CAMPUS NETWORK Group (CNG) Network Manager Patrick Medina said that the Loyola Schools’ (LS) wireless Internet connection (Wi-Fi) system will be fixed by July 10.
According to him, CNG is currently working on upgrading and expanding the Wi-Fi coverage on campus with Motorola, their wireless broadband network manufacturer.
As the upgrade involves “a complete change of the controller and its software,” Medina said this may be causing the Internet connection problems that students and employees alike have been experiencing since summer.
CNG conducted a test run of the system in the PLDT Convergent Technologies Center and John Gokongwei School of Management areas last school year. The trial was problem-free.
However, Medina said the connectivity issues began when they implemented the system for the whole LS.
“Putting the complete system under full load brought out several bugs in the controller software,” he said.
History Department Lecturer Brian Giron affirmed this. “Our Wi-Fi has been spotty since summer. [It’s] unreliable at best and not available at all on most days,” he said.
Meanwhile, Quantitative Methods and Information Technology Department Lecturer Patrick Valentin finds the problem “unusual, because [the Internet connection] used to be flawless.”
Junior Carissa Lim reported a similar issue, saying that she often cannot access LSWLAN1, the Wi-Fi connection for students.
Sophomore Lauren Ong also complained that there are weak Wi-Fi spots in school.
“The Wi-Fi [connection] does not work so well in places such as Bellarmine Hall, Berchmans Hall and Kostka Hall,” she said.
According to Medina, Motorola’s engineering team from the United States considers the issue a top priority.
“We have been working with [Motorola’s] technical support group since summer and we have already resolved all but one of the bugs we have reported,” he said.