Services
High-Speed Internet
In-Room Connection
Residential Computing is the Internet service provider for all students living in the residence halls and campus apartments. We provide each resident with one broadband, wired connection in each residential unit. Once you have completed the steps to register with ResComp, you'll have fast, uninterrupted network access at a connection speed of up to 100 Mbps.
Most rooms are equipped with as many Ethernet ports as there are residents, but some triples in the older buildings will require the addition of a mini hub to provide enough connections. ResComp will distribute mini hubs to the rooms that require them in time for move-in. Please contact the Helpdesk if you find there are insufficient Ethernet ports in your room.
When you first register for your in-room Internet connection, you will need to add one computer or device to your account in order to activate your connection. Once you complete the registration process, you can register multiple devices by logging in to your Helpdesk account and adding the physical address (or MAC address) of the other devices you want to add.
While you can register multiple computers or devices, only one can be connected to the Internet at a time because each resident is allotted one IP address. If you want to use multiple devices simultaneously, you will need to use a wireless router.
If you have any problems with your in-room connection, you can go here for information about troubleshooting your Internet configuration.
Wireless
Wireless access (network ID: "RESCOMP") is also available in most common spaces, including study lounges, dining commons, and the Academic Services Centers. Select your unit location from our Support page for a list of each unit's wireless locations.
To utilize the wireless network, you must have a valid CalNet ID and passphrase (which most residents receive before coming to campus). For more information on getting a CalNet ID, visit calnet.berkeley.edu.
While your room is equipped with a super-fast wired connection, you might want the freedom to roam about your room, cable-free. For that, we recommend investing in a wireless router. You must configure your router to not interfere with the residence hall wireless network. As stated in our appropriate use policy, please keep in mind that you will be responsible for any network traffic that comes from your wireless router.
You can purchase a router from a local electronics retailer, the Cal Student Store, or from an online vendor such as Amazon or Newegg. Depending on functionality, routers can run from $30 to over $100. The $30 ones should suffice for your dorm-networking needs. If you want help setting up your wireless router or have questions about which router will best meet your needs, we encourage you to contact ResComp for advice or assistance.
Through the AirBears network, the Berkeley campus also provides wireless coverage at many campus locations such as lecture halls, study areas, libraries, and eateries. AirBears adds more sites each semester, so be sure to check their website at airbears.berkeley.edu for the most current coverage information.
We strongly advise residents to consult with ResComp about wireless security. Information sent over personal wireless networks is vulnerable to being compromised, and instructions on how to sufficiently secure your particular wireless router are not always widely available. RCCs are a great resource in this area and can offer help in person, by email, or over the phone.
If you have any questions about wireless in the residence halls, please email wireless@rescomp.berkeley.edu.
Technical Support
RCCs can help you with...
If you experience any problems with your computer or Internet connection, ResComp is here to help. We have a large staff of Residential Computing Consultants (RCCs) dedicated to providing technical support free of charge for all campus housing customers. One team of RCCs is assigned to each residential housing location. RCCs are trained in technical support in many areas, including but not limited to:
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Digital Security
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Operating System Troubleshooting
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Device Configuration
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Networking
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Data Recovery
ResComp will provide limited hardware troubleshooting, but will not be able to access your computer's hardware without a signed waiver (as detailed in our appropriate use policy) and cannot offer hardware replacements.
We offer support to residents during the Fall semester move-in to ensure all residents get connected, individual appointments for hands-on troubleshooting, and office hours in each unit's Academic Services Center for drop-in service (bring your laptop). In addition, RCCs are available by phone at (510) 642-HELP during business hours and can be reached any time by email.
RCC appointments are scheduled in 45 minute blocks, and RCCs are able to resolve most problems during that time. If additional assistance is needed, a follow-up appointment will be scheduled. Please note that same-day appointments cannot be scheduled - please check the office hours schedule for available drop-in service times.
ResComp will provide limited hardware troubleshooting, but will not be able to access your computer's hardware without a signed waiver (as detailed in our appropriate use policy) and cannot offer hardware replacements.
