The Wireless Network at The Wireless Network at
Drexel: A StudyDrexel: A Study
Drexel UniversityDrexel University
Copyright Drexel University, 2001
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Drexel Wireless Network
Drexel University • Private university founded in 1891
• 10,000 students in five Colleges
• Co-op Education University
• Recently acquired MCP/Hahnemann--largest private school of medicine in US
Drexel Wireless Network
Ubiquitous tradition • Began as Technical Institute/Applied
Learning
• One of first universities with microcomputer requirement (since 1983)
• One of 50 Connector sites to Internet II, OC 48 Sonet Ring connecting three campuses
• Entire campus is wireless (802.11b)
Drexel Wireless Network
Wireless pilot • Begun in late 1997—conduct proof of
concept test
• installed wireless in Library and in Campus Center
• set up laptop checkouts in both locations
• extremely successful and well received—looks great for Admissions tours
• also set up wireless classroom with mobile furniture
Drexel Wireless Network
Hagerty Library Pilot Cyberzone
• Over 600 wired Ethernet ports (100 Mbps switched)
• Pilot building for wireless initiative in ’98
• Library seeded “loaner” laptop program
• Computing Services seeded networking
• Loaner program is extremely popular
• Campus network upgraded (5x faster) at no cost to Library
• Loaner program expanded twice
Drexel Wireless NetworkChoosing Product and Vendor • Sought these company
characteristics:
• Engineering experience
• Standards committee leadership
• Related Product Lines
• Sought these product characteristics:
• Multi-generational—a past and a future
• Breadth—not a “one size fits all” device
• Looked for Market Share
Drexel Wireless Network
Choosing a Wireless Platform • In 1997, wireless standards were still unset
• Lucent’s WaveLan* product line selected
• Their product was already shipping and another generation was in the works
• Lucent sits on IEEE 802.11 committee; co-founded WECA
• Access Point modularity facilitates easy upgrades
• AP support for two interface cards allows upgrades while supporting backward compatibility
* WaveLan is now the Orinoco product line and is made by Agere and sold by Avaya
Drexel Wireless Network
Technology Used • Avaya AP-1000
• First product with 100 Mbps uplink
• Power-over-Ethernet cut install costs
• User registration to improve security
• Vast array of external antenna options
• Implemented selected product widely
Drexel Wireless Network
Keys to a Good Wireless Product
• Access Point
• Radio, 802.11 MAC, antenna should be replaceable when new versions are released
• Power-Over-Ethernet keeps install costs low
• Antenna options
• Different strength omni-directional
• Directional to connection remote buildings
• “Leaky coax” for areas with many walls
Drexel Wireless Network
Implementation Plan • Full-scale multi-campus wireless plan
• Provide coverage everywhere inside and outside
• Provide additional capacity to better support high-use areas
Drexel Wireless Network
Network Security • Ubiquity of network requires improved
access security
• Need to prevent access by passers-by
• RF transmits user data in all directions-encryption needed to prevent others from snooping the network
• Developed password secured website that registers MAC addresses
• Established VPN to provide encryption
Drexel Wireless Network
To Stimulate Interest and Use
• install in high profile locations
• seed locations with loaner equipment
• Target Students—they’re early adopters
• provide infrastructure technology at no
cost
Drexel Wireless Network
Student Use • An Optional Program:“build it and they
will use it”
• Personal purchase of cards and laptops—laptops and wireless cards now affordable ($130 for cards)
• Purchase through click off website or bundled with laptop from computer vendors
• Once user base reaches critical mass, users “sell” their peers
Drexel Wireless Network
Publicity • article in Wireless Magazine
• Coverage in Philadelphia Inquirer
• Numerous presentations at high profile conferences and vendor meetings
Drexel Wireless Network
Goal of Wireless survey • Determine characteristics of users—year
in school, college registered in
• Determine frequency of use
• Perceived value of the resource
• Where is wireless used most often
• How is it used and is it used to enhance academic experience
Drexel Wireless Network
Committee Designing Survey
• Professor with research interest in wireless
• Associate Dean for IT in medical school
• Director of Institutional Research
• Director of Survey Research Center
• Associate VP, Instructional Technology
Support
Drexel Wireless Network
Focus Group Conducted • Ten students working in IT department
• To get sense of the kinds of questions to ask and how to phrase them
• To determine if there are items or issues committee overlooked
Drexel Wireless Network
Created Survey Questions
• Able to be completed online
• Short and concise—able to gather as much information as possible with least amount of effort from respondents
Drexel Wireless Network
Survey Questions Please enter your Login User ID: [email protected]
