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Hotspots
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Request a Free Hotspot from KSD
Kent School District (KSD) provides free Wi-Fi hotspots for our students and families in need. Please contact the Customer Support Center to request a hotspot.
- (253) 373-7030
- CustomerSupportCenter@kent.k12.wa.us
Frequently Asked Hotspot Questions
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How do I find the Wi-Fi name and password for my hotspot?
The Wi-Fi name and password are available on the hotspot using the following steps.
- Press the power button to turn on the hotspot.
- With the display on, push the power/menu button twice to see the Wi-Fi name.
- Push the power/menu button again to see the Wi-Fi password.
- To return to the home screen, press the power/menu button two more times.
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How do I connect my KSD laptop or another device to my hotspot?
You will need the Wi-Fi name and password from the hotspot. If you do not have it already, please see the step-by-step instructions under “How do I find the Wi-Fi name and password?”
KSD Laptop
- Make sure the hotspot is turned on.
- Turn on your KSD laptop.
- Do not log in yet. Click on the wireless icon on the bottom right of the screen.
- Select the hotspot Wi-Fi network name from the list of available wireless networks.
- Enter the hotspot Wi-Fi password.
- Once it is connected, restart the laptop.
- Your device is now connected to the internet. You will not have to go through these steps again.
Other Device
- Make sure the hotspot is turned on.
- Make sure your computer, tablet, mobile phone, or other Wi-Fi enabled device is on.
- Find the wireless icon or settings for your device.
- Select the hotpsot Wi-Fi network name from the list of available wireless networks.
- Enter the hotspot Wi-Fi password.
- Your device is now connected to the internet.
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What if my hotspot does not have coverage or coverage is poor where I live?
Similar to your cell phone, it is possible for your hotspot to encounter areas where there is no reception (dead-zones).
If the hotspot that you have is for a provider that has poor support in your area, please email hotspot@kent.k12.wa.us and we will exchange it for one that is supported in your area while supplies last.
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I get good cellular reception, but the hotspot works poorly in my home. Why is that?
There are several reasons why this may be the case.
Different Cell Phone & Hotspot Service Providers
Your cell phone service provider (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, etc.) may not be the same cell provider as the hotspot. If this is the case, depending on the cell coverage by the hotspot's service provider, there would be a difference in coverage.
Housing Materials
What a residence is made of impacts the way a hotspot functions. Aluminum siding and other building materials impact the cell coverage that a hotspot relies on.
Signal Interference
Hotspots connect to the service provider network using cellular service. Laptops and other devices connect to the hotspot using Wi-fi. It is always best to be as close to the hotspot as possible. If there are other devices in your residence using Wi-fi, or other radio signals, interference can have negative consequences on your connectivity.
Additionally, other wireless networks in your home, your neighbor's wireless, Bluetooth devices, metal, and floor heating and aquariums can also impact in-home wireless reception.
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Do the hotspots filter websites and content?
Basic filtering for the hotspot is based on Child Internet Protection CIPA (CIPA) requirements for students accessing the internet on district-provided internet connectivity. Filtering for hotspots includes media streaming (Hulu, Netflix, Spotify, etc.) and other social media platforms. Automated blocking has been known to produce false positives. There are over 1.5 billion websites so finding new and ever-changing sites is constant and takes time even for computers.
False positives in filtering can happen both ways meaning there could be an inappropriate site that is inadvertently allowed. If you encounter this, please email hotspot@kent.k12.wa.us identifying the site that was not blocked.
KSD can and does modify filters, but please be patient. As you know, this level of online learning is new to students, staff, and support. We are working as hard and smart as possible to work out all of the kinks.
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How do I get support for my hotspot?
Contact the Kent School District Customer Support Center.
- CustomerSupportCenter@kent.k12.wa.us
- (253) 373-7030