I have a few questions if there are any current cadets out there reading: 1. How is the internet connectivity at Chase Hall and is it wired or wireless? 2. What are the specifications of the PC that will be provided as part of the initial uniform/supplies issue? 3. Will we be allowed to bring our own PC from home during any of our years as cadets? Thank you in advance.
USCGA dorm room internet connectivity and pc provided during initial uniform/supply issue questions
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rjb
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DS graduated in 2018 so a little dated. If I remember correctly you can't connect any non CG device via hardwired ethernet. The issued Dell laptop was pretty high end. Upon graduation, CG IT wipes the laptop of CG provided software. The laptop gets hard use during your time at the academy. It lasted through his first billet and then it started having issues, so it was replaced as he moved to his second billet. We sent a monitor, keyboard, mouse and docking station for his room and also a multi function laser printer / scanner. He added some speakers. He never felt he needed his own PC at school.
Amazon Prime membership pays for itself with free shipping of all the stuff you'll eventually want during your stay at the academy.
Amazon Prime membership pays for itself with free shipping of all the stuff you'll eventually want during your stay at the academy.
ekb1398
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Internet is wireless and pretty good. I'm unsure of the exact specifications of the 2025 laptop, but I think they usually publish them somewhere. A lot of my classmates (including me) have different laptops than the issued one, because they issued tablets with our class and it worked out pretty terribly, to say the least, both from a practicality and reliability standpoint. A good amount of people of all classes choose to have gaming computers set up in their rooms
If you like to watch YouTube videos, there is a girl at the CGA who does great videos about the CGA. Look up and follow "Erin Edwards". My daughter just sent these to me the other day and it was very helpful.
I know slightly off topic but wasn't sure where else to put this information.
I know slightly off topic but wasn't sure where else to put this information.
Erin is Money for those of us seeking CGA insights - when we met with CAPT Fredie back in early April and made a special point gave her props, he’d indicated Admissions hard recently become aware of what she’d be doing and they we’re going to be partnering to some extent. Highly recommend anyone interested in CGA or life as a Cadet check out her YouTube videos about CGA.
Haveaniceday
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@ekb1398 provided good info as usual as he is there now. I would add that most cadets buy a printer and it has to be wired, somehow the wifi won't take it, too many printers I guess. Get a cheap one, as during the summer, it goes in cadet storage and gets banged around pretty good. Sometimes new ink is the same cost as a new cheap printer so you may replace instead of re-ink in the future. If an engineering major, buying a second monitor will help too so they can run a dual monitor set up. Your kid will order what they want from Amazon. The last laptops I saw issued were Dells for 2024, with a CAC card reader so they can log into MIL secure sites. It had a docking hockey puck thing that you could plug an external monitor, keyboard etc. into. The academy buys them with the 4 year dell service and support if they break. Also they will get MS 360 and cloud storage space for their work. Hope that answers your question.
As a side note, the laptops are the property of the cadet as they are paid for out of the loan they give you for all military issue stuff. However, professionalism is expected and they are subject to monitoring if the Academy says they are or not. Good to have a talk with your incoming cadet so they understand, no need to make an 18 year old mistake online to start things off
As a side note, the laptops are the property of the cadet as they are paid for out of the loan they give you for all military issue stuff. However, professionalism is expected and they are subject to monitoring if the Academy says they are or not. Good to have a talk with your incoming cadet so they understand, no need to make an 18 year old mistake online to start things off
VAcadetmom
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My 4/C has been happy with his Academy issued laptop. It is way better than the one he was using in high school. He purchased a 27 inch monitor and keyboard, and a wired printer (they are not allowed to hook up a printer via wi-fi). Wi Fi strength definitely varies depending on where you are in Chase Hall as well. His room did not have the strongest for sure. He said he had the best connectivity while he was in quarantine for a month in Munro .
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ekb1398
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I bought the cheapest printer they had at Walmart, and then bought 400 mL of ink (the cartridge that came with it holds 6 mL), a hand drill, and a syringe in a kit for 8.99 from Amazon. The printer thinks the cartridge has been empty for months now, but I have successfully hacked the crazy ink expenses
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Any concerns with using an iPad for notetaking in class? My swab is concerned that she couldn't use the school network for things like Noodletools or Notability. Is there a policy listed anywhere about this? She thinks she needs one with cellular to stay out of trouble but I think she may be conflating swab and 4/C rules with academic rules and over-correcting a little.
Haveaniceday
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From what I have seen, they all bring their laptops to class and have them open at their desks. I think some textbooks are online, etc. I have not seen ipads used. Many do use a MS 360 note program on their laptops.
As a side note, 4/c must buy their textbooks from the cadet store, but upper class can purchase them anywhere and often just get a PDF of the book and use that, so there is some money savings later.
I *think* I remember my cadet saying they were not allowed to use sites like Noodletools. I'm not sure about ipads in general, but they are not supposed to connect to the school wifi with any other "computers" other than the school issued one. That is also why if they get a personal printer, it cannot be used in a wireless mode. The wifi is not strong enough to handle it.
ekb1398
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I've never run into a site that was legitimate that was blocked on Cadet wi-fi. Additionally, you can connect up to 2 devices on school wifi now. @StPaulDad your swab should be fine. Some individual teachers may mandate that notetaking be on paper, but most are fine with whatever works for the student.
Posting with my son’s account: My son, who is at Swab Summer, just completed ”Sea Trials” this past Friday, and is currently sailing aboard Eagle somewhere between Portland, ME, and USCGA (New London, CT) told me the following. “Dad, we don’t need to buy a separate monitor and docking station for the issued laptop. Both the monitor and docking station were issued to us when we received the laptop. This is a new thing for this year.” Pretty cool that USCGA identified these needs and added them to their standard issue of uniforms and equipment. Of course, the initial issue has to be paid back from your cadet pay. But, they’ll be so busy the first year they won’t need much pocket change.
Their additional equipment will enable a more ergonomically correct setup. Kudos to the USCGA!
That’s great! We already bought a monitor, but my daughter (non-academy) doesn’t have one for her laptop so I guess it’s now for her. Happy not to have to ship it out there. Appreciate the intel!
It was in the parent and cadet handbooks as well! It was a nice surprise!!
Bash On
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DD is taking her own laptop to school this year--it's more powerful than the issued one. She also uses an iPad to take notes in class and raves about how it helps her studying (something about taking her handwritten notes and making them into organized documents to study from) and how it's easier to cart the iPad to classrooms all over campus than a laptop. I don't know how she works the connection seem to recall that she had to get IT approval for the device (same as for a personal laptop). IIRC, she said that the WIFI quality varies a bit depending on one's assigned dorm. or study location.
[I see know that this a recently revived old thread, but am leaving this post up in case it's of use to somebody.]
[I see know that this a recently revived old thread, but am leaving this post up in case it's of use to somebody.]
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By chance does anyone know which make/model Dell laptop and docking station were issued? Also, the Type & size monitor? Any specifics would be appreciated.