In the event of an operating system reformat, RCCs can help back up your data.
ResComp services are included as part of your housing contract with UC Berkeley. There are no additional fees for appointments or assistance from RCCs. Note that because ResComp services are paid for by housing fees, students not living in University-owned housing are not eligible for ResComp services.
ResComp officially supports Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Mac OS 10.5 and higher. Older versions of Windows and Mac OS no longer meet the campus minimum security standards and cannot be supported. While we do not officially support Linux, BSD, and other operating systems, RCCs may be able to help you with them on a case by case basis.
ResComp services are included as part of your housing contract with UC Berkeley. There are no additional fees for appointments or assistance from RCCs. Note that because ResComp services are paid for by housing fees, students not living in University-owned housing are not eligible for ResComp services.
Please note that ResComp does not support phone lines in the residence halls. If you experience problems with your telephone service, contact Residential Telephone Service at rts@berkeley.edu or (510) 642-4625. Visit their website for more information: ist.berkeley.edu/rts.
For more information about technical support from ResComp, visit our Support section.
Cable TV
Residential Computing also provides and supports cable television in the residence halls. Scroll down to see the complete channel listing for your location. If you're looking for what's on TV right now, we suggest you use Zap2It. Just follow these steps:
Residence Halls and single-student apartments:
- At the Zap2It site, enter zip code '94720.'
- Click on "University of California Berkeley-RSSB - Cable (Berkeley)" as the cable provider.
- The TV listings should now be visible with the channels provided with your connection.
University Village:
- At the Zap2It site, enter zip code '94706.'
- Click on "Albany University Village - Cable (Berkeley)" as the cable provider.
- The TV listings should now be visible with the channels provided at University Village.
For more information about your cable TV service, review the frequently asked questions below or email cable-helpdesk@rescomp.berkeley.edu
Cable TV FAQ
Equipment
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What equipment do I need?
You will need at least one cable-ready device to view channels above 2-13, such as a cable-ready television and/or a cable-ready DVD player or receiver. You will also need a coaxial cable to reach from your device to the cable outlet.
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Can I opt out of the residence hall cable TV service?
As with other utilities provided in the residence halls and apartments (such as heating and water), there is no way to adjust the cost of cable TV for those residents who choose not to use it. The infrastructure would not allow disconnection of the cable upon request. We strive to keep the overall costs low for this service in order to minimally impact all residents.
Signal Issues
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Why am I not getting a signal?
Make sure that the TV has power and that the coaxial cable is properly connected at both ends. Check all wires for damage and replace any damaged wires. If you have additional components (such as a DVD player or gaming device), disconnect and try connecting the cable directly to the television. Check if your TV is cable-ready. If your television is not cable-ready, set it to channel 3 or 4, then switch channels through a cable-ready receiver.
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Why are channels 2-13 really fuzzy?
This is usually the result of a bad coaxial cable. Try a newer coaxial cable to solve the problem. If the problem persists, make a Helpdesk appointment and an RCC can assist you.
Channels
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Will the channel line-up ever change to include any additional channels (e.g. Bravo, Disney, FX, Versus)?
Adding certain channels to the existing line-up would cause the cable TV service to be dramatically more expensive, and ResComp wants to keep costs low for residents. For example, adding just one additional network could cost between $10,000 and $20,000 more per year. We want to avoid passing on such an additional cost to our customers.
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Why are some programming times listed 3 hours ahead in the TV guide?
The satellite service provides east-coast-only feed to many channels in order to keep costs low. It would require twice as many signal paths and increase costs to allow both east and west coast satellite feeds.
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Can I subscribe to premium channels?
Premium channels through the residence hall cable TV service are not available. The cost to provide the specialized infrastructure that would allow some residents to subscribe to premium channels is very high, and direct feedback from our customers over the last several years does not reflect a strong desire for this service.
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Will any channels be available in HD?
The costs of providing HDTV have historically been high, but we are working to try and provide that service.
