Well it's Christmas and lots of students have disappeared for the holidays so it’s only fair that we increase the usual 5GB weekly peak-time usage to 10GB.

Peak-time is unchanged, 6pm to midnight.

The limit will be reduced back to 5GB per week from Monday 7^th January 2008 so try not to get caught out

Mark

We will soon be running a pilot wireless version of ResNet in Northwell House. This will provide wireless Internet access to ResNet subscribers in study bedrooms, kitchens and other communal areas in Northwell House. We have selected Northwell because we needed a medium size residence for the pilot. This is in addition to the Wireless Hotspots already available on campus and in some public areas of the halls.

We want to run a pilot so that we can work out the best ways to provide wireless ResNet and get some feed back from students.

What are the benefits of Wireless ResNet?

• We can provide access in common areas like kitchens
• You can move your computer between rooms
• We can provide access to more than one computer per person
• We hope to provide access to a broader range of devices, such as some handheld computers and games consoles

Cabled ResNet	Wireless ResNet
Higher speed	You can use more than one computer
You can use FreeWire TV	You can use mobile devices
Higher reliability	Available in communal areas

Why run a pilot?
We need to be sure that Wireless ResNet will work before we roll it out to thousands of students! The trial gives us the opportunity to test our hardware and to collect feedback from the users participating in the trial. We are sure we will need to make adjustments throughout the trial, so we have a smooth launch and a great level of service when we are able to roll out Wireless ResNet to all residences.

Who can take part in the trial?
As mentioned above, the pilot is only available in Northwell House. Furthermore, only existing ResNet subscribers will be able to use Wireless ResNet.

What kind of computers are compatible with Wireless ResNet?
To start with, you will need Windows XP, Windows Vista, Mac OS X or Linux to be able to use Wireless ResNet on your computer. We hope to add support for many other devices later in the pilot.

How long will it be until Wireless ResNet is made available to all?
This will depend on information gathered in the trial, financial constraints and the time needed to install wireless equipment in 5000 rooms. Universal wireless access to all study bedrooms will be very expensive so we don't know when we will be able to deliver it. We think it will be very popular among students, and we are running a pilot to find out how people use it. We do know that Wireless ResNet won't be available in other residences at least for this academic year.

Will cabled ResNet be taken away when Wireless ResNet is turned on?
No. Wireless ResNet will not affect the existing cabled service. However, you will have the ability to use more than one computer, or to use your games console, handheld computer or smartphone on wireless ResNet. You will be able to use either service, or both services, as you please.

How much will Wireless ResNet cost?
For the duration of the trial, Wireless ResNet available for ResNet subscribers at Northwell House at no extra cost. You are helping us by testing out the service and providing feedback! We haven't yet decided how much it will cost, or even if we will charge extra for Wireless ResNet when it made available to all residences.

I live at Northwell. What do I do to use the pilot?
For now, all we ask is that you fill in our survey. When the pilot is ready to go live, we will be in touch by email.

This is an email we received from Freewire (the people that stream the channels to us)...

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Dear Customer

Please be informed that essential maintenance has been scheduled on the Freewire network infrastructure on Monday 23rd July between 19.00 and 21.00.

During this time our Engineers will work to minimize any disruption to the Freewire services, nevertheless please be aware that the planned maintenance is taking place.

Best regards

Freewire Support

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We (ResNet) hope that this will not cause too many problems.

During the vacation period (starting on Monday 25th June) we are increasing the peak-time usage 10GB per week as the network is less busy. We may review these limits throughout the vacation period.

Off-peak periods remain unlimited.

Peak-time is 6pm to 12 midnight and off-peak time is 12 midnight to 6pm

Enjoy

The IPTV service seems to have gone off air. We're looking into it, initial investigation seems to suggest it might be a problem with the supplier. Mark is currently on the phone trying to get hold of their technical bods. We'll update this as and when we have more info.

Update - 17:00: We've just had an email from the guys at freewire, it looks like the problem is wider than just Bristol, it's effecting other universities as well - but they're working on it.

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Please be informed the 'Freewire' Infrastructure team are investigating the current network problem and are working with 'JANET Operations' to return the TV channels as soon as possible.Sorry for the interruption in service, we will keep you updated.Best regards

Freewire Support

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More info as we get it. (Although you'll probably notice it's working before we do!)

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If you've tried Freewire TV you'll know it's fixed

Week 5 (Monday 21nd May to Sunday 27th May)

Day	Restricted Network	Total Restricted	Average Restricted Days	Warning Emails >80%	Total Emails	UL/DL Ratio All Restricted Users
Tue 22nd (Early am)	0	0	0	4	4	0
Wed 23rd (Early am)	2 (<0.05%)	2 (<0.05%)	5	1	5	0.42
Thu 24th (Early am)	3 (<0.07%)	5 (<0.12%)	4.4	12	17	0.45
Fri 25th (Early am)	9 (<0.22%)	14 (<0.35%)	3.5	29	46	0.65
Sat 26th (Early am)	25 (<0.62%)	39 (<0.97%)	2.5	23	69	0.43
Sun 27th (Early am)	24 (<0.60%)	63 (<1.57%)	1.9	45	114	0.32

Update 2007-06-19: Comments are now closed as there have been no genuine comments submitted recently, only spam. If you want to comment on this article, please contact the ResNet Helpdesk.

