FWIW, I think you make a good point. In practice, though, I’m not sure how
effective it would be. Upgrades of campus lighting systems that include
pathway changes are few and far between. If it takes 20 or 30 years to
build out this network-friendly infrastructure, you run the risk that by the
time it’s mature enough to use it may no longer be needed. It’s not the
kind of plan I would implement on a knee-jerk basis. It definitely requires
thoughtful design and a cost/benefit/risk analysis. I’m guessing outcomes
will vary widely by institution, and maybe even by campus for a multi-campus
institution.
From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv
[mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of Hector J Rios
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 4:46 PM
To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU
Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Utility Poles
But that is the point I’m trying to make. Because of all the challenges that
you have all mentioned, wouldn’t it be worth to have both a strategic plan
and a collaboration with whoever is in charge of bringing up NEW poles, and
address all of these concerns and issues so that you end up with a pole that
is aesthetically pleasing and at the same time functional.
I understand the issues that need to be addressed with existing poles. My
idea was more focused toward new construction. Our campus is constantly
evolving and changing, and I believe we’ve had some missed opportunities.
Regards,
-H
From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv
[mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of Eric LaCroix
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 3:24 PM
To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU
<mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU>
Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Utility Poles
Even for lights not centrally switched (perhaps always-on, locally
photocell-controlled) there’s also the issue of what kind of power is
available at the poles. Our outdoor lights are 277 volt LED. At the very
least, if you’re able to find a product to give you the power you need from
that voltage, it’s probably going to be prohibitively expensive, and
certainly not pretty on the pole. Your elegant lamp posts from the gaslight
era will end up looking like those “tree” cell towers. Haha!
Happy Friday.
Eric LaCroix, Director of Technology, New Hampton School
70 Main Street • New Hampton, NH 03256
On 9/16/16, 3:53 PM, "The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group
Listserv on behalf of Watters, John" mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU%20on%20behalf%20of%20john.watt...@ua.edu>
> wrote:
The main problem we have with doing this is getting a second power feed
int=
o the poles. All of our utilities are underground. And, all light poles
are=
decorative black things without any visible wires (it all comes in
undergr=
ound). To make it worse, all lights are on a central switch which means
tha=
t there is no power to the poles until the lights come on. Thus, the
reason=
for a separate power feed so wireless could run independently of the
light=
s. Also, light power typically loops into a pole and then back out to
the n=
ext pole in the run, thus filling up the access holes with twice as many
wi=
res as would be desired (by us anyway), and leaving little room to get
anot=
her power wire in (and also maybe back out) plus a small fiber cable.=20
Underground utilities look good but can cause problems with needing
additio=
nal wiring added for nice stuff such as you mentioned.
John Watters
Network Engineer, Office of Information Technology
The University of Alabama
A115 Gordon Palmer Hall
Box 870346=20
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487=20
Phone 205-348-3992
john.watt...@ua.edu=20 <mailto:john.watt...@ua.edu=20>
-Original Message-
From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv
[mailto:WIREL=
ess-...@listserv.educause.edu <mailto:ess-...@listserv.educause.edu> ]
On Behalf Of Hector J Rios
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2016 2:45 PM
To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU
<mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU>
Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Utility Poles
Has anyone on the list floated around the idea of establishing a
standard t=
o provide fiber and adequate power to light poles in your campus? How
cool =
would it be to have these resources available so they could be used not
onl=
y to serve WiFi, but a myriad of other things like security cameras,
public=
safety, digital signage, and the ton of promises that the IoT is
promisin=
g. I'm wondering if this is a cost effective thing to do? As a strategic
pl=
an, it seems to also make sense. I know all campuses are different. We
are =
just lucky that we own our poles, so we have no issue
