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OZones speed online access at UD
Known as the “0Zones,” an increasing number of wireless-capable locations across campus offer laptop users a network notable in that it has “zero wires, zero waiting and zero worries.” Thanks to a continuing project by UD’s Information Technologies-Network and System Services, wireless access is available at many campus locations popular with students, including residence hall lounges, dining halls and student center locations such as the Trabant Food Court and The Scrounge in the Perkins Student Center. Wireless network access also is available at Clayton Hall auditoriums and meeting rooms, Pencader Complex meeting rooms, some computing sites and campus buildings including Memorial Hall, Alfred Lerner Hall and Arsht Hall on UD’s Wilmington campus. Morris Library has seven wireless access points covering all floors, while also providing more than 200 wired locations for laptop connections to the campus network. A summer upgrade has boosted the maximum network speed of UD’s wireless network from 11 megabits of information per second to 54 megabits per second--more than 100 times faster than the standard 56 Kbps dial-up modem Internet connections. Ron Nichols, a manager in Information Technologies-User Services, said that providing increased wireless coverage, particularly in student areas, reflects the ever-increasing popularity of portable computers among students, faculty and staff. “It’s a convenience factor, and, in most cases, a student does not have to do anything,” Nichols said. “Students with laptops can unplug their network connection in their residence hall or home--go to the wireless accessible locations on campus--and connect to the UD network and the Internet without changing any configurations.” Among the 1,500 incoming students who brought new computers this fall, about 78 percent opted for laptops, Leila Lyons, director of Information Technologies-User Services, said. "Among institutional sales, the numbers tend to be more heavily weighted towards desktops, although we see about a 50-50 ratio of desktops/laptops that are brought into the Technical Solutions Center for some sort of attention" Lyons, said. The results of the 2003 Student Computing Survey are available at [www.udel.edu/it-us/surveys/studentfall03/results/execsum.html]. To connect at the various UD wireless network sites, users need a wireless network card (or built-in wireless capability), and an active UDelNet ID. Laptop users with questions about wireless capability can bring their computers to UD’s Technology Solutions Center (002A Smith Hall), where a consultant will check the configuration, Nichols said. “Anyone with a valid UDelNet ID can access our network and the Internet,” Nichols said. “Using a wireless card, users must register their laptop at [www.udel.edu/network]. Once a user has registered, they will be given full Internet access.” Wireless network cards are available at the UD Bookstore and at popular electronic chain stores, Nichols said. The advantages of wireless access, including increased network connecting speed, continue to make wireless capability a popular feature for laptop users, Nichols said. “We have received very positive feedback from students and faculty who are quite pleased by the increased availability and convenience,” Nichols said. “We are very pleased with the success we have had thus far.” For more information, including a helpful maps indicating wireless location, as well as information on system requirements, set-up and UD wireless computing policies, visit [www.udel.edu/wireless]. Article by Jerry Rhodes To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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