Internet access has become an integral part of the college experience. Whether it concerns accessing online homework assignments, viewing supplemental study materials or grading exams, the fact is undeniable – students and faculty are now, more than ever, dependent on the Internet.
But as Lehigh’s technology-dependent population grows, complaints surrounding the lacking speed and reliability of its Wi-Fi system have begun to mount.
Universities across the country are tasked with keeping ahead of the extraordinary rise in demand for their Internet services. Recently, Lehigh’s own networks, specifically its over-the-air network, have struggled to keep pace with this growth.
“(Lehigh’s Wi-Fi) seems to work fine in most areas; however, there are certain places (ones that are generally farther out of the way) where it can consistently drop,” said Winston La, ’18. “The Wi-Fi speed is decent overall, but coming to Lehigh, honestly, I expected more from it.”
Some students who live off campus and use their own Wi-Fi networks, however, have alternative viewpoints and experiences with Internet access at Lehigh.
“I definitely have mixed opinions about the Lehigh Wi-Fi,” said Steve Louie, ’14, ’15G, who lives off campus. “But I actually come back to campus if I need faster Internet speeds.”
Although the actual speed and efficiency of Lehigh’s Wi-Fi is still up for debate, other complaints surrounding reliability have been seemingly universal. Michael Mullin, assistant director of Residence Life, said he is surprised at how his laptop struggles to reconnect to the Wi-Fi when he moves among buildings.
“It’s quite strange how not seamless an experience it is,” Mullin said. “(Wireless) is the type of thing I never noticed at other colleges I’ve worked for.”
Vice Provost for Library and Technology Services Bruce Taggart said LTS is always assessing and improving the Wi-Fi system. He said Lehigh has to upgrade and replace the wireless access points every three years, whereas in the past, network devices only needed to be replaced after five to seven years.
Starting this month, LTS will begin the process of upgrading wireless access in numerous locations on campus, including Rauch Business Center, Christmas-Saucon Hall, Chandler-Ullmann Hall, the Seeley G. Mudd Building and the College of Education, and reviewing several upgrades within the College of Engineering. Additionally, there has been discussion about the performance and configuration of new Cisco wireless routers recently installed in various areas of campus.
“Some issues we know of are students unknowingly authenticating into Lehigh guest wireless, which is much slower than LU Wireless,” Taggart said. “Some ‘rogue’ wireless access points installed by students in residence halls slow down the whole Wi-Fi hotspot, moving from wireless hotspot to wireless hotspot between buildings can result in slow wireless connections, and some high-use, high-density buildings like the College of Business, are on older wireless hubs that we plan to upgrade for the start of the spring semester.”
Despite the cause, the complicated underpinnings of running such a massive, high-traffic Wi-Fi network have proven difficult for Lehigh administration of late. Students experiencing Wi-Fi frustrations are advised to seek help via the WIRED help desk in the main lobby of E.W. Fairchild-Martindale Library.
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