NetComms > Wireless > Coverage

Coverage

Overview

Access Points

Wireless coverage is provided by wireless Access Points. Access points (APs) are placed at multiple locations around the campus and allow connection to the wireless service within a certain range around the AP. The range of an AP is affected by the number and type of obstructions between the client (you) and the AP. Denser materials, such as metal or concrete, reduce the effective range of the AP. However some surfaces can also reflect wireless signals, making effective planning more difficult. Providing complete and uniform wireless coverage indoors can be a near impossible challenge.

Interference

In addition to being obstructed, wireless signals can also be interfered with by signals from other devices in the same frequency band. In fact, wireless clients themselves are a source of interference for other wireless clients in the same area. Wireless networks are a contended service, meaning that everyone shares the available bandwidth. The more clients on associated to an AP, the longer other clients have to wait to between sending packets, and the more background radio "noise", that can interfering with clients sending and receiving their traffic. Other sources of interference include hands-free phones and microwave ovens. Anything that operates in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands is a potential source of interference.

Current Coverage

Solutions

To try and meet these challenges as best as possible NetComms has, as at March 2009, deployed around 195 access points around the ANU campus. We expect this number to climb to near 500 by the end of 2009. In addition we have deployed advanced self-managing wireless controller technology from Aruba networks. This technology constantly monitors and adapts the radio configuration of the wireless APs to provide the best access and performance for nearby clients. This technology can also locate and workaround sources of interference.

Each AP will limit the number of associations to 64. We have deployed sufficient numbers of APs that this number is unlikely to be reached, but you may notice decreased performance in busy wireless hot spots, such as Chifley Library. This is physical limitation of 802.11 wireless.

Locations

Check back here later for more details on exactly where wireless services are available on the various ANU campuses. We plan to offer wireless coverage maps by later in 2009. In general libraries and lecture are already well covered. If you have a specific request for coverage only, please contact the Wireless team at NetComms (support is not provided at this email).

Increasing Coverage

Process

Business units (LITSS) can request additional wireless coverage for their buildings by emailing the wireless team (support is not provided at this email).

Access points are readily available and can be deployed quickly where there are available wall outlets and Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) switches. In some cases it will be recommended that NetComms conduct an RF Survey of the building to find the optimal means of providing the best coverage.

Cost

There is a one-time cost of $1100 per access point for additional coverage in areas not considered 'shared' zones, such as libraries and InfoCommons labs. Service, management, authentication and VPN services are covered under the Network Service Fee Charge and there is no additional cost assuming wall outlets are available.