For years, Georgetown students have been waiting for an expanded and protected wireless internet network on campus, a standard service at most universities. When University Information Services announced the launch of SaxaNet, a comprehensive campus wi-fi network, in July, it seemed the days of spotty wireless were finally over. But only weeks after the rollout of the new network, it is already clear that students will still have to wait for good wireless coverage: SaxaNet’s range is limited, and the network frequently malfunctions, which means that UIS’s work is far from done.
In recent years, students have frequently complained that because of the absence of wireless internet access in many residence halls, such as Harbin Hall or Village A, they could only access the internet using a media adapter cord or by purchasing a router of their own. Non-university routers are not permitted by UIS, however, and were often blocked if discovered.
SaxaNet has improved the situation for some, but done little for many students on and off campus. Students in Harbin Hall now have access to wireless internet through SaxaNet, but many students in the Southwest Quad still cannot connect to the network. Students in Henle Village have reported problems with the connection, while other parts of campus lack coverage completely. The goal of a single secure network that can be accessed anywhere on University property is still painfully far from being realized.
Equally troublesome is the fact that SaxaNet is not compatible with all operating systems. Students who have installed the most recent “Lion” update to Mac OS X, for example, have found that SaxaNet functions poorly, if at all, on their computers. It remains unclear when these students will have full access to the network, or whether SaxaNet will be able to function on future updates to the operating system.
After much delay and frustration, SaxaNet has brought secure wireless to many students on campus. But when a new network has been six years in the making, it’s reasonable to expect it to function on all major operating systems and for its coverage to be virtually comprehensive. Instead, Georgetown students returned to campus to find a hodgepodge of frequently dysfunctional wireless networks, from SaxaNet to HOYAS to GuestNet, but still no single, secured, and functioning network. If UIS and the University think that SaxaNet has put an end to student complaints about the state of wireless at Georgetown, they are mistaken.
