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Wireless Communication for Previously Disadvantaged Secondary Schools in Grahamstown, South Africa

Wireless Communication for Previously Disadvantaged Secondary Schools in Grahamstown, South Africa. Ingrid Brandt Alfredo Terzoli Cheryl Hodgkinson-Williams Departments of Computer Science and Education Rhodes University. Overview. ICTs in Education School Wireless Networks

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Wireless Communication for Previously Disadvantaged Secondary Schools in Grahamstown, South Africa

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  1. Wireless Communication for Previously Disadvantaged Secondary Schools in Grahamstown, South Africa Ingrid Brandt Alfredo Terzoli Cheryl Hodgkinson-Williams Departments of Computer Science and Education Rhodes University

  2. Overview • ICTs in Education • School Wireless Networks • 802.11 for Grahamstown schools • Painting a picture • IEEE 802.11 • The Experiments • Discussion • Other wireless solutions • Conclusion

  3. ICTs in Education • Factors which accompany successful implementation of ICTs in schools • network connectivity • structured and continuous programmes to educate teachers • Low teledensity in some rural areas • Expense of wired infrastructure

  4. School Wireless Networks (1) • Advantages to schools having some form of connectivity • Interactivity • Immediacy • Currency • Accessibility • While it doesn’t alleviate all problems, Internet access can help alleviate access to information • Networking people

  5. School Wireless Networks (2) • Other school wireless projects • Ulwazi • CSIR projects • Limiting legislation • Provision • Frequency bands - ISM

  6. Grahamstown Schools – Painting a picture (1) • Only 8.8% of EC schools have computers and 4.5% have PCs for teaching and learning • Grahamstown is found in EC, population 120 000, diameter 10-12km • 13 Secondary schools • 3 Independent schools (IS) • 6 Former Department of Education and Training (FDET) • 3 Former Model C schools (FMC) • 1 Former House of Representative (FHoR)

  7. Grahamstown Schools – Painting a picture (2) • Cost limits • E.g. Annual school fees at FDET3 • Section 21 Companies

  8. 802.11 for Grahamstown Schools – IEEE 802.11 (1) • 1/3 of secondary schools not in range of DSL • Investigation of the use of 802.11b- and 802.11g-bashed wireless LAN technologies as a means of connecting these schools

  9. 802.11 for Grahamstown Schools – IEEE 802.11 (2) • IEEE 802.11 standard is part of a family of standards for local and metropolitan area networks • Defines the protocol and compatible interconnection of data communication equipment via air, radio or infrared in a LAN using CSMA/CA • 802.11 is well documented, standardised, low cost and easy to deploy

  10. 802.11 for Grahamstown Schools – The Experiments (1) • Initial tests with Symbol AP and 19dB gain Flat panel antenna • 802.11b • Sugar Loaf Hill results • Nombulelo Water Tower/ Makana’s Kop results • At the Monument • D-Link AP (b/g compatible) • 8 dB omni directional antenna

  11. The wireless Network Topology using the D-Link APs

  12. 802.11 for Grahamstown Schools – The Experiments (2) • 802.11b/g with D-Link AP and 12dB yagi at client sites in town • Slower transfer rates • Increased delay • Increased packet loss • Nombulelo Water tower • 22 dB gain directional grid antenna facing Monument • Association on layers 1 + 2, but no IP traffic

  13. 802.11 for Grahamstown Schools – The Experiments (3) • Lots of interference + lower maximum transmission power (63mW vs. 100mW) • New Ciscos + new grid dish • Initial tests at the water tower see transfer rates of 6Mbps • Improved transfer rates and more consistent delay experienced at town client sites

  14. Round-trip time (ms) vs. Time D-link AP in 802.11g Cisco AP in 802.11g Town Clients

  15. Throughput in Mbps

  16. Conclusion • Wireless connectivity has the potential to make a difference to SA schools • Legislative changes are needed to create an competitive industry where • Encourage innovation • Bridge the digital divide in Education • Biggest problems for schools are • Lack of Infrastructure and associated high costs • Lack of bandwidth and associated high costs

  17. Wireless Communication for Previously Disadvantaged Secondary Schools in Grahamstown, South Africa Funded by the NRF and the EEE Trust

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