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Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) Wireless Service Renewal and Expansion

Introduction

Since the 2007-2008 academic year, increasing use of smartphones and laptops on campus has resulted in dramatically increased demand for wireless services. Even where wireless service had been provided to cover high-use areas like the Library and TRSM, at times (especially in the Winter 2012 term), the number of devices has overwhelmed the available access points(radios). Some access point models are only able to handle roughly 30 wireless connections at a time but may receive over 100 concurrent connection requests. In response, CCS has been increasing the number of wireless access points across campus and is replacing older models with newer and more capable ones. This page provides information on TMU's expanding wireless network as well as some background information on wireless use on campus.

Wireless Expansion and Renewal

The following table shows a total number of wireless access points at the end of a particular period available to campus starting prior to March 2012.

Total number of access points

Time Total Access Points
End of February 2012 1115
End of Summer 2013 1493
End of Fall 2013 1603
End of April 2014 1619
End of Summer 2014 1757
End of 2014 1770
End of October 2015 2103
End of February 2016 2133
End of August 2016 2269
End of December 2016 3046
End of July 2017 3090
End of September 2017 3197
End of March 2018 3222
End of June 2018
 3473
End of January 2020 4546
End of Summer 2020 (Projected) 4560

The next table shows the number of access points that have been added or replaced since March 2012.

Access points already added or replaced

Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Jan, 2020 YDI
 31
 5
Jan, 2020 YNG
 -2
  
Total   29
 5
Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Jan, 2019 ENG
 10
 154
Feb, 2019 EPH
 -15
 76
Mar, 2019 GAL
 6
  
Mar, 2019 PTB
 6
  
Apr, 2019 HEI
 15
 25
May, 2019 IMA
 4
  
Jun, 2019 JOR
 -1
  
Jul, 2019 KHE
 3
 84
Jul, 2019 KHN
 20
 24
Jul, 2019 KHS
 9
 54
Jul, 2019 KHW
 2
 66
Jul, 2019 LIB 183 4
Jul, 2019 TRS 10 221
Aug, 2019 MAC -14 2
Aug, 2019 MON 24 13
Aug, 2019 DCC 416  
Aug, 2019 OKF -7  
Aug, 2019 Outdoor 1 1
Aug, 2019 PIT
 -93
 1
Sep, 2019 ILC
 44
 6
Oct, 2019 POD
 5
 21
Nov, 2019 RCC
 7
 52
Dec, 2019 SBB
 -1
 51
Dec, 2019 SHE
 -1
 43
Dec, 2019 SID -1 36
Dec, 2019 SLC
 2
  
Dec, 2019 VIC
 2
 117
Total   636
 1051
Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Jan, 2018 EPH 4 33
Feb, 2018 ILC 4 17
Mar, 2018 MAC 5 29
Mar, 2018 YDI   12
Apr, 2018 DMZ 10  
May, 2018 ENG 73  
May, 2018 EPH 28  
May, 2018 MAC   7
May, 2018 PIT 16  
Jun, 2018 RCC 53 2
Jun, 2018 SHE 28  
Jun, 2018 VIC 34  
Jun, 2018 YDI 9  
Jul, 2018 ARC -1  
Aug, 2018 CED -9  
Sep, 2018 COP 5 1
Oct, 2018 CUI 89  
Nov, 2018 DCC 316  
Dec, 2018 DMZ -22  
Total   642 101
Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Jan, 2017 THR -11  
Jan, 2017 GER 15  
Feb, 2017 KHE 1 5
Feb, 2017 KHN 10 2
Feb, 2017 KHS   3
Feb, 2017 KHW 1 2
Mar, 2017 LIB 11 3
Apr, 2017 MAC 5 15
May, 2017 PIT 4  
May, 2017 POD   1
May, 2017 RCC   3
Jun, 2017 SBB 1  
Jun, 2017 TRS   1
Jul, 2017 VIC   2
Jul, 2017 YDI   1
Jul, 2017 YNG 5 1
Jul, 2017 Outdoor 2 1
Aug, 2017 CPK 31  
Aug, 2017 ENG   3
Aug, 2017 GER 1  
Aug, 2017 JOR 48 1
Aug, 2017 KHE 5  
Aug, 2017 LIB 3  
Aug, 2017 PIT 5  
SEP, 2017 POD 7 6
SEP, 2017 RAC 2  
SEP, 2017 RCC 3 1
SEP, 2017 SBB 2  
OCT. 2017 CED 4 5
NOV, 2017 CPK 4  
NOV, 2017 LIB   8
DEC, 2017 DMZ 4 3
DEC, 2017 POD   27
Total   163 94

The following table shows the approximate number of access points to be added or replaced in the future along with tentative dates for each change.

