Wireless Technologies: Expanding the Range of Options
| A campus will move
from a wired network to wireless technology for a variety of reasons. Perhaps
the wired network d'esn’t reach every location in a distance learning
program, or the campus decides to go wireless to allow students complete
mobility. Sometimes geographic barriers necessitate a technology that can
literally leap tall buildings in a single bound. Whatever the reason, deciding
to go wireless is only the first step. After that, an institution has to
research and choose the best wireless solution for a particular campus or
system. As with wired networking, the number of variations available in
wireless technology is staggering. Here we've surveyed some options that
address campus-specific needs, from handheld devices that replace PCs, to
single-office Internet connections, to laser transmission that beams data
from point to point. |
The Blue Wolf Wireless Campus relies on personal digital assistants
(PDAs), cell phones, handheld computers, and two-way pagers to connect students
and faculty to campus services. The Blue Wolf solution, relying on completely
portable and relatively inexpensive hand-held devices rather than laptop computers,
leverages a campus’s existing data from its back-end, course management,
and portal systems. Customers using these miniature communication devices can
customize the look and feel of the wireless channel as well as its content.
http://www.bluewolf.com
Colubris CN 1050 technology is appropriate for distance learning situations,
in which satellite offices share a single Internet connection via cable, DSL,
or broadband wireless modem. Colubris uses VPN technology to create a secure
“tunnel” to a remote server. The built-in VPN server creates a secure
wireless connection for each wireless station, and the onboard Hifn chipset
maximizes throughput by handling all encryption tasks. For added flexibility,
the CN1050 also includes support for 40/128-bit WEP encryption. CN 1050 includes
a firewall customizable for appropriate rules. In addition, Colubris provides
integration with legacy Ethernet LANs. www.colubris.com
The SONAbeam product line from fSONA is designed primarily to solve
geographic problems for short-distance data transmissions. fSONA offers point-to-point,
line-of-sight, full duplex synchronous transmission at fast speeds using eye-safe
lasers. The beams can carry information at data rates up to 1.25 Gbps over a
propagation distance of 2.5 miles. Significantly less expensive than laying
optical fiber, this system, consisting of two transceivers and a backup microwave
link, is deployable within 24 hours once line-of-sight access is available.
For links across a mile or more or in areas where buildings may sway, the fSONA
dynamic beam tracking system relies on a custom-designed frictionless gimbal
that takes into account building movement and inclement weather. www.fsona.com
NextNet Expedience is a non-line-of-sight broadband wireless access
system designed for rapid deployment of high-speed, two-way voice and data services
over the “last mile” of the communications network. NextNet uses radio
transmission, rather than lasers, and focuses on providing high speed, low-cost
wireless Internet access for residential and small office or home office users.
Their CPE (customer premise equipment) integrates the modem, transceiver, and
antenna into a single compact indoor unit completely installable by the customer.
The integrated CPE combines plug-and-play functionality with OFDM radio transmission
reliability. The CPE unit connects to any IP-based device via a standard Ethernet
connection, and supports single or multiple users on one subscriber connection.
www.nextnetwireless.com
RoamAbout R2, from Enterasys Networks, is a customizable and expandable
wireless platform that allows users to maintain connection to the network from
any location on campus. The RoamAbout PC card uses radio frequencies instead
of a LAN connection, switching access points as the user moves about the network.
The Enterasys outdoor RoamAbout allows customers to quickly establish high-speed
connectivity between buildings without the inconvenience of installing cable
or the recurring expense of leased T1 lines, providing a solution for extending
wired LANs or building wireless LANs. Wireless users can run high-bandwidth
applications previously available only from traditional wired networks. These
features create a smooth technology migration, eliminating the need to upgrade
an entire infrastructure or discard previously purchased PC radio cards. www.enterasys.com
Symbol wireless local area networking 24 is a technology solution that
relies on handheld devices. The goal is to overcome insufficient or inconvenient
data drops, provide students with ready access to technology tools, and simplify
technology use for teachers. The handheld devices free teachers and students
from the wired classroom, allowing learning to take place anywhere—in the
gym, on the quad, or in the dorm. Administrators, teachers, and security personnel
have instant access to student records. Bar code laser scanning facilitates
the creation of a mobile, interactive classroom. www.symbol.com
ZoomAir wireless networking products extend networks for short distances
and are especially suitable for short-term solutions such as campus festivals,
fairs, or other off-the-wired-network events. The products provide a range of
up to 300 feet indoors and 1,000 feet outdoors, an 11 Mbps data rate, and Windows
95/98/NT/2000 drivers. AP11 Access Point Hardware connects a ZoomAir or other
similarly compliant wireless network to an existing wired Ethernet LAN, extending
the range of the wireless network. This solution utilizes existing PCs and extends
the range of ad-hoc set-ups (using the full radius around a centered access
point). The LAN to LAN Bridging Kit solution establishes a permanent wireless
link between LANs in separate buildings or facilities within line of sight of
each other. www.zoom.com