information.
3. Your wired and wireless MAC address are listed at the bottom. Use the wired MAC address if you are connecting via Ethernet, and the Wireless MAC address if connecting via Wi-Fi.
The PS5 may display a "Can't connect to the internet" error message even after a successful network connection. This is a known issue and can often be ignored. The best way to test the connection is to open a game or streaming app. If it works, the console is properly connected.
Important: For the Playstation 5, for maximum stability, please go to Network Settings > Setup Internet Connection, hover over the network Emerson Devices, then press the Options button and choose Advanced Settings > Wi-Fi Frequency Bands. Switch the option from "Automatic" to "5 GHz."
1. Go to My Xbox in the Xbox dashboard and select Settings.
2. In the Settings pane, select Network.
3. Select Advanced Settings from the Network Settings tab.
4. The Wired and Wireless MAC address will be displayed to the right of your screen.
1. On the Xbox controller, press the Xbox button.
2. From the Profile & System menu, select Settings.
3. From the General section, select Network Settings.
4. Select Advanced Settings.
5. On the IP Settings menu, the wireless and wired MAC address will be listed.
In the event that you need to connect your phone to Emerson Devices to set up another device, be aware that many phones and computers by default use different MACs for different networks, called "MAC Randomization" or "Private Wi-Fi Address". Thus, if you register the MAC that your phone or computer uses to connect to eduroam, it will not work to join Emerson Devices, as the phone or computer will use a different MAC.
To work around this, before you register the phone or computer, try to connect it to Emerson Devices, so that it will create a MAC for that network. Then check the info for the Emerson Devices network to find the MAC which corresponds with this network, and finally, register this MAC in https://mydevices.emerson.edu, get a password, and connect to Emerson Devices.
NOTE: In most cases, there is no need to connect your phone or computer to Emerson Devices, even if you have a printer or media device that you want to use with the computer or phone. Once a registered device joins Emerson Devices, it connects via the same Staff or Student network as your computer or phone joins via eduroam. Despite having different network names, on the back-end, Emerson Devices and eduroam put things on the same networks.
Devices that require "setup apps" on your phone
Many devices display a list of network names and prompt you for a password when you select a network. In these simple cases, just select "Emerson Devices" for the network and then enter the password from your https://mydevices.emerson.edu registration for that specific device.
However, some devices use a phone app for the network settings, rather than allowing you to specify the network name directly. That is, the device's app on your phone will detect that your phone is connected to eduroam, so it will attempt to have the device join eduroam, and the device will fail.
Google Home is a good example of this.
As a workaround, register your phone in https://mydevices.emerson.edu and connect it temporarily to Emerson Devices, then run the setup app so the device is configured to join Emerson Devices rather than eduroam. Once the device setup is complete, you can change your phone back to eduroam. Internally, it will be on the same network as your device.
NOTE: Many phones randomize their MAC addresses, and use different MACs on different wifi networks, also known as "Private Wi-Fi Address". You need to register the MAC that your device will actually use for Emerson Devices. So, before you register a MAC and get a password, try to connect to Emerson Devices, and then check the info for Emerson Devices to see what MAC your phone will use on this network, and register that specific MAC. If your phone is randomizing its MAC, then registering the MAC it uses for eduroam will not work to connect it to Emerson Devices.
Because https://mydevices.emerson.edu generates a separate password for each registered device, app-controlled devices that expect a single shared home-network password can be tricky to set up. If the app cannot complete setup, contact helpdesk@emerson.edu and we can help.
Some other networked devices may have network or connectivity requirements that prevent them from working in Emerson residence halls. For example, some home devices require a wired-Ethernet device on the same network segment as the wireless devices, which is not possible on the campus network. Emerson IT will not be able to help configure such devices.
In addition, students may not set up local-area networks or otherwise run private networks within the Emerson domain, as described in our Electronic Resources Acceptable Use Policy.
Connecting with Ethernet
Some devices like the Playstation, Xbox, Apple TV, and Roku have Ethernet ports, so you can connect that way if you like. Wii consoles also support Ethernet using a USB adapter.
Wired device registration is only required in certain locations. In all other campus buildings with active Ethernet ports, wired connections work automatically without registration.
Where wired registration is required:
- Piano Row (150 Boylston St.) and Paramount (555 Washington St.): Ethernet ports available. Register in https://mydevices.emerson.edu.
- Library (Walker 3rd Floor) (120 Boylston St.): Ethernet ports available. Register in https://mydevices.emerson.edu.
- Ansin Building 4th Floor (180 Tremont St.): Ethernet ports available. Register in https://mydevices.emerson.edu.
- Colonial (100 Boylston St.): Ports exist but are not active by default. Email helpdesk@emerson.edu with your room number to request activation.
- Little Building (80 Boylston St.) and 2 Boylston Place: No Ethernet ports. Use Wi-Fi only.
Before you register: Plug your device into the purple wall jack with an Ethernet cable. Yellow ports are for phones only. https://mydevices.emerson.edu must detect your device on the port before it can be registered.
To register a wired device:
- From a computer already on eduroam, go to https://mydevices.emerson.edu and open My Devices.
- In the Wired Ethernet section, click the register button to open the Register a Wired Device form.
- Select your Residence Hall / Location and enter your Room Number.
- Under What kind of device?, select your device type.
- Enter the device's Ethernet MAC Address. This must be the Ethernet/wired MAC, not the Wi-Fi MAC. They are different.
- Click Register Device.
Find your device's Ethernet hardware/MAC address using the instructions above. (Be sure to get the Wired MAC.) If you need help, contact helpdesk@emerson.edu.