 

Amount of access points planned to be replaced or added

Date                       Locations                                                                     Access Points to be Added Access Points to be Replaced
Oct, 2017 POD 10 50
Oct, 2017 MON 5 17
Nov, 2017 VIC 3  
Dec, 2017 KHN 20 20
Total   38 87

*During the Fall 2013 term CCS undertook a major network infrastructure upgrade in TRS that includes replacing wireless access points with new series 220 access points. The new devices can support more connections and provide greater bandwidth - especially in high demand areas.

Access Point Upgrades

Ryerson began installing the Aruba Networks 60 series access points in 2004 and has since moved to installing series 130 access points in low-to-medium demand areas and series 220 access points in higher demand areas. The following table provides a rough comparison between the different types of access points.

Access point model capacity

Model 325 Series 220 Series 130 Series 100 Series
Max Connections 100 100 70 30
Max Shared Bandwidth Available 1.3 Gbps 950 Mbps 450 Mbps 300 Mbps
Standard a/b/g/n/ac a/b/g/n/ac a/b/g/n a/b/g/n

Note: the actual number of connections and bandwidth available on an access point will vary depending on factors like distance to the access point, radio interference, and bandwidth demands from each wireless device.

Even under near ideal circumstances wireless bandwidth is normally shared between many devices and is rarely as good as a wired connection. If you have access to a wired connection in an office or classroom podium CCS strongly recommends you use the wired connection for the best possible reliability and performance.

Increasing Demand for Wireless

The following table shows the year-by-year increase in the peak number of wireless devices simultaneously connected to Ryerson’s wireless network.

Peak of wireless devices simultaneously connected

Year Peak Daily Wifi Connections
2008 - 2009 2,500
2009 - 2010 4,500
2010 - 2011 6,000
2011 - 2012 7,000
2012 - 2013 9,200
2013 - 2014 9,636
2014 - 2015 15,000
2015 - 2016 25,947
2016 - 2017 32,500

The following graphs show the change from the Fall 2011 to Fall 2017 in terms of the types of and numbers of devices connected to Ryerson’s wireless network. Click the image to enlarge. 

Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Jan, 2016 SCC 1  
Jan, 2016 JOR   6
Jan, 2016 RCC   3
Feb, 2016 SBB 31  
Mar, 2016 JOR 16  
Mar, 2016 RCC 3  
Apr, 2016 ENG   55
May, 2016 ENG 4 28
Jun, 2016 AMC 21  
Jul, 2016 KHN 1  
Jul, 2016 IMA 32 30
Jul, 2016 MRS 30  
Aug, 2016 MAC 1  
Aug, 2016 Outdoor 1  
Aug, 2016 AOB 17  
Aug, 2016 WCB 10  
Sep, 2016 AMC 17  
Sep, 2016 PIT 688  
Oct, 2016 ILC 1  
Oct, 2016 RTS 34  
Oct, 2016 SCC 7 8
Oct, 2016 IMA 4 2
Oct, 2016 KHS   3
Nov, 2016 KHW 2  
Nov, 2016 Outdoor 17  
Dec, 2016 YNG 4  
Dec, 2016 RCC 3  
Total   945 135
Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Feb, 2015 SLC 202  
Mar, 2015 HEI 11  
Mar, 2015 VIC 28  
Apr, 2015 VIC 1  
Apr, 2015 BTS 1  
Jun, 2015 VIC 9  
Jun, 2015 Outdoor 9  
Jul, 2015 SLC 9  
Jul, 2015 VIC 3  
Aug, 2015 POD 14  
Aug, 2015 Outdoor 3  
Sept, 2015 BKS 2  
Sept, 2015 ENG 1  
Sept, 2015 GER 1  
Sept, 2015 KHE 1  
Sept, 2015 LIB 4  
Sept, 2015 MAC 1  
Sept, 2015 MON 1  
Sept, 2015 POD 1  
Sept, 2015 SCC 1  
Sept, 2015 SID 6  
Sept, 2015 YDI 1  
Oct, 2015 IMA 2  
Oct, 2015 POD 1  
Oct, 2015 SID 20  
Oct, 2015 YNG 1  
Dec, 2015 BKS -2  
Total   332 0
Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Mar, 2014 JOR 11  
Mar, 2014 POD 1  
Mar, 2014 RCC 2  
Apr, 2014 GER   7
Apr, 2014 THR   9
Apr, 2014 YNG 2 9
May, 2014 PIT 1  
May, 2014 SBB 1  
May, 2014 TRS 1  
June, 2014 POD 4  
June, 2014 SCC -1 2
June, 2014 SHE 1  
Jul, 2014 ARC 4 48
Jul, 2014 BTS 6  
Jul, 2014 ENG -5 63
Jul, 2014 EPH -3  
Jul, 2014 ILC -1  
Jul, 2014 KHE -1  
Jul, 2014 KHN -1  
Jul, 2014 KHS -2  
Jul, 2014 LIB -1  
Jul, 2014 OAK -1  
Jul, 2014 RAC -1  
Jul, 2014 SID -1  
Jul, 2014 VIC   78
Jul, 2014 YNG 3  
Aug, 2014 EPH 80  
Aug, 2014 SHE 42  
Aug, 2014 VIC 1  
Aug, 2014 KHE   31
Aug, 2014 KHN   2
Aug, 2014 KHW   24
Sep, 2014 RCC 3  
Sep, 2014 THR 1  
Sep, 2014 MAC 6  
Sep, 2014 BTS 2  
Oct, 2014 RCC 9 1
Oct, 2014 SBB 1 5
Nov, 2014 SHE 1  
Nov, 2014 THR 1  
Dec, 2014 POD 1 1
Dec, 2014 KHW   11
Dec, 2014 PIT   19
Dec, 2014 BKS   1
Dec, 2014 COP   1
Dec, 2014 CPF   3
Dec, 2014 GER   2
Dec, 2014 IMA   3
Dec, 2014 KHN   2
Dec, 2014 KHS   4
Dec, 2014 RAC   2
Dec, 2014 LIB   4
Dec, 2014 OAK   1
Dec, 2014 OKF   7
Dec, 2014 VIC   1
Dec, 2014 YDI   15
Total   162 356
Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Jan. 2013 Miscellaneous 44  
May 2013 RCC 21 42
June 2013 KHN & KHS 52 32
July 2013 ENG   15
Aug 2013 EPH, SHE, POD   123
Sept, 2013 KHN 14  
Sept, 2013 KHS 13  
Sept, 2013 EPH, KHE, LIB, RAC, RCC, SCC 11  
Sept, 2013 POD 3 18
Sept, 2013 TRS 4 163
Sept, 2013 VIC 5  
Oct, 2013 CED   16
Oct, 2013 LIB   103
Oct, 2013 POD 42 3
Oct, 2013 TRS 14 53*
Nov, 2013 HEI   14
Nov, 2013 ILC   24
Nov, 2013 JOR   53
Nov, 2013 SID   15
Nov, 2013 TRS-Lobby 3  
Nov, 2013 VIC-606 1  
Dec, 2013 SCC   18
Total   227 692
Date Locations Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
March 2012 ENG 20  
March 2012 LIB 8  
March 2012 Kerr Hall 24  
July 2012 LIB 35  
Sep. 2012 ENG 104  
Dec. 2012 KHE & KHW 62  
Dec. 2012 MON 8  
Total   216

