The Triangle

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy Drexel IRT IRT is currently testing a wireless network with increased speed and range.

Drexel University officials have begun testing new a wireless network in two residence halls in a plan to eventually replace the entire DragonFly network, according to Ken Blackney, associate vice president for core technology in IRT.

The test network, currently named "dflytest," is online in both the Caneris and Race Street residence halls as part of phase one of the University's plan to enhance the speed and range of wireless at Drexel.

"The first round of equipment is in now," Blackney said.

Blackney and his team in Drexel's Information Resources and Technology department are using the residence halls to test the new system in an effort to understand how the technology will work in the real world, Blackney said.

Interference from other wireless networks has been a consistent problem for IRT, according to Blackney.

Caneris Hall is a particular trouble spot.

"While our signal is there, the others are shouting over it," Blackney said, referring to the 61-student operated wireless networks found in Caneris Hall.

Even household appliances can degrade the Dragonfly signal, he said, since cordless phones and microwave ovens operate on the same 2.4 Ghz frequency used by the current wireless network. The University is evaluating wireless products that use a 5 Ghz frequency, allowing for less interruption and better signal, according to Blackney.

"We are going to A, B, G, N providing the test goes well," he said, referring to the different wireless network standards by letter.

As IRT moves ahead with the first phase of a three-phase test, Blackney said student input is critical in deciding what product the University selects.

"When we're done we'll have three rounds of student input about what worked," he said.

While IRT will e-mail residents of Caneris and Race to ask them to connect to the test system, many students have already connected using the test system.

Blackney said that 525 people have logged on to the wireless test as of Feb. 7.

The new wireless network will bring enhancements in speed and signal strength because of changes in the wireless standards, according to Blackney.

Registering a computer for wireless access will also become easier.

Instead of providing IRT with a unique indentifying computer address called a MAC address, students will now only need to login via a web site to use wireless, Blackney said.

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