With fewer than 1 percent of University students, faculty and guests using an outdated wireless protocol called 802.11b, University Information Technology Services will begin phasing out the system.
On Jan. 1, 2014, University systems will no longer support devices using older wireless protocol.
While the changes should only negatively affect wireless users with older devices, the elimination of the older protocol will help make the University’s Wi-Fi more efficient for the majority of on-campus users.
Protocols that allow devices to use Wi-Fi for exchanging information via radio waves were first released in the late 1990s. The current protocol, 802.11b, was introduced in 1999, according to a GROK Knowledge Base report.
ITS wants users to have an optimal wireless experience on campus, said Hector Rios, assistant director of networking for ITS.
In the past, there were some devices in the Athletic Department and Tiger Card Office using 802.11b, but ITS Communication and Planning Officer Sheri Thompson said these devices have been recently upgraded.
The University’s wireless network has a great deal of traffic. If a user were to connect to a network with older protocol devices connected, he or she would notice a decrease in speed, Rios said.
According to the GROK report, most computers purchased in the past six years should have wireless cards that support the proper protocols. If someone needs to upgrade their protocol, they can purchase a new wireless adapter, the report said.
It is becoming more and more common for students and faculty to have multiple devices, such as cellphones, laptops and tablets that are all connected at once, Thompson said. This contributes to the problem of slow Wi-Fi and places greater importance on switching to a more efficient system.
ITS is taking more efforts to increase the University network’s quality. At the last Student Technology Fee Meeting on Oct. 12, ITS was granted $140,000 for expanding the wireless network capacity expansion in the Student Union and Coates Hall.
“ITS wants users to have an optimal, wireless experience on campus.”