Wireless connections on Southeastern’s campus are notoriously spotty and many times unreliable. The first impulse for many students may be to blame the Office of Technology, but the problem with wireless may not be the department, but rather technology itself.

“A lot of people have this expectation that Wi-Fi should be everywhere, like your cell phone. It’s not like that at all,” said Russell Barger, network administrator for computing services. “We have to run wires and hang devices that only go so far. It has grown as we get requests for new coverage.”

 “A lot of the older buildings, like McClimans, with the really thick walls, are hard to get adequate coverage in without putting an access point in every room,” said Ray DeJean, systems engineer for computing services. “Do we have the funding to install wireless in every corner of every building on campus? No, that would be millions of dollars.”

As a result of the cost of installation in the older buildings on campus, very few have good wireless coverage. According to the wireless coverage map found online and real-world testing, the lobby and third floor in D Vickers, the entire first floor of McClimans Hall and the lobby in Garrett Hall are some of the better locations with wireless coverage.

Another point mentioned by the Office of Technology was the misinformed idea that an open wireless access point means guaranteed speed and reliability.

“The speed of the internet also relies on the amount of people using the network at one time,” said DeJean. “When 50 people are using one connection it will inevitably slow down and become unreliable. People just have to realize that.”

While the Office of Technology has its hands virtually tied behind it’s back where older buildings are concerned, coverage in the newer buildings is a different story entirely. According to the wireless map, the library, cafeteria and the lobbies of Fayard Hall are completely wireless.

“We try to put access points in the spots that we know students will use. We’re putting a lot of money into wireless for the new student union,” said Barger.

Questions concerning the wireless on Southeastern’s campus can be directed to the Help Desk at 985-549-5555. For a look at the hot spots for Wi-Fi on campus check out the map online at www.selu.edu/admin/technology/resources/wireless/coverage.