CLOUD

EnGenius Technologies has announced the successful implementation of a long-range, high performance wireless network at the Dawson Independent School District (DISD) of Dawson, Texas. This network leverages EnGenius wireless repeaters, client bridges and access points to deliver wireless internet access on campus and soon to students living in low-income housing up to 17 miles from their school. The deployment was funded entirely by a grant to the school district from Apple through its Apple Education Grants program. This grant also paid for 40 Macintosh laptops for staff and 100 iPod touch devices for students.

DISD chose EnGenius wireless networking products because of their extreme range capabilities, high data transfer speeds, reputation for reliability and ease of setup and administration. The system was designed to address three specific requirements: on-campus connectivity, long range connectivity from the school to the students’ houses, and local WiFi access within the students’ homes.

“We designed our wireless networking products to provide powerful, long-range connectivity solutions that benefit educational environments such as the DISD. Our complete solution of the ECB9500 and EOC2610 access points, EOR7550 wireless repeater and EOC5610 client bridge products have enabled this school district to be able to provide the outstanding wireless networking capabilities needed both on and off campus. The students, teachers and families will now have a better experience using this focused solution to access information and communicate with each other at any time” Roger Chien, Product Manager of EnGenius Technologies.

On-campus connectivity was provided inside and outside the classroom. For WiFi access inside the classrooms, the school deployed nine EnGenius ECB9500 wireless N access points, which leverage blazing-fast 802.11n technology for wireless speeds up to 300Mbps and Gigabit Ethernet support. The ECB9500 can also broadcast multiple SSID's in one device, permitting different levels of network access (VLAN tagging) for each user. EnGenius ECB9500 devices are powerful enough to provide students and staff with throughput-intensive content like video, educational online games and other multimedia materials without degrading system performance.

Outside the classroom, an EnGenius EOR7550 wireless repeater, broadcasting a high-powered 802.11b/g signal provides a campus-wide link for students, faculty and staff. The EOR7550’s dual radio design allows it to be used with 802.11b/g/n as an access point for local clients and 802.11a or 802.11b/g for transmitting a long-range signal (as in this deployment). The EOR7550’s key differentiator is that it eliminates the requirement for a separate access point to be installed behind the bridge. Users only have to manage one network device with the EOR7550, reducing costs and management hassles.

Long-range secure internet connectivity is needed to span the 17-mile distance between the school and the housing complex. To accomplish this, the district will install EnGenius EOC5610 extreme-range outdoor dual-band wireless client bridge/access point devices. One will be connected to the switch at the school and will be used as a “backhaul” to broadcast the signal, while another will receive the signal at the housing complex. EOC5610s feature a high gain, dual antenna design, making them perfect for long-range, point-to-point or point-to-multipoint applications where ruggedness and signal strength cannot be compromised.

WiFi to the students’ homes will be provided by a pair of EOC2610 devices connected to the receiving EOC5610. The EOC2610s will be used as access points, rebroadcasting the signal so students can access online educational materials and communicate with their teachers while at home using their iPod touch devices. The EnGenius EOC2610 outdoor client bridge/access point features industry-leading 600 megawatt power to deliver a robust signal even over long distances and through difficult structures, like the complex where most of the DISD students live.

“I couldn’t be happier with how well the EnGenius wireless network performs for our school,” stated Cameron Shaw, IT Director at DISD. “Each device used is really best-in-class. There was some concern that the signal wouldn’t penetrate the sand-filled cinderblock walls of the school buildings, but that hasn’t been the case at all. We have 84 seventh and eighth grade students here, and this is a low-income area. To be able to provide this kind of technology to these kids is very rewarding. They are able to stay connected to the school, their teachers and the material they need any time, thanks to Apple’s funding and EnGenius Technologies’ exceptional products and support. On-campus WiFi and connectivity have been terrific, and I expect the deployment to the offsite housing comlex to work equally well. I am currently documenting this implementation, and will be recommending EnGenius networking products to IT directors and managers at other school districts throughout Texas.”

Cameron says the mission to utilize the funds to provide wireless data communications to students and staff on campus and at home has been a total success. EnGenius products have withstood the test of demanding environmental factors to deliver reliable WiFi access on campus—even through thick cinderblock walls. Thanks to EnGenius’s industry-leading long range, wireless networking devices, DISD students now have an enriched educational experience.