The following table shows the approximate number of access points to be added or replaced in the future along with tentative dates for each change.

Amount of access points planned to be replaced or added

Date                       Locations                                                           Access Points Added Access Points Replaced
Feb, 2020 CUE
   6
May, 2020 AMC
   22
Jun, 2020 YNG 14  
Total   14
 28

*During the Fall 2013 term, CCS undertook a major network infrastructure upgrade in TRS that includes replacing wireless access points with new series 220 access points. The new devices can support more connections and provide greater bandwidth - especially in high demand areas.

Access Point Upgrades

TMU began installing the Aruba Networks 60 series access points in 2004 and has since moved to installing series 130 access points in low-to-medium demand areas and series 220 access points in higher demand areas. The following table provides a rough comparison between the different types of access points.

Access point model capacity

Model                325 Series                               220 Series 130 Series 100 Series
Max Connections 200 100 70 30
Max Shared Bandwidth Available 1.3 Gbps 950 Mbps 450 Mbps 300 Mbps
Standard a/b/g/n/ac a/b/g/n/ac
 a/b/g/n a/b/g/n

Note: the actual number of connections and bandwidth available on an access point will vary depending on factors like distance to the access point, radio interference, and bandwidth demands from each wireless device.

Even under near ideal circumstances wireless bandwidth is normally shared between many devices and is rarely as good as a wired connection. If you have access to a wired connection in an office or classroom podium, CCS strongly recommends you use the wired connection for the best possible reliability and performance.

Increasing Demand for Wireless

The following table shows the year-by-year increase in the peak number of wireless devices simultaneously connected to TMU's wireless network.

Peak of wireless devices simultaneously connected

Year             Peak Daily Wifi Connections                    
2008 - 2009 2,500
2009 - 2010 4,500
2010 - 2011
 6,000
2011 - 2012 7,000
2012 - 2013 9,200
2013 - 2014 9,636
2014 - 2015 15,000
2015 - 2016 25,947
2016 - 2017 32,500
2017 - 2018 32,732
2018 - 2019 33,772
2019 - 2020 37,212

The following graphs show the change from Fall 2011 to Fall 2019 in terms of the types of and numbers of devices connected to TMU’s wireless network. Click the image to enlarge.