By Michael Canfield
IT Communication Specialist

The upgrades reflect UBIT's ongoing commitment to ensuring the campus Wi-Fi network keeps pace with the growing demands of teaching, learning and research.

"Wi-Fi has gone from being nice-to-have to a key part of the teaching experience," said Richard Letts, Assistant Vice President for Network and Communication Services. "We're going to continually invest in improving it over time."

The classrooms in Diefendorf Hall seat nearly 850 students and have presented Wi-Fi challenges as classroom technology and device usage have evolved. After receiving feedback from faculty, UBIT's Network and Communication Services team investigated and determined that a conventional Wi-Fi deployment wouldn't provide the coverage needed.

Instead, the team developed a custom solution.

The project includes installing 33 Wi-Fi access points with antennas mounted beneath student seating, an approach that required extensive planning and coordination with Campus Facilities, including the Electrical and Mason Shop, to core-drill through concrete floors and install equipment from the building's basement.

Because of the scale of the work, the project could only be completed during the summer when classrooms are not in use.

"This isn't an off-the-shelf solution," said Ron Ternowski, Assistant Director of UBIT Network and Communication. "Every building presents different challenges. Our job is to understand the environment and engineer the best solution for that space."

The design also improves long-term maintenance. Most of the networking equipment will be accessible from the basement, allowing technicians to perform future service with minimal disruption to classroom instruction.

The Diefendorf project began with faculty reporting Wi-Fi problems, especially during in-class exams.

"Without the faculty feedback, we never would have had enough time to order the equipment, coordinate with UB Procurement, or schedule the work with the electrical and mason shops during the summer window,” Letts said. 

Once the concerns were identified, UBIT engineers conducted site surveys, analyzed classroom conditions and collaborated across multiple departments to develop a solution that could be implemented during the summer construction window.

For older buildings, finding the right approach often requires creative engineering. High ceilings, solid concrete construction and classrooms that are scheduled nearly continuously throughout the academic year can make traditional installations impractical. 

"Our goal is to solve the actual problem, not simply add more hardware," Ternowski said. "Sometimes that means investigating the environment, testing different approaches and working with partners across campus before any installation begins."

Diefendorf is one of several Wi-Fi projects completed this summer.

UBIT is continuing work to expand outdoor Wi-Fi coverage on South Campus, coordinating installation with other campus infrastructure projects to minimize disruption and improve efficiency. Additional planning is also underway for future Wi-Fi enhancements in other high-traffic campus locations.

As technology continues to play a larger role in the classroom, UBIT regularly evaluates campus Wi-Fi performance and invests in upgrades where they will have the greatest impact.

Feedback from the campus community plays an important role in identifying areas for improvement.

If you’re experiencing problems connecting to or staying connected to eduroam or other UB networks, please report the problem to the UBIT Help Center by phone, email, ticket or in-person at the Silverman library 3rd floor Tech Squad desk

To help us investigate and resolve problems more quickly, include the following details in your report:

• Operating system
• Location (as specific as possible, within a few feet)
• Network you’re connected to (eduroam Wi-Fi for most devices)

Timely reporting helps UBIT pinpoint root causes and improve the Wi-Fi experience across campus.

The UBIT Help Center is here to help with your technology needs at UB. Students can also reach out to the UB Tech Squad for help; they can meet you anywhere on North or South Campus.