Taranki school students get to study Wi-Fi

PrimoWireless, (which operates a wireless broadband network for internet access in the Taranaki area), Massey University and New Plymouth Girls’ and Boys’ high schools have secured funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Curious Mind's Participatory Science Platform to investigate wireless connectivity in the region.

This project also has endorsement and sponsorship from Internet New Zealand.

According to Massey University, the project will engage students from the two schools to explore the state of wireless connectivity in Taranaki. “This will involve practical exercises, which aim to help students appreciate the challenges and research issues pertinent to Wi-Fi connectivity,” it said.

“The students will examine Wi-Fi coverage in their schools by live measurements and also get an opportunity to visit PrimoWireless sites to get an appreciation of large-scale wireless networks.”

Dr Faraz Hasan, the lead investigator from the School of Engineering and Advanced Technology at Massey University, said: "Through this project students will get hands-on experience with various experimental tools to get better insight into how Wi-Fi operates. It also informs them about the career options in this area.”

He added: "Projects like these are crucial to get our future generation interested in wireless and, more broadly, digital technology, which is important for addressing a number of challenges faced by New Zealand. While most students, their families and friends use Wi-Fi on a daily basis, very few would know what goes on in the background.”

Massey University’s business development manager, Eve Kawana-Brown said:  "One of the most encouraging things for us has been the generous response from the personnel of both schools and PrimoWireless, who not only helped us in fine tuning the project but also provided considerable in-kind support for this project."