The Limitations of Campus Wireless Networks: A Case Study of University of Nigeria, Nsukka[Lionet]

This work studied the effects of physical environment (trees and buildings) obstructions on the Lionet in Nsukka campus of the University of Nigeria. The effects of these obstructions were measured by the variation in path loss and received signal strength as functions of distance using computer simulation and field measurement. The simulation results were compared with the field measurement results, conducted under free space condition and where the Lionet signal was obstructed by trees and buildings. The results show that trees and buildings have significant effects on the path loss and the received signal strength of the Lionet. The study therefore recommends that the power level of the Lionet should be improved for efficient performance, more access points should be deployed at locations where obstructions are prevalent, and Lionet should possibly migrate from wireless to fibre optic network.