wifi status update

You may have started to see some weird-looking electronic devices popping up on the ceilings your schools. No, you need not start wearing a tin-foil hat; we're not trying to read your thoughts. Each of these is a wireless access point (AP) that you can connect to with a laptop, iTouch, or your bathroom scale if you just happen to own one of these.

For the almost a year now we at the tech office have been planning, installing and testing the new wireless network at Oregon High School and Oregon Middle School. We are proud to say that we are now running at full speed in both locations.

What this means for you:
In your classroom at OMS or OHS you will now have network access for the many wireless devices that are either housed in your classroom, or that you may bring in from home. There are two wireless network names (SSID) being broadcast. The first one is called "osd" and the second is called "public". Any device that you bring from home may connect to "public" without even needing a password. All devices that are maintained by OSD, and have anti-virus software installed are set up to connect to "osd".

The difference between osd and public is simply this:
When you connect to "public" you will have the same access as if you were sitting at home(although filtered to meet CIPA compliance). You may connect to sites on the internet and any publicly accessible OSD sites (PowerTeacher, PowerSchool, Email, etc...). When connected to "osd" on a device owned by The District, you will have access to log into Novell and get to your files on the H, V, W,(...etc) drives.

eeePCs:
Most of these do not have antivirus software available, and are not regularly patched by OSD so the majority these will also connect to "public".

What about my building / classroom??
We have wireless coverage in all classrooms in OHS, OMS and RCI. So far we have limited coverage at the elementary buildings, but we're are working hard to get wireless where it's needed as soon as possible. If you're you're having trouble getting connected in your classroom at OHS, OMS or RCI please let us know and we'll get it figured out for you.

Thanks and enjoy your WPA2 AES encrypted IEEE802.11N-2009 2.4 / 5GHz connections!

Your friendly neighborhood IT department.



A final thought to leave you with:

“The wireless telegraph is not difficult to understand. The ordinary telegraph is like a very long cat. You pull the tail in New York, and it meows in Los Angeles. The wireless is the same, only without the cat.”
-Albert Einstein