KPBSD-ESports Wireless Network Use and Troubleshooting

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the KPBSD-ESports wireless network, it's use by ESports coaches that manage it for their schools, and basic troubleshooting steps for when the network doesn't work as expected.

Network Overview

The KPBSD-ESports wireless network is a specialized network designed to support video game consoles such as Nintendo Switches, Sony PlayStations, and Microsoft Xbox's for school ESports teams/clubs. This network is not available district-wide like other wireless networks KPBSD supports, but can be setup for use in classrooms or other spaces as needed to support ESports in schools with the installation of dedicated ESports wireless access points (see Getting Started below). Once the required equipment is installed and the KPBSD-ESports network enabled at a designated school site, ESports coaches directly manage the use of school and personally-owned game consoles on this network along with the ability to control access based on time of day through an ESports network management screen in PowerSchool.

Getting Started

If you are a new ESports coach needing to establish use of the KPBSD-ESports network at your school for the first time, you will need to:

Request a dedicated ESports wireless access point be installed in the room where the team/club will be playing. Contact the Information Services helpdesk to begin the request process. Note, there is a cost for this hardware the school receiving it will be responsible for.
Request ESports coach designation in PowerSchool. Information Services will need to configure your account as an ESports coach in PowerSchool and setup new wireless keys you will be able to oversee when managing what devices connect to the ESports network at your school. Contact the Information Services helpdesk to begin the request process.
Define a schedule for what days/hours the KPBSD-ESports network will be on by default (you can manually turn it on as needed outside of these windows). Contact jchilson@kpbsd.k12.ak.us to submit this request.
If you intend to allow students to connect their personal games consoles to the KPBSD-ESports network, those students will need to be marked as part of an ESports activity for your school in PowerSchool. Contact your school office to request these students be marked accordingly.

Using the Network

Once you have established the network for your school by completing all required prerequisites in the above Getting Started section, you will be ready to connect devices to the network and use it during your designated times as specified through the ESports Management screen.

To access the ESports Management screen, log into the PowerSchool Teacher Portal and select ESports Management from the left navigational menu.
A list of keys are displayed under the Network Management section (typically the same key is used for all device types, but can be deviated). These are the keys you will enter into devices when connecting them to KPBSD-ESports.
Devices will only be able to connect to KPBSD-ESports when the network is on and only if those devices have been added in the Device Management section. Aside from the default hours it is always on, you can manually enable it for additional time using the Add 6 hours function at any time.
To add a device for under the Device Management section, see Setup a Device for Use with the KPBSD-ESports Network.
Only video games consoles used for school ESports team/club activities should ever be setup for use on this network.

Troubleshooting

Provided below are some common problems you may encounter and possible solutions.

The KPBSD-ESports network is not showing as available
- This usually occurs if the wireless access point has lost communication with the ESports wireless controller. Reboot your ESports wireless access point by unplugging the network cable, plugging it back in, and try again once it's back online. This takes about 3-4 minutes and you will see the 5Ghz/2.4Ghz lights go green when it has finished booting. This shouldn't happen often, but a simple reboot is generally all that is needed to re-establish communication with the ESports controller.
The KPBSD-ESports network is showing as available, but no devices can connect
- Log into PowerSchool and go to your ESports Management screen.
- Verify that the Current Status for your network is set to on. This will be off if outside the default schedule hours unless you manually enable it for additional time using the Add 6 hours function.
- Verify that the devices you are attempting to connect with added under the Device Management section with the correct MAC addresses and that the Expiration date has not come to pass. Additional time can be added for personal devices using the Add 30 days function (school-owned devices designated by borough number do not expire).
You do not see the ESports Management link in the PowerSchool
- ESports need to be designated as ESports coaches for their school each year. If this is missing, you either still need to be setup or have your designation from a previous year extended into the new year. Contact the Information Services helpdesk to make this request.
You do not see any keys, schedules, or any other information listed under the Network Management section
- Keys need to be created for each school year. If this area is empty, you either need a new key or to have a key from a previous year extended for the new school year. Contact the Information Services helpdesk to make this request.
You are trying to add a student's personal device, but the student is not available in the student drop-down menu
- Verify with your school office that the student is correctly marked as part of the ESports activity type in PowerSchool.
You receive a "Mac Address prefix not found" error when attempting to add a new device
- Information Services maintains a database of known MAC addresses used by common consoles; however, manufacturers are continuing to add new prefixes. If you encounter this, follow the contact information displayed in the prompt to coordinate the addition of the new MAC prefix. Additional devices then later added starting with the same pattern will then no longer be subject to the same error.