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| Ralph Beckon Development of a Proposal for the Implementation of a Medical Technology Wireless Data Network for St. Mary Hospital
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Week 3: August 28, 2005 |
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Tasks |
Provide the status of the task. If stalled or changed, state why. What did you accomplish this week that is in line with your scheduled tasks?] Task 1: Obtain Hardware Cost estimates. [Completed] Obtaining the hardware cost was easy because the access points and laptops have already been purchased. The project only required three hardware devices. a). Wireless network interface PCMCIA card: Cisco 802.11a/b/g CardBus Adapter FCC CNFG. From Provantage.com The Cisco PCMIA wireless network card was 10 times the price of a standard wireless device but it featured full compatibility with 802.11a/b/g Security specifications for this card include: IEEE 802.1X support, including Cisco LEAP, PEAP-GTC, PEAP-MSCHAPv2, and EAP-TLS for mutual authentication with dynamic per-user, per-session encryption keys via TKIP enhancements. Full support for WPA. Ready for IEEE 802.11i/WPA2 AES support. Price $ 112.70 each.
b). Opticon LG2 - 2D Barcode Reader From ID Automation http://www.idautomation.com/scanners/Opticon_LG2.html The Opticon LG2 - 2D Barcode reader offers the MTS staff the best option for our barcode reading needs. One problem that we have experienced with our past Palmtop systems is the lack of durability and loss of data due to breakdowns. In our extreme work environment, high usage and service situations the probability that the barcode reader will be dropped is high. The LG2 has been designed to withstand drops to concrete. Price $ $719.00 each.
c). Opticon LG2 Battery Charger 2-Bay Battery Charger, AC Power Supply Mfg # 32-LG2CCHG01-01 Price $ 149.00 each. Task 2: Produce Manpower time estimates. [Completed] The proposed Labor estimates for the St Mary implementation was easy to figure. I figured that because the access points are already in place and configured it would only take around 4 hours to configure and verify the network end. The laptop configuration will involve installing the PCMIA wireless adapters and Windows 2000 already has the drivers so installation time should be minimal. TCP/IP will be done dynamically. Security will be configured manually at Labor estimate of 1 hour per PC. This is only a rough estimate and if this project plan is accepted and implemented at other Trinity Health sites new time estimates will need to be made due to widely varying hardware configurations.
Task 3: Produce Concept map and basic Network Diagram. [Completed] The Concept map and Network diagram will be included in my final project proposal document.
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Decisions |
[What came up that needed to be addressed? Did you run into a problem or roadblock? How did you solve it? What important decisions did you make this week that impacted your project? The key decision was to go with a more expensive Cisco PCMIA wireless network card. During my initial research stage I calculated the cost for this device at a maximum of $ 25.00 per unit. The Cisco cards cost added a total cost of $ 300.00 to my original estimate. I also had to add a piece of hardware to the system because the high use of the bar code readers will require extra batteries and extra battery charging station. This will likely prevent work interruption due to depleted batteries.
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Learning |
1) What helpful feedback did you get in the class (instructor, classmates) and outside the class (user, stakeholder, beneficiary, mentor, expert advisor, others)? What did you gain from this feedback? Feedback from Paul Mioduszewski helped me make the right decision to buy the Cisco PCMIA wireless network card. Before this I did not know that you could get multi-standard PCMIA cards. His advice dramatically improved my project proposal because now it is possible to have both backward and forward compatible wireless adaptors. Keith Miller helped me select the best option for the barcode readers. He related his past experience with less durable devices and their constant failures. The poor durability of their palm devices lead to the eventual abandonment of wireless technology. His advice was clear, buy durable high quality barcode readers. I learned that in certain high use applications it is wise to go with the more durable devices.
2) What resources did you use this week (e.g., people, money, equipment, systems, or software)? Did you add new resources? What was your learning? I obtained help from both Paul Mioduszewski and Keith Miller this week. I used price watch.com but found the majority of products were low end and not suitable for the hardware demands of my project proposal. I used Cisco.com and learned that the Cisco PCMIA offered significant advantages over general PCMIA devices. I learned that some wireless systems have reassociation delays when moving from one access point to another or within or across subnets. Cisco promises transparent mobility between subnets. This week I used a new software resource, Microsoft Visio to develop both the concept map and the network diagram. I also used Price Watch as a pricing and information research tool.
3) What research did you perform this week that was assisting and/or literature based? What was your learning? This week I researched several different types of PCMIA cards and Bar code readers. The proposed selections are listed in Task one above. PCMIA cards research included generic and name brand cards. The generic and house brands had low prices but did not have the required TKIP security features and were not backward and forward compatible with 802.11a/b/g standard . I found them through Pricewatch.com. During my research I found unbranded and branded cards ranging from $ 12.00 to around $ 100.00 Each. Here are a few examples. Item A) Generic 802.11b Wireless PC Card Adapter A-306/7F. The price was $ 14.99 and included 64-bit/128-bit WEP encryption but no TKIP security features. 90 Day warranty. I learned that generic and house brands are inexpensive but do not offer the features or product details that the name brand PCMIA cards have. Retrieved August 2005 from: Item B) D-Link Air DWL-650 Wireless 802.11b Pc Card Type-II 11mbps wireless LAN adapter with a price of $31.00. D-link is a major brand and offered a one year warranty that was superior to the Generic PCMIA card. I learned that the D-Link also offered enhanced features compared to the generic card. The DWL-650 can be used in a Peer-to-Peer network without an access point. This device can also transmit data at 11, 5.5, 2 or 1 Mbps per channel and transmit rates can be manually selected for Auto Select 1 or 2 Mbps, Fixed 1 Mbps, Fixed 11 Mbps, Fixed 2 Mbps, Fixed 5.5 Mbps and Fully Auto. The DWL-650 offers full mobility and seamless roaming. The range of coverage per cell indoors is up to 328 feet. Retrieved August 2005 from: http://www.compuplus.com/insidepage.php3?id=672&refer=pricewatch.com During my Barcode research I found I found the CipherLab Handheld 1000 barcode Scanner. This is a good and reliable handheld barcode reader for only $ 54.00 a good and inexpensive value for those that do not require a industrial scanner. The CipherLab 1000 Handheld CCD barcode scanner offers a ergonomic design, low power consumption and easy connectivity. This scanner also features a programmable interface and has the ability to decode of all the popular 1D barcode symbols. This unit would work as a substitute for the proposed scanner found above in task one and at its low cost may be an option for some sites. Retrieved August 2005 from: http://www.ebarcode.com/new/main/scripts/prodview.asp?idProduct=907
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Indicators |
1) How well did you stick to your project schedule? I had no problem keeping to my project schedule. 2) How prepared are you to conclude your project in Unit 10 as required in this course? I see no problem in completing my project in Unit 10. 3) How likely is it that you will need to resort to your contingency plan? I think it is unlikely that I will need to resort to your contingency plan.
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Other |
I have no additional comments at this time. |
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