by Ashleigh Sanchez
Daily Lobo
There's something in the air at UNM, but you can't see it without a laptop.
Information Technology Services is building a free wireless Internet network on Main Campus, and the project should be complete by the middle of 2008, said Paula Loendorf, director of the department.
ITS surveyed students last semester to determine where they wanted to have wireless Internet, Loendorf said.
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Access points were installed over the summer for the Duck Pond and Smith Plaza.
Loendorf said ITS plans to install access points around Popejoy Hall by the end of September.
When the project is complete, 85 percent of campus will have wireless Internet access, she said.
The initiative was funded by a $750,000 donation from the New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union.
ITS can monitor wireless usage so it can improve areas with a weak signal and spots that have no coverage, said John Duran, ITS network analyst.
"If an access point is being overused, we can use that info to beef up coverage," he said.
Scheduled installations are posted on the ITS Web site at Its.unm.edu, along with project updates and connection information.
Duran said the network is available to anyone with a wireless card and laptop.
Students, faculty and staff can log in with their Net ID and password, which will allow them to get on WebCT and LoboWeb.
UNM guests can log in to the network, but they will not have access to the University's online services, such as WebCT and
LoboWeb.
Student Susan Sullivan said she hasn't had the best experience with UNM's wireless network.
"I have problems keeping a signal (in the SUB)," she said. "I have to move from table to table
sometimes."
Students who have problems logging on to the network should make sure all drivers and security patches are up-to-date,
Duran said.
Troubleshooting tips and log-in information are available at the ITS Web site, Its.unm.edu.
Loendorf said the network is strictly for casual use, such as Web browsing.
"Wireless is not meant to
replace wired," she said. "You could have one person doing major downloading and taking up all the bandwidth in an access point."
Student Ryan Blackmon said the network has served him well.
"I've never had a problem with it," he said. "I just figured it was available everywhere (on campus) because I can always get online. It's nice."
