RUCKUS+AND+TROPOS

Last Tuesday 9-25-07 we got approval to put up poles with Tropos radios in strategic locations around La Vista. Tropos radios talk to Ruckus boxes. The Ruckus boxes are configured as routers so one box can serve multiple computers via an Ethernet switch or hub (prefer switches). Tropos radios can provide WiFi service to WiFi enabled computers but not as reliably as to a Ruckus. The Ruckus design better handles the WiFi obstructions we have on campus - stucco and vegetation and distance. The goals of Tropos and Ruckus: 1) free up Cisco CPE's (those grey boxes the size of a hand in homes) for spares; 2) replace difficult wired connections (mostly in La Vista and garden homes); 3) provide WiFi across campus (will improve as we add Tropos radios);4) unpublished security uses Since Cisco has discontinued CPE's and we cannot get our CPE's repaired, we will pull CPE's out of La Vista and garden homes as they are needed in La Perla and assisted living. There are pro's and con's to the Cisco configuration and to the Tropos - Ruckus configuration. We won't abandon Cisco until it is clearly cost-effective to do so. I hope this helps. paul+