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Wireless accessibility to increase around campus |
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Tuesday, 06 March 2007 |
by KATIE EASTER
Intern News Reporter
As Internet connections get faster and faster, Appalachian State University races to keep up by providing students with an increased amount of wireless access points.
Housing Operations Director Dr. Tommy Wright said none of Appalachian’s residence halls currently have wireless access.
However, wireless bubbles in residence halls are right around the corner.
Appalachian will install wireless access in all of the new residence
hall renovations starting with Hoey Residence Hall, which will be
completed in August.
Wireless access will also be installed in the Appalachian Panhellenic Hall and should be accessible by August.
Cannon Residence Hall renovations will also include wireless access, which will be completed during the 2007-08 academic year.
It is the hope of Housing & Residence Life to eventually make all residence halls wireless, Wright said.
Currently, Network Services keeps a steady supply of access points and
distributes them to different departments based on request, Karen I.
Norris, Information Technology Service staff member, said.
A wireless access point is a device that connects wireless
communication devices, such as computers, together in a wireless
network. They are similar to routers used in home wireless connections.
“[Access Points] are not cheap,” Norris said, as each is approximately
$560. Access Points are placed where the largest amount of people can
obtain a signal.
Norris said the wireless network is open to students, faculty, staff and their registered guests.
Once connected, users must sign in as a student, faculty or visitor.
This allows them to enter appropriate areas in the Appalachian network.
Appalachian’s wireless network offers the same security as a wired connection and is quicker than the visitor’s network.
David E. Hayler, Information Technology Service staff member, said
Appalachian received the 2006 Network World Enterprise All-Star Award
for its Net Reg System.
This system allows anyone who connects to be contained until that person’s identity is confirmed, Hayler said.
Norris said despite the connection’s tight security, she advises
students install firewalls and virus protection systems because people
are constantly trying to hack into computers.
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