Wireless or Wired for new school building?

[Pat Burke]

This is my first post to the CESI-list after discovering it today (thanks to Sandra Crean, Scoil Mhuire Roscommon!).

My school will be moving to a new building in 2015, and architects are currently looking for specification regarding wired or wi-fi based networking in the school. It's a DES build, and I am currently unsure of the level of specification that will be provided by contractors/the DES. Am I correct in saying that a typical build would include free wired points in each room? If we go with the Wi-Fi option, is it likely that the infrastructure for Wi-Fi in terms of wiring will be provided, but no actual routers etc.? If this was the case I presume that the school would have to invest several €K to actually get anything out of network.

Thanks for any advice/experience/anecdotes on the topic!

[Joe Halpin]

Pat,
Good question and well timed.

This very topic was discussed a couple of months back.

I would assume NOTHING with any builder/ architect or engineer (or indeed the Dept.)

Ask the questions and you may just be surprised at how little they actually know themselves.

You can almost take it for granted you will have to put additional money into getting the Wireless network up and running.

Do you not get a budget set aside for that - I thought you did???

You may also find that a good Managed Wireless Network costs more than the Dept. budgeted for.

Sorry for being the bearer of bad news.



Joe

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[Pat Burke]

Thanks Joe,

To be honest I'm sketchy on details - I've had no direct contact with architect/DES. I will be getting more information before embarking on anything but at this moment in time I'm leaning towards a wired rather than wireless option. Realistically if the school has to come up with large sums of money to actually implement a WiFi network it might not happen. Also, I think that it would be easier to work towards WiFi options from a wired network (via routers of some description) than to work in the other direction (WiFi to Wired). 

[Hassan Dabbagh]

You're very welcome to the group...from an ICT point of view I can't say this enough, wired wired wired in each room, wireless is something you can put in place at a later date but for now put wired points in each room and I mean EACH room, why????? If you decided to make that room a wireless spot then all you have to do is setup an airport express or another brand wireless router, this can be taken down again once it's served it's purpose. 

All this is based on you having a server in place. 

I hope that helps a little, I'm coming from a purely ICT point of view, others will have a view from what works from the teachers Point of view. 

Good luck 

Regards, 

Hassan Dabbagh

087 9044716 

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[Pat Burke]

Thanks Hassan,

Unless somebody else has a very good counter argument I think you have me convinced.

[Greg Ashe]

You need a proper wired infrastructure. The current DES standard is CAT6A for copper. A min of 4 drops per standard classroom is a good starting point. Remember that any phone extensions will use 1 drop. Then you need to additional drops for CCTV, Wireless, sensors, any other IP devices for either now or in the future. These are more likely to be in corridors. Make sure sufficient access hatches to ceiling voids. Also be aware the DES standard locates data outlets on the teach it wall under whiteboard. This results more often than not with cable(s) trailing from wall to desk. If teachers desk will be an "island" rather than peninsula then there is strong argument for floorbox or raised plinth for teacher. 

WLAN design and deployment is a whole different kettle of fish. The is considerable disparity out there in terms of price and quantity and location of access points. Tom Lonergan if PDST/NCTE is working on guidelines for wireless tenders/design. He is on this list. 802.11ac is the buzz word of the month with wireless vendors... Aerohive, Meraki, Meru, Ruckus, Cisco, Ubiquiti are some of the players...

-- gpa

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Think before you print. 

[Ronan Herron]

Hi Pat,

During the Connect School Project a few years back in St Aidan's Community School, Brookfield Tallaght, we had a visit from the Departments "New School Buildings" team. Since we had implemented wireless throughout the school they wanted to know what was the best minimum spec for new school buildings. At the time they were leaning towards wireless throughout.

We made the point very strongly to the team that the min spec should be 2 WIRED points to every room. With the profusion of ip devices I'd be inclined to agree with Greg above - a minimum of 4 points per room.

***Main point - Wireless is not a substitute for wired, rather wireless is something which can be built on top of wired.***

As someone who has worked for TV and Telcos I can honestly say it is as easy to 'pull' 4 cables as it is to 'pull' one.

The point Greg raises above re the teaching position in the room is also of great importance as you may end up spending a lot of money 'making safe' trailing cables from the wall-point to the teachers desk.

It may be worth while getting in touch with the schools building guys at this early stage to ensure they are on board. Emphasize that you want to future-proof the build and that the initial infrastructure should be easily expanded in the future.

Also, if at all possible, try to get a full proper infrastructure map for the buildings network when complete - this will save time and money on surveys when you later decide to tweak the network.

I hope this helps.

Regards

Regards

Ronan

ps. Welcome to the CESI List, easily the best resource when it comes to ICT for educators in Ireland.

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Regards
Ronan Herron

[Eugene Eichelberger]

I've been looking at school infrastructure and connectivity issues for over a decade. You always put the highest quality and the highest number of physical connections into every wall that you can. 

I'm very worried that a school building would not have absolutely locked down its plan for network infrastructure plan. Have a look at this thread for what the community has to say about it:

https://groups.google.com/d/msg/cesi-list/TGAJ81fxI98/UkPfUaJ_fTYJ

-Eugene

[Gerry McKevitt]

Hi,

The DES have developed an "Interim Guidance Document Outlining Changes required to the ICT Infrastructure & Electrical Installations in Post Primary Schools where Wi-Fi is being considered" (copy attached) which may be of interest. The guidelines are being used for the first time in a number of new second-level schools opening in 2014.