Channel Listing
| Channel | Station | Description | Timezone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | KTVU | FOX | |
| 3 | GUIDE | Program Guide/Emergency Alerts | |
| 4 | KRON | MyTV | |
| 5 | KPIX | CBS | |
| 6 | KICU | Independent | |
| 7 | KGO | ABC | |
| 8 | KTSF | KTSF | |
| 9 | KQED | PBS | |
| 10 | KFSF | Telefutura | |
| 11 | KNTV | NBC | |
| 12 | CWTV | CW Network | |
| 13 | KOFY | YourTV | |
| 16 | KDTV | Univision | |
| 17 | BOOM | Boomerang | Eastern |
| 18 | TOON | Cartoon Network | Eastern |
| 21 | SYFY | Sci-Fi Channel | Eastern |
| 22 | MTV | MTV | Eastern |
| 23 | MTV2 | MTV2 | Eastern |
| 24 | MTVU | MTV-University | Eastern |
| 25 | VH1 | VH1 | Eastern |
| 26 | VH1CL | VH1 Classics | |
| 27 | ESPN | ESPN | |
| 28 | ESPN2 | ESPN 2 | |
| 29 | ESPNEWS | ESPN News | |
| 30 | KTNC | Azteca America | |
| 31 | FSBA | Fox Sport Bay Area | |
| 32 | COMEDY | Comedy Central | Eastern |
| 33 | A&E | Arts & Entertainment | Eastern |
| 34 | DSC | Discovery Channel | Eastern |
| 35 | DHC | Discovery Health | |
| 36 | E! | E! Entertainment | Eastern |
| 37 | STYLE | E! Style | |
| 38 | GSN | Game Show Network | Eastern |
| 39 | HALMRK | Hallmark Channel | Eastern |
| 40 | HIST | History Channel | Eastern |
| 41 | TLC | The Learning Channel | Eastern |
| 42 | LIFE | Lifetime | Eastern |
| 43 | NASA | NASA TV |
| Channel | Station | Description | Timezone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | FSTV | Free Speech TV | |
| 45 | G4TTV | G4 Tech TV | |
| 46 | FAM | ABC Family Channel | Eastern |
| 47 | ANIMAL | Animal Planet | |
| 48 | GAS | Nick Games & Sports | |
| 49 | NICK | Nickelodeon | Eastern |
| 50 | TVLAND | TV Land | Eastern |
| 51 | KSTS | Telemundo | |
| 52 | CNN | CNN | |
| 53 | CNNH | Headline News | |
| 54 | COURT | Court TV | Eastern |
| 55 | CSPAN | C-Span | |
| 56 | CSPAN2 | C-Span2 | |
| 57 | FNC | FOX News Channel | |
| 58 | TWC | The Weather Channel | |
| 59 | AMC | American Movie Classics | Eastern |
| 60 | BET | BET | Eastern |
| 61 | UCTV | University of California TV | |
| 62 | PAX | PAX Television | |
| 63 | TBS | Turner Broadcasting System | Eastern |
| 64 | TNT | Turner Network Television | Eastern |
| 65 | USA | USA Network | Eastern |
| 66 | KMTP | PBS | |
| 67 | Campus Programming | Campus Programming | |
| 68 | HGTV | Home & Garden Television | |
| 69 | TRAVEL | The Travel Channel | |
| 70 | FOOD | The Food Network | |
| 71 | BBC America | BBC America | |
| 72 | CNBC World | CNBC World | |
| 73 | CNBC | CNBC | |
| 74 | MSNBC | MSNBC | |
| 75 | BLOOMBERG | Bloomberg TV | |
| 76 | ESPN Classic | ESPN Classic |
Channel Listing for University Village
| Channel | Station | Description | Timezone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | KTVU | FOX | |
| 3 | GUIDE | Program Guide/Emergency Alerts | |
| 4 | KRON | MyTV | |
| 5 | KPIX | CBS | |
| 6 | KICU | Independent | |
| 7 | KGO | ABC | |
| 8 | KTSF | Independent | |
| 9 | KQED | PBS | |
| 10 | KFSF | Telefutura | |
| 11 | KNTV | NBC | |
| 12 | KBCW | The CW Network | |
| 13 | KOFY | YourTV | |
| 16 | KDTV | Univision | |
| 17 | KOFYD | Azteca | |
| 18 | KSTS | Telemundo | |
| 22 | MTV | MTV | Eastern |
| 23 | MTV2 | MTV2 | Eastern |
| 24 | BET | BET | Eastern |
| 25 | VH1 | VH1 | Eastern |
| 26 | VH1CL | VH1 Classics | |
| 27 | ESPN | ESPN | |
| 28 | ESPN2 | ESPN 2 | |
| 29 | ESPNEWS | ESPN News | |
| 30 | ESPNU | ESPN U | |
| 31 | FSBA | Fox Sport Bay Area | |
| 32 | NFL | NFL Network | |
| 33 | A&E | Arts & Entertainment | Eastern |
| 34 | DSC | Discovery Channel | Eastern |
| 35 | DHC | Discovery Health | |
| 36 | DSCI | The Science Channel | |
| 37 | GREEN | Discovery Planet Green | |
| 38 | DINVST | Investigate Discovery | |
| 39 | HALMRK | Hallmark Channel | Eastern |
