[OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured portals

Tue Feb 24 15:01:36 EST 2015

I don't think the feds have written their definition yet. They post those at http://www.imls.gov/research/pls_definitions.aspx.

You've probably already seen the instructions for the State Library survey: "Report the number of wireless sessions provided by
the library wireless service annually. Note: This includes services used in the parking lot, etc." That's all.

It's worth mentioning, since Chad has raised the money question a couple of times now, that managed Wi-Fi services are eligible for E-rate this year. See the 2015 Eligible Services List linked at http://www.usac.org/sl/applicants/beforeyoubegin/eligible-services-list.aspx. (Skip to the 18th page)

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: "Chad Neeper" <cneeper at level9networks.com>
> To: "OPLINTECH" <OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2015 2:42:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [OPLINTECH] New WiFi connection stats reporting / captured	portals
> 
> Certainly a useful stat to have, but unfortunately, it appears to put yet
> another financial burden on small libraries that don't have a capable IT
> person on staff to devise a method to reliably collect it. (Well, that could
> be a good thing for me, I suppose!)
> 
> So if collecting this stat is really a Thing, does anyone (Steve?) know where
> I can go to get a little more official information on it? If it's going to
> be a federal requirement, then it would be nice to see the line-item that
> mentions it to try to discern what info is to be reported: ie.
> "human-initiated" or "device-initiated" connections. It would probably have
> an impact on the methods we use to collect the stat.
> 
> 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
> 
> On Tue, Feb 24, 2015 at 9:30 AM, Stephen Hedges < hedgesst at oplin.org > wrote:
> 
> 
> 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
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > OPLINTECH mailing list
> > OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org
> > http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> > 
> > 
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINTECH mailing list
> OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org
> http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> 
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> OPLINTECH mailing list
> OPLINTECH at lists.oplin.org
> http://lists.oplin.org/mailman/listinfo/oplintech
> 
>