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Xirrus Wireless Array

In my opinion Xirrus have got the approach to wireless exactly right! Other products using the traditional approach of having controllers and lots of access points is complex to install, costly and also fundamentally wrong.Xirrus make WiFi Arrays effectively a wireless switch. The Arrays combines the controller and access points into one. They come in [...]

LG Network Monitors – Low Cost, Low Energy!

LG Network Monitors allow a single PC (Server) to be shared by many users at the same time, using LG’s solution can enable you to provide independent computing to a whole classroom. As you can imagine you will save a lot of money on the initial investment of hardware (£250RRP per screen) and then the ongoing [...]

iPad – A Teachers Best Friend

Here are some of the things that the iPad is being used for SIMS, Internet, email, calendars, VLE, lesson plans, Schemes of Work. Benefits of using the iPad Instant Access – The iPad is always on, you do not need to wait for it to boot up and then logon. All Day Battery – The battery on the iPad will last [...]

Xirrus Wireless Array

March 29th, 2012

Ben Forte

In my opinion Xirrus have got the approach to wireless exactly right! Other products using the traditional approach of having controllers and lots of access points is complex to install, costly and also fundamentally wrong.Xirrus make WiFi Arrays effectively a wireless switch. The Arrays combines the controller and access points into one. They come in all different sizes and are modular so if you only need low level of coverage then you can just put 2 modules in or in high density areas upto 16! Being modular means it is easily upgradable and also means it can support multiple technologies e.g. 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, RFID and more.The design of the arrays resembles a giant smoke alarm and Xirrus claim the 8-slot array to be able to support upto 640 clients! They have lots of figures and case studies to backup the claims.

Installation was really simple, the web based interface is easy to use and I had the array configured and working within minutes. There are many many options when configuring the device, seems to have everything you would ever need. Only thing it is currently lacking is a guest access system.I tested transferring a 500mb file in a variety of configurations. On my current WiFi system (Controller and Access Point) Using 2.4Ghz (G) it took 5 mins 48 secs, then using Xirrus 2.4Ghz (G) it took 1 min 35 secs lastly using 5Ghz (N) took 56 secs.Conclusion
Xirrus has a very flexible, efficient and cost effective system.

Pros

Modular (Easily Upgradable/ Expandable)
Supports many different technologies (A/B/G/N)
Easily Configurable
Fast!

Cons

XMS is too expensive (Management Software, though you only really need it if you have lots of Arrays)

Hitachi – Interactive Projector

June 21st, 2011

Ben Forte

I was pretty sceptical about this product, I really couldn’t see it living up to the hype! But it really does!

The “Ultimate Interactive LCD Projector” offers an innovative solution that delivers all of the benefits of a short throw projector and interactive whiteboard without the need for complex and expensive dedicated equipment. As long as there is a flat surface available, even just a bare wall, the pen based interactive projector will perform amazingly well!

It comes with the Hitachi StarBoard Software, which has all the usual Interactive Whiteboard features but also it works with other packages too, I tried SmartNotebook and Promethean’s ActivStudio.

As a projector it also has lots of great features; a tonne of inputs including mic, network manageable, built in speakers ( you can actually hear!) and 5000 hour lamp life.

Conclusion

Easy to setup
Can be used as a mobile interactive whiteboard (not ideal as needs recalibrating, though this isn’t hard to do!)
Short throw projector – less shadow, no white spot and no blinding
Slightly slower response than a conventional interactive whiteboard, although not really noticeable to a new user.
Saves money on a conventional setup!
Easily fitted by caretakers.

Google Apps – Collaboration at its best!

June 20th, 2011

Ben Forte

I am asked by many schools about the implementation of Google Apps, whether it was a good move, whether it was easy, whether its used much and I answer yes, yes and yes!

Implementing Google Apps was an amazing decision, email use rocketed! And all for FREE! Thanks Google!

We started off by migrating all our current mail to Googles servers using there imap migration wizard then switched the MX records for our domain to point to Googles servers and we were up and running.

A few staff were not initially keen on the conversation view for their emails but quickly got used to it and now would say they prefer it.

Google Apps is so much more than just an email system, you have the ability to work on live spreadsheets and documents with your whole departments making changes, live! Sending questionnaires (forms) has become hugely popular something which we would never have done before is now just a few clicks away.
Calendars are synced with phones etc and you can even build your own website in minutes all with no need for technical staff to install a thing.

LG Network Monitors – Low Cost, Low Energy!

June 20th, 2011

Ben Forte

LG Network Monitors allow a single PC (Server) to be shared by many users at the same time, using LG’s solution can enable you to provide independent computing to a whole classroom.

As you can imagine you will save a lot of money on the initial investment of hardware (£250RRP per screen) and then the ongoing energy costs (upto 85% less energy).

You will need to buy a fairly decent computer to run as your host machine (Server) the recommended spec is an i7 processor with 4Gb of RAM.

LG provide a software package called i-com which will allow teachers to remote control, chat, transfer files, test and power off the suite.

Conclusion

Low Hardware Costs
Low Energy Consumption
Clutter Free
Quiet
Low Heat Output
IT Support only have one computer to fit/fix
Very good for web browsing, desktop publishing. Definitely shouldn’t be considered for a suite that requires video editing capabilities.

iPad – A Teachers Best Friend

June 20th, 2011

Ben Forte

Here are some of the things that the iPad is being used for SIMS, Internet, email, calendars, VLE, lesson plans, Schemes of Work.

Benefits of using the iPad

Instant Access – The iPad is always on, you do not need to wait for it to boot up and then logon.
All Day Battery – The battery on the iPad will last all day so there is no need to carry a charger or be near a plug socket.
Weighs no more than one book but can contain more than you could ever carry.

Although the iPad works great on its own, it is also used to complement a laptop, it does the things it is designed for very well e.g. the Internet, video and I have also seen it produce some pretty nice spreadsheets using numbers, but it cannot do everything a laptop can do.

Using an iPad is very intuitive but it does require learning something new, it is not a touchscreen laptop running Windows. The iPad is a very personal device, it is not a device that could be easily shared between staff. To get the most out of the iPad you will have all your personal emails, calendars and documents on it.