Update on Wireless LANs for Centrally Time-tabled Classrooms

In the last issue of the Computer News (No. 86), we reported in an article that we are extending our wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) service to a number of centrally time-tabled classrooms on the main campus.  Now we are pleased to let our users know that the service has been put into production.

To recapitulate briefly, the classroom WLAN service is primarily designed to facilitate the use of the Campus Network and Internet in teaching in a classroom environment.  It can be seen as a wireless extension of ACEnet (Access Everywhere Network).  To access the network, a user needs only to perform 3 steps as follows :
 

  1. Install a wireless network interface card (wireless NIC) together with software driver in his/her Notebook computer. Like all other network interface cards for accessing the ACEnet, the wireless NICs must be pre-registered with the Computer Centre
  1. Start up the Notebook PC.  An IP address will be automatically assigned and a connection to ACEnet  will be established.
  1. Log in with an ACEnet (HKUPPP) account/password to gain access to the network.
No cabling is required.
For more details on the procedure, refer to User Guide for HKU Wireless Local Area Network
 
By the time this newsletter is published, the Computer Centre should have informed departments through letters about the allocation of pre-registered wireless NICs and the schedule of demonstration sessions on the use of the WLAN service.
Besides the classrooms, a number of WLAN access points are being set up in other areas of the main campus, including the Computer Centre open areas, Yat Suen Square, Lok Yew Hall and Convocation Hall. We are also working with the Main Library and Medical Library in setting up WLAN zones inside these libraries. Moreover, the existing WLAN at Run Run Shaw Podium, Haking Wong Podium and K. K. Leung Concourse, which is based on a proprietary standard, will be replaced by the IEEE 802.11b standard devices that we are now adopting.  Extension of wireless LAN coverage to lecture theatres in the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry and Student Amenities Centres is also under study.  The following table shows the tentative dates of production of the various WLAN sites now being worked on :
 
 

Building/Area

Room

Tentative Date of Production
Run Run Shaw
104, 113
Mid-October
Old Library
134
Mid-October
Run Run Shaw Podium
 
Mid-October
Haking Wong Podium
 
Mid-October
K. K. Leung Concourse
 
Mid-October
Yat Suen Square
 
Mid-October
Lok Yew Hall
 
Late October
Convocation Room
 
Late October

T.Y. Shen
Tel: 2241 5229
E-mail: sty@cc.hku.hk

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