Miami addresses wireless signal concerns on campus
This letter is in response to the editorial "Miami must strengthen campus wireless signal" printed on Feb. 24. I would like to assure all Miami students that IT Services does recognize the increased role the Internet plays in classes of all disciplines and in everyone's life outside the classroom as well. To make sure each student has the best wireless connectivity possible, IT Services has two key messages to share.
First, when students connect to Miami's wireless network it's best to use MU Wireless, as it is the most secure way of connecting and allows immediate access to all Miami services. MU Wireless Lite is a scaled down version of MU Wireless-it allows Web browsing and IM, but doesn't allow immediate access to all Miami services because, on its own, it isn't secure. The Guest option provides only very limited bandwidth. And, while wireless is convenient, when accessing video or other image-heavy content, a wired connection will provide a much better experience. Second, if you have problems with the wireless service, contact the IT Services Support Desk (529-7900 or ithelp@muohio.edu) and report your issues.
While IT Services does continual testing and monitoring of the wireless service, we depend on students to tell us when things are not working as expected. Reporting a problem not only gets a response to the immediate situation, but it also records that problem to accurately reflect how the wireless service is working overall, allowing IT Services to include the user's
experience into our planning. To clarify, IT Services budgets $230,000 annually for wireless hardware refresh and maintenance. On a planned schedule, one-third of the wireless network is replaced each year with up-to-date technology and individual problems are addressed as they are identified. The upgrade in 2006 mentioned in the editorial was a hardware upgrade for the Cisco Clean Access (CCA) system, a product that ensures that all computers logging onto Miami's network from the residence halls have appropriate system patches and virus protection. While CCA interacts with Miami's wireless service, it is a separate system. As noted in the editorial, some wireless issues are very specific to location. When "dead spots" are reported, technicians are sent to assess the situation and, often, new wireless access points are installed to bolster the signal. Building construction may be the reason why signal strength may vary, but most situations can be remedied if they are reported. IT Services is very concerned that students have the resources they need to be successful. We appreciate The Miami Student spotlighting this concern, and the opportunity to encourage students to use the MU Wireless option and to report any technology issues to the IT Services Support Desk. More information on wireless services at Miami, including specifics on configuring your computer to use MU Wireless, can be found at www.muohio.edu/wireless.
Cathy McVey Director of Customer Relations and Communications IT Services mcveyc@muohio.edu
