N.Y. Fashion Institute Embraces Wireless Trend, Installs 802.11n

Meru Networks recently installed its new Meru 802.11n Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) solution at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which is based in Manhattan as well as upgraded its previously (in 2004) installed 802.11a/b/g network. 

The current 5 Giga Hertz (GHz) revamped network is fast and conforms to IEEE (News - Alert) 802.11n draft 2.0 (802.11n) which makes it possible for data to be transferred at the rate of 300 Megabits per second (Mbit/s) on the physical layer (PHY). This speed translates to an average throughput of 100 Mbit/s for the user.

By comparison, the old 802.11a/b/g network operates between 2.5 to 5 GHz, transfers data between 11 to 54 Mbit/s on PHY, and delivers an average throughput between 4 to 25 Mbit/s. In terms of transfer rate this new network is between 6 to 30 times better than the old one and in terms of throughput it is between 4 to 25 times better.

The new system has Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) built in and permits multiple types of transmitters and receiver antennas. Such a diverse environment accepts multipath signals while in the old system, multipath signals were a nuisance because these caused signal interference and degraded the quality of service.

"We are looking to wireless as the network infrastructure of the future," said Gregg Chottiner, FIT's vice president of information technology and chief information officer. “As parts of our wired infrastructure reaches end-of-life, rather than replacing them we will use wireless as our primary vehicle for data access, and even voice and video. This will save on capital costs, since we won't have to keep expanding our switching closets and installing all the associated cabling."

The new network allows students the flexibility to work in laboratories, classrooms, dormitories and in hallways.

Meru 802.11n WLAN is also compatible with the school’s other-party network security product - Bradford Networks (News - Alert) Network Access Control (NAC) and provides a virtualized WLAN, which all WAP’s access though a single radio channel. This allows virtual ports to be assigned to each user as well as improves quality of service and saves on cost.