Cat5 Solutions GroupFHSU Farm Networking Project

A Spring 2008 FHSU INT Capstone Convocation Project

May 16, 2008

Our Client: The FHSU Department of Agriculture

Farm: almost 4000 acresDivisions:- Crops/Precision Agriculture- Dairy- Beef- Sheep/Swine

Client Needs- Scalable, permanent link to FHSU campus-wide

network- Mobile internetworking method for in-field use

Solutions and Deliverables

Solutions- Point to Multipoint- Fiber to the Farm- EVDO- Additional Solutions

Deliverables- EVDO Technology- White Paper consulting toward FHSU network

extension to Farm

Solutions: Point to Multipoint

Point to Multipoint- Broadcast Zone

• One centrally located AP that broadcasts 120-degree zone towards remote APs on Farm

- Extended Hotspot• Bridge backbone, One centrally

located AP creates connectivity for remote APs on Farm

Broadcast Zone

Extended Hot Spot

Solutions: Fiber to the Farm

Fiber to the Farm- Fiber backbone; full

Wi-Fi coverage on farm

- Obtained bids for fiber installation from local businesses

Fiber to the Farm

Solutions: EVDO from Nex-Tech Wireless

EVDO receives signal from cellular towers and converts to mobile Internet- LaptopConnect™

Nex-Tech Wireless provided for testing: - (3) IBM ThinkPad laptops- (2) NexAira EVDO routers- (5) Sierra Wireless EVDO

cards

Nex-Tech Wireless donated Panasonic ToughBook to Farm

Additional Solutions

Consulted toward new computers at Farm

Researched:- FarmWorks software suite- Surveillance cameras

Client Testimonials

“This (project) has turned out a lot better than I even imagined because of this exposure to technology that we didn't even know we had access to.”- Dr. John Greathouse, FHSU Ag Department

“The Cat5 Solutions Group was professional, enthusiastic and communicated with us frequently. When questions or communication was needed they always responded promptly.” - Brian Spurgeon, Nex-Tech Wireless

Lessons Learned

Soft-Skills- Teamwork- Client satisfaction- Professionalism- Time management

Technical Skills- Troubleshoot/test new products- Planning of architecture- Buildout/test wireless link- Applied and basic research

Thank you!