We use Aruba APs also and have indicated to some people in the Astronomy department that the external lights could be turned off. The problem with this, as one of the experimenters explained to me, is that this takes care only of a problem that you can see. APs radiate over a wider part of the electromagnetic spectrum than just 2.4 and 5GHz, and, as an electrical device, there is always the possibility that the AP could spark or fail in unpredictable and uncontrollable ways(we even had one once start to make noise and vibrate). Clearly there will be many researchers/experimenters/labs that will not be affected by APs in the lab or nearby. But if you are looking for very small effects or very rare events and if you believe the AP could interfere in some way with your apparatus, then you just can't tolerate that possibility, no matter how remote. There is just no way to prove that the AP couldn't be some kind of interference source for the experiment. As an ex-physicist and experimenter, I understand the reasons some of them are ruthlessly - and often insanely - obsessive about rooting out of their environment everything that they can't completely control. It's one of the qualities that makes them good researchers. But it is a different mindset than network engineering brings to the issue.
-----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tim Cappalli Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 8:07 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] RF interference from 802.11 Certain non-metallic paints can now be used without voiding the Aruba warranty. I would contact your SE about the specifics. Tim Cappalli, Network Engineer LTS | Brandeis University x67149 | (617) 701-7149 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Osborne, Bruce W (Network Services) Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2013 7:52 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] RF interference from 802.11 For Aruba APs, painting voids the lifetime warranty. Bruce Osborne Network Engineer IT Network Services (434) 592-4229 Liberty University | Training Champions for Christ since 1971 -----Original Message----- From: Barron Hulver [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 3:33 PM Subject: Re: RF interference from 802.11 The light on a Cisco lightweight access point can be turned off via the command-line. We've done this on the few APs we installed in a local theater we own. (Of course, you could just prime and paint over the light.) Barron Barron Hulver Director of Networking, Operations, and Systems Center for Information Technology Oberlin College 148 West College Street Oberlin, OH 44074 440-775-8702 http://www2.oberlin.edu/staff/bhulver/ On 6/5/13 9:29 AM, Chanowski, John wrote: > Because APs are a source of ... potentially light, we have had > requests from our Physics and Astronomy Departments that APs not be placed in certain ... "dark" areas.... > -----Original Message----- > From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Julian Y Koh > Sent: Tuesday, June 04, 2013 5:23 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] RF interference from 802.11 > > Has anyone had to deal with researchers claiming that 802.11 RF causes interference with their laboratory experiments and apparatus? We're getting rumblings out of our Physics department - they are trying to prevent APs from getting installed in their area because of what they say are highly sensitive devices that will be adversely affected. > > My personal opinion is....well, I'll withhold that for now. Anyone gone through this? Thanks in advance! > > ********** 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/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
