Apr 15, 2010

  

 

 

New wireless Internet system provides non-tethered access
By: Melanie Crump and Shatterica Tolbert

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Another new development has come to Northwest in the form of a wireless Internet system that now stretches across the campus allowing students, staff and faculty easier online access.

According to Chuck Adams, network administrator, the school has had wireless in a few locations for several years, but that they “weren’t happy with the wireless solution we initially chose and didn’t move it out beyond the Haraway Center and Ag Tech buildings.”

Two years ago another wireless solution was deployed at the DeSoto and Oxford campuses, as well as a few locations on the Senatobia campus including outside access on the north side of the Union Building. The latest implementation of wireless access was prompted by the desire to provide online capabilities to several athletic facilities—the football field, baseball fields and coliseum—and the residence halls.

The main purpose for the new system, according to Adams, was to “provide the Northwest family non-tethered access to the network and the Internet.” This “non- tethered” access can be found in a variety of places around campus including the Administration Building, the circle in front of the Administration Building, the Humanities Building, the north side parking lot, inside the Tunica Building, the new Physical Science Addition, the Fine Arts Building, the Haraway Center, the lobby of the Berry Building, Tech II, the Union Building, the north side of the Union—including the parking lot for Bobo and Taylor —the coliseum, the library, the football and baseball fields, the Ag Tech Building, and all of the residence halls. These new wireless “hot spots” can be found on all Northwest campuses.

The previous attempt to bring wireless Internet to Northwest cost the school approximately $30,000, while the latest project cost reached $59,000, bringing the total cost of this endeavor to $89,000. The advantage of the new system is that it provides a great asset to the growing number of students who have computers with wireless capabilities, according to Adams.

“I believe making the network available wirelessly will enhance the communication and learning environment for faculty, staff and students,” said Adams.

The new system will not affect the many students still using “Ethernet cables” to connect to the Internet, according to Adams. To access the system, students with wireless computers can log on like usual and search for the network, “NWCC_Guest.” Students can also get onto the wireless Internet outside in one of the many “hot spots” using the same technique.

“We have no plans to change the current infrastructure in classrooms, buildings and supporting buildings. The ‘Ethernet cord’ is not going away anytime soon in those locations,” said Adams. “However, it is possible in the future that wireless access could replace the existing wired network in all the dorms. Though there are no plans to do that in the immediate future.”

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