1. In a typical week, how many hours do you use the wireless capability of your laptop?
Please choose only one of the following:For personal work only, or For coursework only, or For job related work only , or Combination of the above:
• 5 or fewer
• 6 to 10
• 11 to 15
• 16 to 20
• 21 to 25
• 26 to 30
• More than 30
Drexel Wireless Network
Survey Questions 2. Where do you use the wireless feature of your laptop? (Please select
all that apply)
• Off-campus residence (receiving DragonFly signal)
• Off-campus residence with personally owned wireless network
• Computing Center
• On-campus residence
• Office
• Library
• Cafeteria/Café
• Outdoors
• Classroom
• Labs (computer and/or science)
• Other
Drexel Wireless Network
Survey Questions 3. How important is the wireless capability to you?
Not At All Very Well
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
For your personal use:0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Don't know
For your academic use:0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Don't know
For your job related work:0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Don't know
4. How well is wireless capability provided on campus?
Not At All Very Well
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Drexel Wireless Network
Survey Questions 5. Describe any unique or important academic/research uses you have
found that would not be possible using standard network connection or modem.
6. What would you like to do with the wireless that you are not able to do today?
Thank you for your time and cooperation and have a good day.
Drexel Wireless Network
Implementation of Survey • Survey posted on website; Access database
collected data
• Email sent to all those with registered wireless cards
• Asked to indicate email address so we could determine who was responding
• Website link included in email
• Guessed we would receive most response in first 48 hours
• Email sent Friday morning –by Monday at noon 255 completed surveys
Drexel Wireless Network
Information Gathered
1157 in list of those with registered wireless cards
355 students responded
Also sent to all faculty and staff -104 responded
Since survey was administered 45 have registered new cards
Most Students:-- used the wireless network for a combinationof personal, coursework, and job related work
-- Indicated that they used it 5 hours per week or less
•18% indicated they used it over 30 per week
•263 students used the wireless network in clasrooms (78%)
•203 students used it in the library (60%)
•182 students used it outdoors (54%)
•141 students used it in the cafeteria/café (42%)
•103 used it in the residence halls (31%)
Drexel Wireless Network
Students FacultyFor Personal UseNot at all 4% 41%Fairly important 32% 8%Very important 41% 18%
For Academic UseNot at all 3% 42%Fairly important 34% 15%Very important 46% 22%
For Job related useNot at all 23% 38%Fairly important 15% 16%
Very important 20% 24%
How Important is Wireless Capability to You?
Drexel Wireless Network
•Look up information being talked about in lectures
•Makes research easier and faster
•Have all work and resources available anywhere
•Problem based learning medical curriculum—download photos or diagrams to enlighten discussion
•Spontaneous meetings or group work
•Commuter felt it extremely helpful-could use own laptop and not have to carry cables—can even work in the car
•Never have to depend on availability of lab computer or free jack
What unique use do you make of wireless? (most common responses)
Drexel Wireless Network
How well is wireless provided on campus? Students FacultyNot well at all 1% 6%Fairly well 45% 27%Very Well 11% 8%Don’t know 3% 31%
•Greatest number of students using wireless are enrolled in Colleges of Business, Engineering, Science, and Information Studies
•More males students than female have wireless cards
•More freshmen and sophomores than upper classmen have wireless cards. (this freshman class was first one to whom we promoted wireless)
Drexel Wireless Network
Additional Information
• Survey revealed areas where signal is low and we canadd access points to increase coverage and improve performance
•Faculty complained they did not have laptops so couldnot take advantage of wireless
•faculty upgrade program this year•expect majority of faculty will choose laptops
•One faculty member didn’t have any interest in it -- said money should have been spent on something ‘important’
Drexel Wireless Network
Students used wireless most:• In class to access professor’s notes • For group work or collaborative learning• Looking up reference material in class• Access notes, assignments and homework in class• Robot communication in robot lab• Laptop travels with the experiment
Drexel Wireless Network
Drexel Wireless Network
Conclusions Drawn
Use of and interest in wireless increasing
As with microcomputers, students areearly adopters and will stimulate use
Once you use it, difficult to imagine beingwithout it
Gives entirely new dimension to UbiquitousComputing
The Dragonfly Network
Drexel Wireless Network
Recommendations Regarding Wireless
Wired network must be robust and stable
Pilot project to gauge interest and value
Wireless can be localized but optimal is Everywhere
Slides will be posted at www.drexel.edu/irt/educause/Wireless.htm