Start:
Summer 2015
Completion:
Fall 2017
Project Manager:
Jerry Bucklaew, Network Architect
Wireless Partner:
Aruba Networks
Total New Access Points:
6,000
Status:
Completed, except for buildings undergoing rehab
Daniel Li (Class of 2015) says, "I study in between classes, that's when I get the bulk of my work done. And having quick Wi-Fi, it saves you time, it gets your work done quicker...you don't have to sit there waiting for your file to download." Daniel has largely had good experiences with UB's Wi-Fi. "Alfiero is definitely a good spot," he says, "But there are certain places where I just cannot get onto Wi-Fi."
Adjunct Professor Don T. McGuire, jr. (Classics) says that Wi-Fi connectivity is "part of the basic way we behave now." Rather than the luxury it was 10 years ago, Wi-Fi is expected to just be there, whenever and wherever we need it. "I think [students] depend on it all the time."
Melissa Harford (Class of 2015) has been less than thrilled with UB's Wi-Fi. "Very on and off. It's usually bad, though. I'll say 95% of the time, it's annoying." She is happy for the "young kids" who will benefit from this project. "You try to get in contact with people for internships, businesses, through email...it's all done on the Internet now."
Professor Joe Woelfel (Communications) has been at UB long enough to see technology come and go. "I've always thought the computing facilities here [at UB] are really outstanding," he says. Professor Woelfel sees the importance of UBIT continuing to innovate: "The degree to which individual human beings are connected with each other is growing at an exponential rate. The future's going to happen. You have to go to it."
Associate Librarian Cynthia Tysick is an innovator, always looking for ways to incorporate technology into UB Libraries' service and programming. "We're doing a lot more teaching with mobile technology in the libraries. We will have more iPads or tablets and will be walking around the library actually asking the patrons questions and trying to help them on the spot. It's s going to be really important to have a nice strong signal."
This was UB’s project. Thanks to your input on Wi-Fi needs, we targeted specific densely populated areas as our highest priorities.
We took comments from Facebook and Twitter, or you sent email to the project team at ubwifiboost@buffalo.edu with any questions.
It certainly did! The three year UB Wi-Fi Boost project kicked off during Summer 2015 and covered three campuses, 150 buildings and 11.5 million square feet.
If you're having trouble with Wi-Fi or a wired network connection at UB, check UBIT Alerts to see if your building or area is undergoing maintenance. If it's not listed, please contact the UBIT Help Center for assistance. The Wi-Fi Boost project is complete, so any problems you encounter should be reported as soon as possible.
UBIT held conversations with students, faculty and staff to determine the areas that would see the most impact from upgraded Wi-Fi. Feedback from past UBIT Student Experience Surveys and TechQual+ surveys, focus groups (including a student assembly and Graduate Student Association meetings), and additional research all guided this project.
UB Wi-Fi Boost targeted the most densely populated areas of UB’s campus first. Residential and academic buildings, outdoor spaces, and basements, notorious for spotty cellular service, were upgraded later in the project.
UB adopted IEEE 802.11ac as our new campus wireless standard. In theory, UB Wi-Fi customers can expect Gigabit speeds up to three times faster than legacy Wi-Fi. Actual speeds may vary depending on the client type and other factors.
There are three Wi-Fi networks to choose from:
- eduroam is the recommended secure Wi-Fi network at UB. It allows access to UB's Wi-Fi and protected resources at thousands of participating institutions worldwide. If you are visiting UB and your institution participates in eduroam, connect while you're on UB's campus. You log in with your full email address (For UB students, faculty and staff, this is your UBITName immediately followed by @buffalo.edu) and password.
- UB Secure is also secure Wi-Fi for students, faculty and staff. It requires a UBITName and password, but is not the preferred Wi-Fi network.
- UB Connect is intended for visitors and media devices such as an Xbox, Apple TV, Wi-Fi printer or Chromecast. This network is not encrypted.
Students living on campus will experience improved Wi-Fi signal and performance over the old legacy system. The new system better supports Wi-Fi printers, Apple TV and Chromecast devices.
Use of personal access points will adversely affect the upgraded Wi-Fi performance. Therefore, students should not install their own access points or routers with similar functionality.
Awesome!! Can't wait for better WIFI connection!
- Junjie Chen, September 1, 2015 11:15 PM
I'm getting 122 mpbs down - 98 up in baldy!! It's an awesome upgrade.
- Hasan Razeq, November 9, 2015 8:39 AM
I love the new wifi!!! It works really well, Thank You UB!!!!!!!!!!!
- dennis, January 20, 2016 4:06 PM
