Aviation students find new meaning in air traffic control.

Wireless access lands in an aviation training classroom.

Nestled in Grand Forks is the University of North Dakota's (UND's) $83 million John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences complex. Begun in 1968 with only two donated planes and 12 students, the school has grown into a world-renowned

The largest department within the Odegard School is the aviation department, which offers wireless computerized training. The school, however, was facing unacceptable limitations in computer availability for students. Access to fixed desktop computers was restricted because the computers were often inaccessible in classrooms and labs.

The classrooms were not available for homework use while classes were in session, doors were locked during nonclassroom hours, and the lab computers were often unavailable due to the large number of users. Faculty members were also competing with students for use of the lab computers. In addition, the desktops were outdated, and the budget did not address the growing technology needs.

The department experimented with a portable computer initiative by incorporating 300 notebook computers for student homework use and classroom accessibility. Though the idea of notebook computers turned out to be favorable, they found the devices' use limited, as the students could not retrieve data from the local area network, since there was no connectivity in the classroom.

"Our initial objective was to provide enhanced learning opportunities for our students," says Al Skramstad, assistant professor at UND and director of the aviation department's Aero Notebook Program. "Aviation is a dynamic and global discipline, and we want to do anything we can to help our students learn, understand and stay current in this constantly changing field."

The vision of an environment where all students would have instant access to network resources anytime, anywhere, on campus held great appeal, and a test project to provide wireless connectivity was initiated. Already installed in the school were two wireless access points manufactured by Proxim Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, which gave the school wireless capability but were not available for student use.

The test project used one classroom of 35 students who were provided with wireless-enabled notebook computers. According to Skramstad, "This time the experiment worked exceptionally well, and the decision was made to have wireless connectivity available for all students in all classrooms and in all of the aviation department facilities."

THE UND APPROACH PATTERN

In UND's wireless LAN configuration, a transmitter/receiver device (Proxim's RangeLAN2 Access Point) connects to the wired network from a fixed location using standard cabling. Students access the wireless LAN through wireless PC cards installed in their notebook computers. These wireless cards send radio-frequency (RF) waves to the antenna on the access points, which then send the signal on through the cabling to the network or server.

The wireless LAN allows easy network setup and augmentation. Lack of cabling also makes moves, adds and changes more cost-effective by reducing the costs of cable installation and repair, user downtime, and administrative overhead usually associated with LAN modifications.

The next step for the aviation department was to install the infrastructure for a wireless network in Odegard Hall, the primary classroom facility. Fifteen RangeLAN2 access points were installed, allowing students access to network resources "on the go." No longer were they tied down to a cable in order to e-mail teachers and other students, complete homework, work on projects or review class lectures.

The school continued to expand the wireless network, adding wireless connectivity to Ryan Hall, its simulator training facility located about a block away from Odegard, and the school's airport facility, which is five miles away from the main campus. Because of the distance, fiber cabling connects the airport to the main campus network. Students' notebook computers work wire free at either complex.

Presently, the school has 40 RangeLAN2 access points installed throughout the three facilities, serving 1,600 students. By this fall, the number of access points will expand to approximately 70, allowing up to 2,000 users 24x7 wireless access to the aviation department LAN.

"It is essential for our students to possess good computer skills, since 80% of all jobs require a working knowledge of computers," states Skramstad. The Aero Notebook Program allows students to acquire computer skills, while enhancing their other studies via Internet access,

e-mail, word processing, multimedia projects and with software related specifically to their program of study. Using a wireless-equipped notebook computer increases access to the library and other online information resources, enhances communication capabilities with faculty and other students, provides more opportunities for collaborative projects, allows students to download class notes, and advances skills for employment.

A PROGRAM WITH ALTITUDE

According to the aviation department's administrators, there are many advantages to the program:

* Technology in the classroom is significantly advanced. Nearly all faculty members now incorporate technology into their courses.

* Out-of-classroom learning is enhanced by 24-hour student access to faculty, technology, software and networks.

* Funds, which were formerly designated for desktop computers, have become available to purchase current technology for use throughout the institution, and to provide additional student resources.

* The notebook computers provide real-world experience--much like the aviation and aerospace industries for which they are preparing--enabling students to research answers wherever they encounter the need.

* The students are not restricted to specific locations when using network resources.

The access points and wireless PC cards operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. They utilize frequency-hopping spread-spectrum radio-frequency (FHSS RF) technology, which is both highly secure and immune to interference. With 15 independent channels available, schools can implement up to 15 separate networks in the same physical space, providing an increase of aggregate network bandwidth. The RangeLAN2 technology includes such features as long-range seamless roaming, low power consumption, advanced security, site-survey diagnostics, network scalability, advanced network management, and the IEEE-endorsed high-speed modulation technique.

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Levine and Hurley are application technology feature article writers with Coast Writing.