REMOTE & MOBILE LINKS

REMOTE & MOBILE COMPUTING HOME DISPLAY SYSTEMS NOTEBOOK COMPUTERS PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) REMOTE NETWORK ACCESS WIRELESS NETWORK

SOU has now joined hundreds of other Universities and Ashland businesses in offering wireless Internet access services. Recent events in wireless networking technologies have made wireless faster, easier to setup, and much less expensive. In the summer of 1999, the SOU Book Store became the first location on campus where wireless networking was demonstrated using Apple wireless products. At the same time, Computing Services began evaluation of these same Apple products in the Computing Services Center. Since then, Computing Services has continued to evaluate new wireless equipment. In spring 2001, a Cisco wireless system was installed on the main floor of the Stevenson Union. The Cisco equipment has a stronger signal and can service more users than the Apple wireless equipment.

SOU Offers Wireless Services Compatible with "Ashland Unwired"

Ashland Unwired is a movement to support high-speed wireless Internet access at local businesses within the Ashland Fiber Network (AFN) service area. For more information about Ashland Unwired visit their web site at: http://www.ashlandunwired.com. SOU is now offering similar services in the Stevenson Union. This service is available to SOU Faculty, Staff and Students, as well as campus guests. Click here to read more about using the Stevenson Union wireless service.

To ensure SOU network security some features, such as FTP file transfers, accessible at other Ashland Unwired locations, will not be available at SOU. Quality of the wireless service will vary depending on your location in the Stevenson Union. The equipment is located in the Raider Aid store so as you move away from the Raider Aid store, your signal quality will decrease. Service is not limited to the interior areas of the building. Users have reported acceptable performance from the patio and lawn areas in front of the Bookstore.

Additional Wireless Services for SOU Faculty, Staff and Students

In addition to surfing the Internet, SOU faculty, staff or students, using a wireless-enabled computer properly configured by Computing Services, will be able to log in with their Novell user account. This makes it possible to check GroupWise e-mail, access files from "F" or "G" drives, and access other network resources such as the SOU Start Menu, Banner and networked printers. You may notice reduced performance when loading software applications from the SOU Start Menu.

Please be aware that Computing Services controls and manages the air space on the SOU campus. Do not install your own wireless equipment without first consulting with Computing Services. For more information refer to the campus wireless policy at: http://www.sou.edu/it/policies/wireless.shtml.

What's Coming later this year

We are planning to install another wireless access system in the SOU Library. In the Library, students will be able to check out wireless-enabled notebook computers, allowing them the convenience of wandering the stacks while doing research and using the computer. Persons bringing their own computing devices in to the Library will have access to the same wireless services as those offered in the Stevenson Union. The Library project will be funded by Student Technology Fees.