March 2005 — Applications
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Ethernet Technology Helps Unwire Utah Campus
With the PowerDsine P'E Midspan technology, we were able to plug all of our wireless access points into one central location on a rack in the wiring closet. This alone saved us time and money, as well as kept our departments looking clean. Having to plug one device into the uninterruptible power supply, which provides backup power to the wireless network in the event of an electrical outage, was also nice.
Ongoing Implementation
The most recent deployment of the 12-port P'E Midspan was installed in the University of Utah’s Park Building, which currently houses the president, senior vice presidents and other university administrators. The six-port P'E Midspan, which was deployed in April, is located in the University Guest House, which primarily serves out-of-state guests and local staff.
Using the six P'E Midspans from the grant, the wireless committee plans to deploy another phase of the wireless network in the university’s Student Union so students can enjoy high-speed wireless access inside or outside of the building. The wireless committee is also considering a wireless network using P'E Midspans in 10 additional buildings.
Staying Within Budget
Installation of the WLAN access points without P'E technology would have cost the university about $200 or more per access point in certain remote locations on campus. Using PowerDsine’s six-port and 12-port P'E Midspans saved us $1,800 alone. The wireless committee was quick to add that the cost savings did not include the valuable labor hours saved during the deployment. In addition to the installation time and cost savings, the university’s wireless network provides freedom and productivity benefits for both students and faculty.
Now that the University of Utah’s campuswide wireless network is becoming a reality, the committee is certain that using P'E Midspan technology was the right choice. We were also able to stay within budget while saving considerable amounts of time deploying wireless access points throughout the campus. And thanks to the grant, the wireless committee has been able to pursue its wireless network deployment much more aggressively. Not only has deploying P'E Midspans been instrumental to the success of our project, but the reliability of P'E technology and PowerDsine’s quick response to troubleshooting questions have given the committee peace of mind.
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