New wireless network popular among students
FOR RELEASE: Monday, November 13, 2000
Huntington, Ind. "The web has gone wireless at Huntington College. Students now have portable, digital access to the information resources of the campus network and the Internet. What this means basically is that students are now able to access our campus computer network, including email and the Internet, in the residence halls and library without the need to actually plug-in to a data jack, said Tom Ayers, vice president for business and finance. For those students with laptops, this will mean even greater convenience since they can literally walk anyplace in the building and use their computer.
Students like the new service, which transfers data more than 300 times faster than traditional dial-up network connections.
In order to access the wireless network, a special adapter card is inserted into the computer. Cards for laptop computers are made available in the Huntington College Bookstore at a cost of $150. Equipment for desktop models is also available. According to bookstore manager Mark Dinius, the new service is so popular among students that his store sold out of network adapter cards on the first day of classes. Additional stock has since been received, and sales have been brisk.
Students who do not have a personal computer can check out a network-ready laptop from the RichLyn Library. Detailed instructions are available from the College's Computer Center.
Our wireless transmitters are currently located in the residence halls and the library, explains Kerry Arnold, director of Campus Computing Services. Although no outdoor antennas have yet been installed, there is carryover outside of the buildings. For instance, a student walking between Becker Hall and RichLyn Library would not lose the network signal. This makes the garden benches in that area an ideal spot to conduct online research on a sunny afternoon.
Arnold says that plans are in place to add additional network transmitters in the Huntington Union Building (HUB) and Habecker Dining Commons. Eventually, wireless service will be extended to all academic buildings and the college-owned Forester Village Apartments.
