Wireless Access in a School Library

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Wireless Access in a School Library

• EDIT 6000 StudentModified by UGA ETTC

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Second Level Connectivity

• A service for our visitors with laptops
• The primary connection remains Ethernet hardwire
  for student computers

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Why include Wireless in our configuration?

• There are 26 student computers in our library.
• If an adult arrives, they must disconnect one of
  the student computers in order to use their
  laptop.
• This can be disruptive.

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• Often times there are classes on the computers
  all day. There are very few empty computers in
  the media center.

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How often does that happen?
A lot!
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All carrying laptops!
Many professional adults visit our school!

• Special Education Representatives
• County Representatives
• Social Workers
• Teacher Meetings
• Mexican Consulate
• And Many After Hours Classes

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Ease of Installation

• Installing a wireless internet access can be
  easy. No drops or wires.
• It does not matter if the room was not configured
  during construction specifically for wireless
  internet connection.

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Measure the library

• No plan for wireless technology was in the specs
  for our new media center.
• Our brand new huge library was designed for hard
  computer drops.

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What does a router cost?

• Anywhere from about 40.00 to over 100.00.

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Plan your Range Needs

• Most routers claim they provide coverage for
  about 300 feet in all directions.
• But in reality, routers support a range of up to
  150 indoors and 300 feet outdoors.

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• If a library is 200 feet by 100 feet, one router
  may not be enough.
• It's possible to extend a wireless area to longer
  distances by chaining together multiple wireless
  access points or routers.

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Access Points

• Access points act as a central transmitter and
  receiver of radio signals.
• They cost from 50.00 to about 90.00.

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• Technically, the access point performs multiple
  tasks. It works as a transmitter and receiver, as
  an Ethernet hub, and as a router.

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If one router is not enough .

• Run a cable out from a router to an access point
  allowing you to locate the Access Point in an
  optimal, high central location.

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• Placing the Access Point in the center of a room
  at or near the ceiling will give far better
  coverage than sitting on a table in the corner of
  the room. Also, you could add an additional
  Access Point later on if you find you need
  increased coverage.
• http//www.computing.net/networking/wwwboard/forum
  /23725.html

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Other ways to Cover the Area

• Some vendors sell boosters These save on wiring
  costs and increase your access points coverage
  into hard to reach areas.
• This one costs about 144.

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• Or you can replace the antennas with larger ones
• This costs about 9.00.

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Here are the areas that must be covered

• Everybody
• Reference
• Fiction
• NonFiction
• Biography
• Circulation

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The Basic Configuration

• The router must be connected to the modem first,
  and then it uses radio waves to communicate to
  receivers anywhere in its range.

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• Wireless networks use 802.11 networking standards
  to allow devices to communicate.
• This is unlicensed radio spectrum.

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In a nutshell

• Unplug the Ethernet cable from your cable modem
  and plug it into one of the four LAN ports on the
  back of the wireless router.
• Connect a second Ethernet cable between your
  modem's Ethernet port and the wireless router's
  WAN port. (The WAN port is separate from the four
  grouped LAN ports.)

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• Turn on the modem and wait for the status lights
  to indicate that it's connected to your service
  provider. This may take up to a minute.
• Plug in the router. The status lights will blink
  as it goes through its diagnostics this may also
  take up to a minute.
• Boot up your wired PC.

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• Refer to the router's printed quick-start guide,
  launch your Web browser, and type in the address
  indicated in the guide.
• Follow the on-screen setup wizard, which should
  guide you step by step through the process.

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Security within a Wireless Network

• Enable your router's security functions. The
  options will be WEP and WPA.
• Both will ask you to enter a key. Depending on
  your router's manufacturer, you may need to go to
  Advanced Settings to handle this step and the
  next two.

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• Change the default administrator's password,
  which is often known to hackers.
• Change the SSIDthe name you give your wireless
  network. Again, hackers know many of the default
  SSIDs and can use them to join your network.
• PC Magazine, http//www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,
  1276145,00.asp

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• Technical details such as negotiating an IP
  address happen automatically through a built-in
  service called DHCP (dynamic host configuration
  protocol).

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• If the intention is to provide a service for
  visitors, most new laptops have a wireless card
  embedded already.
• You are ready to go a convenient and welcome
  service for media center visitors in the years to
  come.

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References

• PC Magazine, http//www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,
  1276145,00.asp
• Intranet Journal, http//www.intranetjournal.com/a
  rticles/200307/ij_07_10_03a.html
• School Library Journal, "A Hard Look at Wireless
  Networks." http//libraryjournal.reviewsnews.com/i
  ndex.asp?layoutarticlearticleidCA232339
• Computing.Net, http//www.computing.net/networking
  /wwwboard/forum/23725.html
• Tech Time Going Wireless
• http//www.time.com/time/techtime/200305/story.htm
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