Solution
We had to take it right back to basics. From the initial visual site surveys, we could see some fundamental issues with the AP placements and quantity of APs in high-density areas. With this project, that old saying ‘less is more’ really needed to be adopted.
The AP placement would also have a knock-on effect on the structured cabling around the school site. We would need to re-cable areas or relocate existing high-level data points depending on our RF site surveys and the new optimum AP positions.
Simpli-Fi conducted Ekahau wireless site surveys pre and post-installation to determine the optimum AP placements.
Typically, networks are designed to have greater than -67dbm RSSI where the client is located. However, because the school also relies on a VOIP network, we had to over-engineer to a reading greater than -65dbm to ensure successful roaming without interrupting calls.
Simpli-Fi partnered with Ruckus and installed a new network using a combination of R550s and R650s for the higher-density areas and T30s for external coverage areas. For the controller, the APs were adopted onto our global Ruckus VSZ, which is hosted on AWS across two instances in separate AWS data centres, with the controllers set up in high availability.
Ruckus ICX Multi-gig switches were installed to provide POE++ to the high-density access points utilising the multi-gigabit ports. New Cat 6 cabling and containment systems were also installed throughout the school to support the new network.
After years of struggling with a WiFi network that can support the iPads and the VOIP solution, Simpli-Fi has delivered a successful solution, freeing the IT team to focus on developing the wider ICT strategy within the school.
Challenges
The real challenge in the early stages was convincing the school that Ruckus was the right product choice for them. Simpli-Fi is vendor agnostic, and we pride ourselves in selecting a project-specific partnership that can provide the right product to deliver our recommended solution. However, for high-density WiFi, we do champion Ruckus!
Richard Challoner School had previously purchased two solutions recommended by separate vendors, which had both failed. Simpli-Fi’s main challenge was therefore educating the team that the Ruckus product would provide them with a successful outcome.
The rest of the project was plain sailing. We installed the network within the tight 2-week timeframe of the Easter holidays and provided an onsite team for the first day of the new term to ensure the school’s IT team were fully supported with the system changeover.
