2. Wireless Networking in Education Tom Franklin TechLearn Tom@Franklin-Consulting.ac.uk

3. Introduction What is wireless networking Key issues Wireless technology and education Recommendations

4. What is wireless networking

5. Benefits Reduced installation costs Flexibility Extended reach Networking Students Computers Enhancing education

6. Disadvantages Many rapidly evolving standards Security Management Cost of network cards in computers Performance Need to understand how signals propagate Point-to-point needs line of sight

7. Why so many standards? Mobility Vehicle Walk Fixed 0.1 1 10 100 Data rate Mb/s 2G Cellular 3G Bluetooth Wireless LAN IrDA Wired LAN

8. Wireless networking standards Infrared (IrDA) Radio (unlicensed – ISM and UNII) IEEE (802.11) ETSI (HiperLAN) Bluetooth (Mobile telephony) (Radio (licensed)) (Broadband fixed wireless access)

9. IEEE Standards StandardSpeedApproved in UK Compatible 802.112 Mb/s 802.11b11 Mb/s 802.11g34 Mb/s12 June 2003 Will come 802.11a54 Mb/sJan 2003Working on it }

10. Security Doing nothing is not an option Not as good as wired network Greatest risk is that it is often not even turned on Can be easily monitored and used Basic security easily broken (at the moment) Treat as insecure network (as external) Implement security

11. Threats Eavesdropping Rogue access points Denial of service Any PC can access the network

12. Security Solutions Wired Equivalence Privacy (WEP) Additional solutions Custom solution from network vendor Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) Treat as insecure network (outside the firewall) Security need be no greater than elsewhere

13. Performance sufficient for text and images Not sufficient for video (especially multi-user) 802.11b11 Mb/sShared 802.11g 802.11a 34 Mb/s 54 Mb/s Shared Wired LAN10-100 Mb/sPer user ADSL0.5 Mb/sPer user or shared

14. Signal propagation Signals partially blocked by walls, plumbing etc. Signals leak through walls Can only have limited number of access points in an area Maximum distance for point-to-point – beware trees! Undertake a site survey

15. Reduced Installation costs Less equipment Less cabling No need to flood wire May be only solution in rural areas

16. Increased flexibility and reach No need to flood wire Can be connected to the network anywhere Anywhere in a room Can cover areas that you would not wire Public spaces – like cafes Outdoors – smokers can access email from their cars The whole resource centre / library

17. Networking students computers Increasing number of students have their own PC Increasingly this is portable PDA or laptop Students want to be able to use them in college Wireless simplifies these issues Access is where the student is No ports to be damaged through frequent use Separate subnet for security

18. When to use it Teaching areas Extending the network to new areas Public areas (library, café) Occasional use Out doors In conjunction with the existing network

19. How to put computers in teaching Computer ownership is like literacy 90% literate you still have to read everything 100% literate changes everything Putting computers in students hands Ubiquitous computing Computer carts loan machines

20. Computer cart

21. Computers at teaching Computers go to the students Currently students have to go to the computers All spaces can be used with computers Currently just computer labs Computers can be integrated into learning Currently dominate or are absent

22. Ubiquitous computing All students required to have their own computer (Laptop or PDA) Student purchase Loan machines Internet enabled everywhere; at all times Fully embedded in education

23. Recommendations (LANs) Use wireless LANs To extend existing LANs To provide student access To bring computers to teaching Use Wi-Fi (802.11b) with upgrade to 8012.11g Do not buy 802.11a until compatibility between products demonstrated Ensure that security meets institutional needs Perform a site survey Consider the educational benefits from the start Assume that there will be an increase in use in networked computer use in teaching and learning

24. Recommendations (WANs) Consider for connecting remote sites interoperability does not matter as it is point- to-point Consider wireless and satellite