What is wireless?

"Wireless" is often used to refer to everything from cell phones to Palm Pilots, but it simply describes a process in which data is transmitted over electromagnetic waves.

So what's the difference between wireless networks in a University setting and your cell phone service? Each device conveys information in a different format or protocol; for example, a cellular phone uses the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and the Wireless University uses a variation of the 802.11 protocols. Although both protocols provide you with mobility, using your laptop allows you greater flexibility because of a laptop's larger screen and keyboard, and ability to run a wide range of applications and perform complex functions.

Another up and coming wireless protocol that is worth mentioning is the Bluetooth technology. This may not be a replacement for the 802.11 standard that most University’s use, but it may pose a threat in the future. Bluetooth is used more today as a way of linking different personal devices together. Many manufactures are utilizing the technology including Apple computer who has endorsed the technology and is currently using it in their latest version of Macintosh Operation System called Jaguar.

How does wireless work?

Devices called Access Points (AP) are connected to the regular wired network on campus, access points broadcast a radio signal and the wireless card in your laptop picks up this signal. Your laptop communicates with the access point and the data is conveyed to the network.

Wireless In a University setting

Today’s wireless technologies are not intended to replace hard-wired networks, instead they are used to enhance and make connecting more flexible for its users. At this time there are many Colleges and University’s utilizing wireless technologies. The wireless trend is evident. It is spreading to more and more campuses. Hands down, from my research Carnegie Mellon was the pioneers with wireless on campus and continues to be the leader. They have created what they call ?a href="http://www.cmu.edu/computing/wireless/">Wireless Andrew?Wireless Andrew is the name they call their wireless network. I will talk more about Andrew in following paragraphs.

In a recent interview here at Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) with the Vice president of instruction and Executive Director of IT, the wireless option here at SVSU was brought up. Executive Director Ken Schendler said, “SVSU would not benefit from a wireless network? The main reason being that most of the students at SVSU commute to campus, and because of this, students would not be around to take advantage of the flexibility of the cordless connection. It would not be cost effective to the University. Ken did state that the University is looking into a cellular phone option for students. In some additional investigation I have found other University’s currently offering cellular phone options to students at drastically reduced prices. Because of this cellular companies are feeling the repercussion and in some case are adjusting their prices to compete with the University student cellular market.

Wireless Andrew at Carnegie Mellon

Wireless Andrew, the high-speed wireless infrastructure installed at Carnegie Mellon University, is the largest installation of its type anywhere. Started as a research network in 1994 to support Carnegie Mellon's wireless research initiative, "Wireless Andrew" has been dramatically expanded since its conception. Wireless Andrew has been installed in many of the academic and administrative buildings and will soon cover all academic and administrative buildings on the Carnegie Mellon campus.

Wireless Andrew builds on the university's wired network infrastructure, which currently provides 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps Ethernet service. To provide high-speed wireless service to the campus, Lucent WaveLAN equipment was installed. This equipment uses a direct sequence spread spectrum radio to provide a raw data rate of 2 Mbps. The equipment is 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11 Ethernet compatible technology from Lucent.

Top Five Most Wired Colleges and Universities

The survey is based on a wide range of criteria, including broadband access in dorm and classrooms; whether or not computers are required for incoming freshman; the presence of wireless Internet connectivity anywhere on campus; the ability to add and remove classes via the Web; and how much free Web space is allotted to each student.

1. Carnegie Mellon

With more than 9,000 computers and workstations on campus, the most wired school in the nation, not surprisingly, is Pennsylvania's Carnegie Mellon. If you want a computer science degree, CMU should be one of your strongest contenders. Among graduate CS programs, CMU tied with UC Berkeley for third nationally (according to US News & World Report). In the specialty area of computer engineering, CMU ranked first.

2. University of Delaware

All the dorm rooms and all the classrooms are wired in this model of the wired university. Despite its high tech infrastructure, the University of Delaware is a gorgeous, Georgian style campus with that old-tyme New England feel.

3. New Jersey Institute of Technology

NJIT (has been ranked America's most wired public university for the past three years, and for good reason. First off, Web masters should rejoice, for NJIT offers more than 100MB of personal Web space to all students. Want to learn to become a Web master? NJIT offers online courses in Web design, so you don't even need to live in New Jersey to take advantage of them.

4. Indiana University Bloomington

One hundred percent of the dorm rooms at Indiana University are wired, ensuring a frenzy of file sharing and online gaming. Wireless access is also granted on an unlimited basis, and students are offered up to 50MB of personal Web space as well as more than 100MB of network file space.

5. Dartmouth College

When Reverend Eleazar Wheelock founded Dartmouth in 1769, he predicted that the college would some day be equipped with a blazing, fat pipe to serve rich Web content. Actually, that's not true, but it is a fact that Dartmouth is the only Ivy League school to make it into the top five most wired colleges list. Though Dartmouth didn't shine in the area of wired dorm rooms, 100 percent of classrooms are wired and all incoming freshman are required to own a computer. Moreover, most every administrative task, from adding and dropping classes to applying, can be undertaken via the Web.