Hi. We are currently waiting for grant funding to implement an "Anywhere, anytime learning environment." The biggest reason for using the wireless technology is to allow students access to their assignments, mail, grades, files, announcements, schedules and any other information without waiting in line to use a lab computer. We will be using laptops on carts with wireless access points attach to each cart. Later we plan to add access points throughout each building and hope to make laptops available to all students. We will also allow students to take the laptop computers home and connect to the school through dial-up accounts. The second reason for using the wireless technology is space. Classroom are at a premium. We have five labs that could be converted back to classrooms after the implementation of the wireless labs. That is lot cheaper then building new classrooms or schools.
Currently, the highest wireless speed is 11mps from AirConnect (3Com). We have looked at several other vendors which are also impressive but not as fast. By next year, the vendors are boasting 55mps wireless bandwidth. Much of our copper network is still 10mps, so this would be an upgrade. I do believe, however, to implement wireless correctly, a minimum of a 100mps copper backbone should be in place. Costs for wireless hardware vary. The last vendor quote received was
Access point - $1,000
Wireless Network Card (PCMPCI) - $179
I have seen the prices drop in the last few months though.
If you plan to build a wireless network for an entire building, you will need an access point every 360 feet (maximum). That distant decreases with the amount of steel and other building materials that degrade the signal.
Bottomline is this stuff is expensive. You need to have a strong network base in place.
The benefits for the education of our students though could be great. -Take Care