This is part of the occasional series of newsletters sent to all ResNet subscribers. In this edition: Peak usage limits increasing to 5GB per week; ‘Second Chance’ System; Jobs with ResNet

Peak usage limits increasing to 5GB per week

We are pleased to announce that from Monday 21st May 2007 the weekly peak-time usage allowance is to be increased to 5GB.

It has always been our intention to let ResNet subscribers use any spare capacity. We are confident that we have enough spare network capacity at the busiest time of day (6pm to midnight) to allow this increase.

We are constantly reviewing the peak and off-peak usage so that the best possible quality of service is maintained for the often conflicting needs of ResNet subscribers.

For more information on the peak-time system see

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/slink/dr8r

‘Second Chance’ System

We are developing a ‘Second Chance’ system that can be used once per term to allow restricted subscribers back onto the ‘normal’ network. An announcement will be made on our blog when the system is in place. If you are moved to the restricted network, and the ‘second chance’ system is in place, then the email we send you will contain information on how to use it.

Jobs with ResNet

There are still a few days to apply for a number of technical and non-technical positions available for full-time work this summer vacation and part-time work from Freshers’ week onwards.

To apply, please see http://www.bristol.ac.uk/slink/ktui

The closing date is 10am, Monday May 21st.

Best wishes,

The ResNet Team.

Update 2007-06-19: Comments are now closed as there have been no genuine comments submitted recently, only spam. If you want to comment on this article, please contact the ResNet Helpdesk.

We are pleased to announce that from Monday 14^th May 2007 the weekly peak-time usage allowance is to be increased from 2.5GB to 4GB.

We have been very pleased with the improvements to packet loss and latency that real-time application users find essential. These applications should now be working without trouble at all times of day.

We now find that for the first time in ResNet’s history we have spare capacity at the busiest time of day (6pm to midnight) and it has always been our intention to let subscribers use this capacity, hence this increase.

The limits will be reviewed again in a week or two and changed accordingly. The aim is to allow as much use of the available capacity whilst still maintaining quality of service to all subscribers. This is a learning curve for us, as having a peak-time limit is a culture change and we could not easily predict usage patterns, hence the relatively low 2.5GB initial limit.

Last week a total of 191 subscribers were moved to the restricted network, well under 5% of all subscribers, with an average restriction of 2.86 days per restricted user. If this were scaled up to all of ResNet then the average restriction would be < 3 hours per user per week.

We hope this change meets the approval of all who have asked for an increase, however, I’m sure not all will be fully satisfied with our attempts to please all ResNet subscribers.

Regards,

The ResNet Team

Week 4 (Monday 15th May to Sunday 20th May)

Day	Restricted Network	Total Restricted	Average Restricted Days	Warning Emails >75%	Total Emails	UL/DL Ratio All Restricted Users
Tue 15th (Early am)	6 (<0.15%)	-	6	2	-	3.70
Wed 16th (Early am)	2 (<0.05%)	8 (<0.2%)	5.75	11	13	1.57
Thu 17th (Early am)	9 (<0.22%)	17 (<0.42%)	4.82	13	26	0.69
Fri 18th (Early am)	13(<0.32%)	30 (<0.75%)	4.03	38	64	0.46
Sat 19th (Early am)	24 (<0.60%)	54 (<1.35%)	3.13	52	116	0.37
Sun 20th (Early am)	38 (<0.95%)	92 (<2.30%)	2.25	79	195	0.38

Update 2007-06-19: Comments are now closed as there have been no genuine comments submitted recently, only spam. If you want to comment on this article, please contact the ResNet Helpdesk.

We have now enabled the clifton and centre halls for ResNet IPTV.

See here for more information:

TV on ResNet trial extended

The complete list of residences where Freewire TV can be tried is:

• Woodland Court
• The Hawthorns
• 29-33 St Michaels Park
• 43/45, 51, 61/63 St Michaels Hill
• 5, 12, 16 Osborne Villas
• 1 University Walk (Principal’s House, Institute for Advanced Studies)
• University Hall - (UH added 30th April)
• Badock Hall
• Churchill Hall
• Durdham Hall
• Hiatt Baker Hall
• Wills Hall (trial now in all Stoke Bishop halls as of 2nd May)
• Clifton Hill House
• Goldney Hall
• Manor Hall (including annexes and Sinclair House)
• Winkworth House
• Deans Court
• Unite House
• Chantry Court
• 115 Queens Rd (Clifton and Centre halls added on 10/05/07)
• Northwell House

See the original announcement about TV on ResNet for details and to try it.

There are a few people living in some of the small or more distant residences that unfortunately we will not be able to provide TV to:

• Langford old & new hostels
• 121 Redland Road
• Rodney Place
• 97 Woodland Road

We cannot provide TV to residents in those houses as there isn't enough capacity on the relatively small links we have to them. We are very sorry about this.

Update 2007-06-19: Comments are now closed as there have been no genuine comments submitted recently, only spam. If you want to comment on this article, please contact the ResNet Helpdesk.