Western NY may have a short growing season, but at Victor Schools the outside learning opportunities can continue year-round. Vantage Point Network Systems just completed a wireless network extension to encompass the entire football field (including bleachers) and soccer field. Now in addition to student outdoor computing, parents showing up to root for their son or daughter can catch up on e-mail, finish a presentation, or attend an online meeting without missing a single play.
Challenges
Making outdoor computing a reality didn't come without challenges. First there was the fiber backhaul connectivity that Victor Schools' Building & Grounds had to deal with. Then came electronics component selection. In consultation with VPN Systems, the school's Director of Technology, Dave Henderson, chose a Transition NetworksTM media converter that supported the proper 48v power for the MeruTM AP320s. These access points are not normally intended to operate outdoors, so environment enclosures were selected and installed.
The Solution
Fortunately the Meru APs come with external antenna connectors, so VPN Systems procured the necessary lengths of Times Microwave LMR-400TM antenna extension cable and the necessary lightning arresters whose omission can all too often doom an outdoor deployment. Then we used one of our new line of outdoor 802.11n (MIMO) antennas, an ‘omni panel' antenna (#24PN360-0045N) that provides 360° coverage at a broad 55° E-plane.
Now students, staff and parents can take advantage of outdoor computing, with all the flexibility and accessibility outdoor wireless coverage brings in any season.