[OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals

[Stephen Hedges]

OPLIN making Wi-Fi stats mandatory?

Nah, this is part of the stats the State Library collects every year. Although I'll admit, that will be an extremely useful stat to have.

As I understand it, this stat will be a federal requirement next year (most of the stats the State Library collects fulfill federal requirements), and SLO is asking for the stat this year to work out some kinks before the federal requirement kicks in. If that's correct, it sounds like a wise plan to me.

Stephen
--
Stephen Hedges, Director
Ohio Public Library Information Network (OPLIN)
2323 W. Fifth Ave., Suite 130, Columbus, OH 43204
614-728-5250  ::  hedgesst at oplin.org

----- Original Message -----
> From: "Ruchie Rice" <rrice at fcdlibrary.org>
> To: "OPLINTECH" <OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 9:15:17 AM
> Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals
> 
> 
> 
> I hadn’t heard of OPLIN making wi-fi stats mandatory. We used to use
> Bluesocket which used to give us stats but we did away with it a couple of
> years ago because the splash page was not working well with some devices.
> We’d like to keep it that way. Also, we have nine wireless APs among 5
> locations and would hate to have to spend money to get stats. If we could
> use a DHCP solution that would work better for us.
> 
> 
> 
> Also, since it is library using resources I agree that human and non-human
> connections should count.
> 
> 
> 
> Ruchie
> 
> Information Technology Coordinator
> 
> Fairfield County District Library
> 
> 219 N. Broad St.
> 
> Lancaster, OH 43130
> 
> 
> 
> https://helpdesk.clcohio.org/
> 
> 
> 
> “Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working
> together is success” – Henry Ford
> 
> 
> 
> From: oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org
> [mailto:oplintech-bounces at lists.oplin.org] On Behalf Of Chad Neeper
> Sent: Monday, February 23, 2015 3:52 PM
> To: OPLINTECH
> Subject: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Hello, OPLINTECH:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I've been hearing from some of my libraries that they're now going to be
> required to annually report WiFi connection statistics starting with 2015.
> Presently, other than one rogue, none of my libraries collect those stats.
> Being small libraries with only one or two very simple access points, I'm
> pretty sure that most of the devices they're using simply don't provide
> stats on the number of individual network connections. One way to provide
> the statistic would be to implement captive portals and require a human to
> click "I accept" to an Acceptable Use Policy on a splash page whenever they
> try to initiate a browsing session. The captive portal would likely provide
> the required statistics. But it introduced some other questions:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 1) The state wants the number of WiFi connections....Are those supposed to be
> Human-initiated connections? When I walk into a library, my phone
> automatically establishes a connection and refreshes itself with various
> content, downloading my latest podcasts, synching my e-mail, etc. That's the
> behavior I want my phone to do, but I often don't want to open a browser
> session and actually browse to a website on my phone. Sometimes I do, but
> more often, I don't. So should those automatic connections count in the
> stats? If so, then every single patron with a smart phone will likely get
> counted, even if they're just driving by the library and come into range for
> a few seconds.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 2) If the state is only interested in the Human initiated connections, then
> that would pretty much mandate a captured portal and require the click on "I
> accept" before a session is permitted. Personally, I hate WiFi hotspots like
> that because it interferes with the normal operation of my wireless device.
> I also hate being forced to remember to open a browser and perform an action
> after I've tried to figure out for a few moments why my device isn't
> connected properly. In the past, I've even run into locations that for
> whatever reason the captive portal doesn't play nicely with my wireless
> device and I'm just SoL.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 3) If I need to set up captive portals at each of my small libraries to
> report this stat, should I bill the state directly? My libraries are already
> pretty strapped. ;-)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 4) Does anyone collect this stat using software that isn't built into their
> wireless access points and isn't a full "I accept" human-interaction
> required captive portal?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Ideally, I'd have something that's:
> 
> 
> - 3rd party software only solution independent of any particular vendor's
> access points
> 
> 
> - Open source
> 
> 
> - Simple/turn-key (translates to cheap to implement for my small libraries)
> 
> 
> - Doesn't prevent the normal background function of wifi devices when a human
> doesn't specifically want to use their browser
> 
> 
> - Collects the number of wifi connections that's either human-initiated or
> automatic, depending on which stat the state actually wants to know
> (assuming the state even knows the difference)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> I know people will probably reply with the names of their own captive portals
> or access point manufacturers/models that provide the stats. What are others
> planning to do now that this particular stat appears to be more required and
> what type of stats you're providing or plan to provide (all connections,
> human-only, whatever)? As much as that, I'm just kind of curious where/if
> this conversation thread goes.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Any comments or thoughts on this?
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 
> Chad
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ______________________________
> Chad Neeper
> Senior Systems Engineer
> 
> Level 9 Networks
> 740-548-8070 (voice)
> 866-214-6607 (fax)
> 
> Full IT/Computer consulting services -- Specialized in libraries and schools
> 
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