| 40 | TVLAND | TV Land | |
| 41 | TLC | The Learning Channel | Eastern |
| 42 | LIFE | Lifetime | Eastern |
| 43 | HGTV | Home & Garden Television | |
| 44 | TRAVEL | The Travel Channel | |
| 45 | FOODTV | The Food Network | |
| 46 | FAM | ABC Family Channel | Eastern |
Services for Conference Guests
As the Internet and technical support provider for all campus housing residents at UC Berkeley, Residential Computing also serves the computing and network needs of conference participants who are staying in residential housing. One wired Internet connection is provided for each guest.
In-Room Connection Activation
- If you are a conference organizer, you should contact conference services to coordinate Internet access for your conference.
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If you are a conference guest, you will need a log-in and password provided by your conference organizer.
To get connected, complete the steps below:
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Secure Your Computer
All computers connected to the network must meet the campus minimum security requirements, including having antivirus and firewall software, a strong personal password, and an updated operating system. If your computer does not meet these requirements, it may be blocked from the network in order to maintain security for all users. For more about securing your computer, visit our security page.
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Register Your Computer
To activate your in-room connection, you will need to register your Ethernet card address (or MAC address). This is a unique combination of letters and numbers associated with your computer, listed under your system's network settings. If you have not given your computer's MAC Address to your conference organizer, you will need to get the conference log-in credentials from your conference organizer. Talk to your conference organizer if you have not done either of these things.
To connect to the network here, you will need an Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector. Turn on your computer and plug it into an available Ethernet port in your room. If you have already given your organizer your MAC Address, your connection will be active. Otherwise, open a browser to be directed to the registration process for conference guests.
You can log in here to get started.
Wireless Access in the Residence Halls
Wireless access (network ID: "RESCOMP") is also available in most common spaces, including study lounges, dining commons, and the Academic Services Centers.
To connect to wireless, select the network "RESCOMP" from your available wireless networks. Once connected, open a browser and click the button titled "Conference Guest". If you have conference log-in credentials, you will first need to fill out your contact information. This is to ensure that we can get in touch with you in the event of any problems with your connection. Then, after agreeing to our Appropriate Use Policy, you will have wireless access. If you have given your MAC Address to your conference organizer, you will not need to fill out your contact information again.
NOTE: If you plan on using both wired and wireless connections during your stay in the Residence Halls, you will be asked to register both your wired and wireless MAC addresses.
Once your MAC address has been registered, you will need to wait up to 30 minutes until your connection is activated. Because wireless is not guaranteed to be available in every room, *please* be sure to bring your own Ethernet cable to the conference for a consistent connection.
For questions and support for conference guests, please contact ResComp at helpdesk@rescomp.berkeley.edu.