We have also decided against enclosures for two reasons: cost and aesthetics. Having mostly standardized on the Cisco 1130 for a/g, the form-factor is close enough to that of smoke heads and other devices that they are far easier on the eye than the typical enclosure. And has been stated here by others, the enclosures can often add half again or more to the per-AP cost. When we did our dorms and student apartments 100% last year, we put hundreds and hundreds of APs within reach of potential theft, some ended up in student rooms out of necessity. To date, we have lost 1.
But- as we look at 11n and weigh options, I hope that the major players hear the call for APs that aren't obviously and visually antenna laden. These are probably easier targets versus "low profile" APs, mounting candidate locations are reduced, and they are a tougher sell to very particular architects and space planners. -Lee Badman -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv on behalf of Hector J Rios Sent: Mon 4/14/2008 11:28 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WAP Enclosures I agree with Michael. The "added" security provided by the enclosures doesn't justify the cost. Most of our APs are installed above ceiling. Locations where we do not have false ceiling, we put the APs high enough where they cannot be reach. In the 9 years we've had wireless, we've had 4 APs stolen. Paying for the replacement is way cheaper. Currently we have a little over 1500 APs installed. Hector -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michael Kaegler Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:45 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WAP Enclosures We stopped using them. There are no moving parts, so we don't need dust protection. All of the current generation of APs are plenum. And security: If the AP is on top of the drop ceiling, out of sight, then its out of mind. In our environment we don't need any additional security (As evidenced by the fact that we haven't had a single loss even in student dorm buildings, even ones where we had to place the AP on the bare wall inside the student broom closets!). We do use the integrated (although not exactly hardened) locking mechanism on the Cisco 1232/1242 APs. In some situations we use kenningston-style cable locks. -porkchop At 9:50 AM -0400 4/14/08, Jim Gogan wrote: >I'm curious to know what other campuses are doing in regards to >ceiling enclosures for access points. > >We've been using PANDUIT-PZXIFIED and PANDUIT-PZW2X2DCB ceiling >enclosure hardware but our Facilities folks and our Infrastructure >Engineering folks in conversations with the State Building Code >officers have determined that the labor/installation costs for those >enclosures are now going to go up (see below) and, well suffice it >to say, when it gets to the point that the enclosures themselves >start to get closer in cost to the APs, you gotta wonder. > >Would be interested to hear what others are doing in this regard. >Thanks in advance. > -- Michael "Porkchop" Kaegler, Sr. Network Analyst (845) 575-3061 Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
