July

ITS works to serve all campus Wi-Fi users

Learn how MSU Denver’s wireless-network team works to improve your mobile computing experience.

By Diane Watkins

July 31, 2018

From its humble beginnings in 1999 as a small network with about two dozen access points, Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Wi-Fi network has grown to more than 560 access points placed strategically throughout the Auraria Campus and remote locations such as the Center for Visual Arts and the Metro South campus. 

MSU Denver has invested upward of $750,000 since 2010 to expand and improve the “MSUDenver” network (which can be accessed only by MSU Denver’s students, faculty and staff) and the “MSUDenver-Guest” network (available to anyone on the Auraria Campus). Together, these networks service up to 35,000 unique devices per weekday and wirelessly transmit roughly 135 terabytes of data each week. 

Managing MSU Denver’s Wi-Fi network means supporting ever-changing network and mobile-device technologies, mitigating sources of interference (e.g., walls, competing devices) and sharing the Auraria Campus with the University of Colorado Denver and Community College of Denver.

Enter the Information Technology Services network team of David Schuette, Amparo Garcia, Tom Phan, Quyen Tran and Conn Rogers as well as student employees Sylvia Valdez and Adam Smith. These professionals work diligently to make your campus Wi-Fi experience as seamless as possible through continual expansion and fortification.

Some of the recent upgrades the ITS team has completed include:

• Adding access points and changing the physical layout in the Science building basement for better coverage and performance. 

• Reducing interference in buildings and areas throughout the Auraria Campus, South Campus, the Center for Visual Arts and Detroit Institute of Music Education Denver.
• Improving coverage in the Arts and Administration buildings.
• Upgrading the firmware on access points campuswide.
• Increasing access points in the Plaza building.
• Researching, planning and testing state-of-the-art Wi-Fi solutions, such as the upcoming 802.11ax standard.

ITS also offers helpful tips for maximizing your on-campus Wi-Fi experience:

• Use the “MSUDenver” secure network whenever possible rather than the “MSUDenver-Guest” network.
• Verify that your mobile computing devices are patched and have the most up-to-date operating system installed.
• If your device is not connecting properly, try disconnecting it from the Wi-Fi network and then reconnecting.
• Check your device settings to ensure they support wired and wireless connections. Wired connections will always be faster, but sometimes laptops and desktops try to keep both connections live. When docked or otherwise connected to the wired network, it’s helpful to disable the wireless connection to ensure that you get the fastest and most reliable connection. 

ITS is committed to supporting your mobile computing experience by continuing to build and enhance the Wi-Fi network. For additional information about connecting to the Wi-Fi networks, please visit msudenver.edu/wifi. If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact the ITS Helpdesk at 303-352-7548 or support.msudenver.edu.