I posted something very similar a month or so ago. I feel your pain – as a small school with limited manpower, we have the same issue. So far I haven’t seen a good answer – we quickly got rid of all of the wireless routers, but there are so many devices that do not plug into the network that interfere. Trying to locate all of them is more time than we have. Pushing things into 5GHz seems like a temporary solution as, has already been mentioned, things will being utilizing that spectrum as well. 802.11ad will introduce new spectrum, but I feel like the fox constantly on the run from the hounds.
Thomas Carter Network and Operations Manager Austin College 903-813-2564 [cid:image001.gif@01CFEC40.905A1AC0] From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of T. Shayne Ghere Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 10:29 AM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless in Dorms Our policy states if a device interferes with our network, then we reserve the right to have that device removed. The problem is that the WCS and Controllers are seeing over 712 devices. We can triangulate the “area” the device might be, but that would be going door to door. We don’t have the man power to spend that much time searching for them. Quite a few are wireless printers and mobile hotspots, but they usually get turned off when they aren’t in use. By sending a DoS attack to the device doesn’t solve the wireless interference that it’s causing, but only degrades the service the 2-3 AP’s are providing to other students. We have a Dorm/Greek/Singles living area of around 3,000 students and covers acres of land. I’ve seen some schools putting an AP in each room, some removing all wireless out of the dorms and others fighting the same battle I am. At what point to you just deal with it and say “yeah our wireless sucks because the students didn’t listen when they went through orientation.” On the Academic side we have very very few rogues and the Wireless is rock solid. Upper administration just doesn’t get it, I think, but we’re left to deal with it. There are two of us that maintain everything network related and no student help. It’s becoming a 24/7/365 work schedule, and we’re getting burned out fast. From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU<mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU>] On Behalf Of Ian McDonald Sent: Thursday, October 16, 2014 10:13 AM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU<mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU> Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless in Dorms Breach of your written policy prohibiting such things isn’t a disciplinary matter? And can’t be fixed with your disciplinary system? From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of T. Shayne Ghere Sent: 16 October 2014 16:11 To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU<mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU> Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless in Dorms Good morning. Let me say first off, we’re nearly a complete Cisco shop other than our Firewalls right now. We are running 3 – Cisco 5508 Wireless Lan Controllers and Cisco WCS. The AP’s in the Dorm’s and Greek houses are all 1142N AP’s and have been spaced accordingly by Cisco and by us during the introduction of wireless in the Dorms, Greeks and Single housing. We are having a heck of a time with all the interference that the students bring with them making our wireless nearly unusable. I know this topic has come up in the past, but this year is one of the worst we’ve seen, and the students are getting restless. We have the ability to quarantine rogue Wireless clients, however according to a recent Court case against a large Hotel Chain, it was decided that on an open free wireless spectrum, we would be breaking the law in jamming it. How have you addressed this issue? I’m about ready to ask upper management to remove the AP’s in all the Dorm buildings and let the students bring their own AP’s if they want wireless. Has anyone resorted to this? Thanks for your input Shayne ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
