District 207 wireless upgrades to quintuple schools’ capacity

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Updated: February 20, 2012 3:03PM

An increase in cell-phone and iPad use has created the need for improved wireless connectivity at Maine Township High School District 207.

District 207 board members approved an upgrade to the schools’ entire wireless system on Feb. 6.

The upgrade will allow 5,000 wireless devices to be connected at the same time. That’s compared with the existing system, which allows a maximum of 1,000 devices.

The cost for the wireless-system improvements is about $260,000, part of a total $510,000 in upgrades the district approved at the February board meeting.

Thiele said that when the wireless system was installed five years ago, technology was a lot different than it is now.

“Today, everyone has at least two wireless devices in their pocket, if not three,” said Henry Thiele, chief technology officer for District 207.

Thiele said the upgrade improves the quality of connectivity and allows more devices to be connected.

The district also approved the purchase of three storage-area networks, as well as additional equipment and wiring for a total of nearly $250,000.

Thiele explained that the existing data-storage systems do not provide adequate storage space due to an increase in the average size of the files and the accumulation of files over time.

Several years ago the district acknowledged it was an issue but did not purchase more storage due to budget limitations.

“This small limit is causing staff to use unsafe data practices by storing some records and data locally on computers,” Thiele stated in a memo to the Board of Education.

Thiele said work on the upgrades is expected to be completed by fall.