DragonFly summer upgrade to increase network speed
Jason Gomes
Issue date: 5/7/04 Section: News
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The DragonFly wireless network will undergo a major upgrade this summer, making the University City Campus network five times faster than the existing one.
The equipment that composes the current wireless network will be replaced with more advanced systems, which will accommodate faster speeds on the network and improve signal availability.
"No construction will take place on campus. We are just merely replacing old equipment with new equipment," Vice President of Core Technology Infrastructure Ken Blackney said. "Wireless users will still have their regular access to the network and will not have their connection interrupted during the upgrade."
Among the major components being replaced are wireless access points, antenna-like devices that provide reception for computers on the wireless network so that they can access the Internet. Three hundred twenty-five access points are located at various parts inside and outside buildings on the University City Campus. Most of these access points are placed in strategic locations which the average student could not find.
The current wireless access points are of a class that are now commonly found in households across the world. They run into interference with signals commonly emitted from microwaves, radio and other household equipment.
When they were installed on campus in 2000, the equipment was top of the line. With ever-increasing technological innovations, however, they need to be replaced with access points that have very little, if any, interference with common signals.
The new 802.11a access points will have higher frequency and less power than the current access points. As a result, students will have even faster access to the Internet.
"Wireless users will definitely notice the change when these new access points are installed," Blackney said.
Drexel purchased the equipment from Cisco in April and is continuing to purchase more. The equipment will be installed during summer term, and the upgraded wireless network will be ready for fall term. After the equipment is installed, IRT will spend the next two years to install an additional 600 access points around the University City Campus.
The equipment that composes the current wireless network will be replaced with more advanced systems, which will accommodate faster speeds on the network and improve signal availability.
"No construction will take place on campus. We are just merely replacing old equipment with new equipment," Vice President of Core Technology Infrastructure Ken Blackney said. "Wireless users will still have their regular access to the network and will not have their connection interrupted during the upgrade."
Among the major components being replaced are wireless access points, antenna-like devices that provide reception for computers on the wireless network so that they can access the Internet. Three hundred twenty-five access points are located at various parts inside and outside buildings on the University City Campus. Most of these access points are placed in strategic locations which the average student could not find.
The current wireless access points are of a class that are now commonly found in households across the world. They run into interference with signals commonly emitted from microwaves, radio and other household equipment.
When they were installed on campus in 2000, the equipment was top of the line. With ever-increasing technological innovations, however, they need to be replaced with access points that have very little, if any, interference with common signals.
The new 802.11a access points will have higher frequency and less power than the current access points. As a result, students will have even faster access to the Internet.
"Wireless users will definitely notice the change when these new access points are installed," Blackney said.
Drexel purchased the equipment from Cisco in April and is continuing to purchase more. The equipment will be installed during summer term, and the upgraded wireless network will be ready for fall term. After the equipment is installed, IRT will spend the next two years to install an additional 600 access points around the University City Campus.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
mjf42
mjf42
posted 5/11/04 @ 1:12 PM EST
Are you serious??? I hope this is a typo in the article and you mean 802.11g and not 802.11a. 802.11a is older technology. In fact, I don't even think it's even sold anymore. (Continued…)
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