Connect to FalconNet Wi-Fi – Mac

Overview

FalconNet is the wireless network available to Cedar Crest College students, faculty, and staff throughout campus.

Follow these instructions to connect your MacBook, iMac, or other Mac computer to FalconNet and troubleshoot common wireless connection problems.

Note: These instructions apply to recent versions of macOS, including macOS Sequoia and Tahoe. Menu names may vary slightly depending on your macOS version.

Before You Begin

Make sure that:

  • You are on the Cedar Crest College campus.
  • Wi-Fi is turned on.
  • You have your current FalconNet username and password.

If you recently changed your FalconNet password, you may need to forget the saved wireless connection and reconnect.

Connect to FalconNet

  1. Click the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar at the top-right corner of your screen.
    • If you do not see the Wi-Fi icon, click Control Center → Wi-Fi.
  2. Make sure Wi-Fi is turned on.
  3. Select FalconNet from the available networks. It may appear under Other Networks.
  4. When prompted, enter your Cedar Crest College credentials:
    • Username: Your FalconNet username.
    • Password: Your current FalconNet password.
  5. Click OK or Join.
  6. If macOS displays a certificate verification prompt, verify that the certificate belongs to Cedar Crest College's authorized wireless authentication service before continuing.
  7. Important: Do not accept an unfamiliar or unexpected certificate. If you cannot verify the certificate information, submit an IT Support Request.
  8. If macOS requests your computer's administrator password to update certificate trust settings, enter your Mac's local account password, not necessarily your FalconNet password, but only after verifying the certificate.
  9. Wait for the connection to complete.

Once connected, FalconNet should appear as your active Wi-Fi network.

Your Mac should automatically reconnect to FalconNet whenever you return to campus.

Troubleshoot FalconNet Connection Problems

If your Mac cannot connect, repeatedly asks for your password, or displays an authentication error, try the following steps.

Step 1: Check Your Wi-Fi Connection

  1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings.
  2. Select Wi-Fi.
  3. Confirm that Wi-Fi is turned on.
  4. Turn Wi-Fi off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
  5. Select FalconNet and try connecting again.

If FalconNet does not appear, move to another campus location and check the available networks again.

Step 2: Forget FalconNet and Reconnect

If you previously connected to FalconNet, your Mac may have saved an outdated password or wireless configuration.

Forgetting the network removes the saved connection settings so you can establish a new connection.

  1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings.
  2. Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar.
  3. Scroll down and click Advanced.
  4. Under Known Networks, locate FalconNet.
  5. Click the More (…) button next to FalconNet.
  6. Select Remove From List.
  7. Confirm the removal if prompted.

Reconnect to FalconNet:

  1. Return to System Settings → Wi-Fi.
  2. Select FalconNet from the available networks.
  3. Enter your current FalconNet username and password.
  4. Click OK or Join.
  5. Verify any certificate information before accepting it.

Once connected, open Safari or another web browser and confirm that you can access the internet.

Step 3: Restart Your Mac

If forgetting and reconnecting does not resolve the issue:

  1. Save your work and close any open applications.
  2. Click the Apple menu → Restart.
  3. Wait for your Mac to restart.
  4. Open Wi-Fi settings and try connecting to FalconNet again.

Step 4: Check for Common Connection Issues

Incorrect Username or Password

Verify that you are entering your current FalconNet credentials.

If your full Cedar Crest email address does not work, try entering only your FalconNet username (the portion before @cedarcrest.edu).

If you recently changed your password, forget FalconNet and reconnect.

FalconNet Does Not Appear

  • Confirm Wi-Fi is enabled.
  • Move to another campus location.
  • Restart your Mac.
  • Check whether other wireless networks appear.

If your Mac cannot detect any wireless networks, the issue may be related to its Wi-Fi adapter or configuration.

Certificate Verification Warning

macOS may display a certificate verification prompt when connecting to FalconNet.

Do not trust a certificate unless its identity matches the wireless authentication information provided by Cedar Crest IT.

If the certificate information is unexpected or cannot be verified, do not continue with the connection.

Connected but No Internet

If your Mac shows that it is connected to FalconNet but you cannot access the internet:

  1. Open a web browser and try another website.
  2. Turn Wi-Fi off and back on.
  3. Restart your Mac.
  4. Try connecting from another campus location.

If multiple devices in the same area cannot access the network, there may be a campus wireless issue.

Incorrect Date or Time

Incorrect system time can sometimes cause authentication and certificate validation problems.

To check:

  1. Click the Apple menu → System Settings.
  2. Select General → Date & Time.
  3. Enable Set time and date automatically, if available.
  4. Confirm the displayed time and time zone are correct.
  5. Try connecting to FalconNet again.

Step 5: Check Private Wi-Fi Address Settings

Recent versions of macOS include a Private Wi-Fi Address feature that helps protect your privacy when connecting to wireless networks.

For normal FalconNet use, you can generally leave this feature at its default setting.

To review the setting:

  1. Open System Settings → Wi-Fi.
  2. Click Details next to FalconNet.
  3. Locate Private Wi-Fi Address, if available.
  4. Depending on your macOS version, you may see:
  • Off: Uses the device's hardware MAC address.
  • Fixed: Uses a consistent private address for the network.
  • Rotating: Periodically changes the private address.

If you experience problems related to device registration or MAC address restrictions, IT Support may need to verify which address your Mac is using.

Do not change this setting unless necessary for troubleshooting.

Step 6: Check VPN or Security Software

If your Mac connects to FalconNet but cannot access certain websites or services:

  1. Check whether a VPN is connected.
  2. If it is a personal VPN, temporarily disconnect it if permitted by applicable policies.
  3. Test your internet connection again.
  4. Reconnect the VPN when finished.

Do not disable College-managed security software or remove required device management settings.

Still Need Help?

If you cannot connect to FalconNet after following these instructions, please submit an IT Support Request.

Include:

  • Your Mac model (MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, etc.)
  • Your macOS version, if known
  • Your location on campus (building and room, if applicable)
  • Any error messages displayed
  • Troubleshooting steps you have already attempted

For your security, do not include passwords or verification codes in your support request.

Print Article