[463] in Resnet-Forum
Re: Wireless networking in residence halls
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dave Molta)
Mon Feb 6 14:24:47 1995
From: "Dave Molta" <DJMOLTA@cs.syr.edu>
To: resnet-forum@MIT.EDU, Gary Palmer <GPALMER@coe.edu>,
Pete Bronder <pb0q+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: Mon, 6 Feb 1995 13:53:41 EST5EDT
Reply-To: djmolta@syr.edu
> At CMU here we are starting a wireless research project. For your
> application you would have to install several "access points" which will
> relay wireless info onto the wire. That implies installing enough
> copper to build a backbone to tie in the access points. We are looking
> at the following vendors: AT&T's Wavelan, Xircom and Proxim. The first
> uses spread spectrum technology and the others use a direct sequencing
> method. None of these reach the speed of a wired LAN. The products do
> exist today but we are not aware of large scale installations to draw
> experiences from. Depending on the product you might need more access
> points which will vary in the amount of coverage. Depending on the
> price of each access point you may spend more or less. You may find
> dead spots in the building which will be revealed by doing some field
> testing. These spots can be overcome by installing more access points.
> All these products use PCMCIA adapters which places restrictions on the
> computers you can support.
>
> Pete
>
We're also looking at some of these technologies, though not for dorm
applications. the basic trade-offs with this technology are speed,
distance, and price. You can optimize any two of the three.
My personal preference is for the WaveLAN technology, which offers 2
Mbps and distance of 300 feet from access points (this varies, of
course, depending upon structural elements of the building --
reinforced concrete is a killer). WaveLAN uses spread-spectrum
technology in the 902-928 MHz range. We currently use it for
inter-building links as a replacement for T1 when we don't have
conduit. WaveLAN products are available from AT&T, Digital, and
Solektek and come in several "form factors" including ISA cards,
PCMCIA/PC-Card, and parallel-port adapters. All tend to be rather
pricey -- typically $695 per card with minimal discounts available.
Overall, I think it makes more sense to actually wire the dorm rooms
and deliver Ethernet, but wireless certainly has some benefits,
particularly if mobility is a high priority.
-Dave
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Dave Molta djmolta@syr.edu
Director of Network Systems djmolta@syredu.bitnet
Syracuse University 315-443-4801
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