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September 2, 2010, 06:45 PM ET
Building 'Green' Presents Cellphone Challenges at U. of Colorado at Boulder
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At the University of Colorado at Boulder, building "green" has resulted in an unexpected outcome: spotty cellphone reception within the some of the campus's energy-efficient newer buildings.
The issue has irked students, according to Colorado Daily, and it's also a safety concern. Officials quoted in the Daily said that new and improved insulation and UV-filtering windows could be culprits.
Greg Stauffer, communications manager for the university’s Information Technology Services, said the energy-efficient designs had made it more difficult for some signals to enter some buildings. Technology officials are looking into placing antennas inside academic buildings as a possible way to boost signal strength.
"We don’t believe we have a unique problem, and we are embracing environmentally efficient design," Mr. Stauffer told Wired Campus. "With the heavy reliance on cellphones and smartphone technology, it presents a unique challenge we have to overcome."
The Koelbel Building pictured above, home of Colorado's Leeds School of Business, is one of six LEED gold-certified buildings on campus—a standard that indicate high sustainable performance.
Each day on Wired Campus, The Chronicle's technology reporters highlight key IT developments and put them in perspective.
Comments
1. drjeff - September 03, 2010 at 12:16 pm
This is a problem in many or most modern buildings, and even some cars, with high-tech glass. Also any building with metal siding or roof (like 2 schools I taught in, and the building I work in).
Where I work, some departments have their own femtocells (basically, a cell repeater) to allow cell reception in a few-room area around it. It may require FCC approval for a more powerful one. I leave my cell on the windowsill and use a bluetooth earpiece to talk from my desk.
My house has a similar issue: it was built in the 60's and uses a metal foil vapor barrier, where brown paper is usually used today. Foil is a fairly effective shield for electromagnetic waves like cell phone signals. Only the (single) cell service with a tower within 1 mile of my house works indoors, though they all work outside. Also, getting a cordless phone or Wifi signal between the main part of the house and the additions is "interesting," since the former exterior wall now inside the house has the same foil barrier, and (mostly) blocks signals.
2. eharrington - September 03, 2010 at 02:15 pm
Students unable to use cell phones in class? heaven forbid!
3. citizenship - September 03, 2010 at 02:28 pm
Hmmm, I was in one of those newer classrooms the other day and couldn't get reception on my phone but the person siitng by herself jsut two rows away seemed to be carrying on a very amiable conversation. It might have been the aluminum foil cap she was wearing that gave her such great reception because she also didn't have a cell phone....
4. billso - September 04, 2010 at 04:19 pm
Femtocells appear to be essential equipment in some LEED certified buildings. As a bonus, some femtocells connect into the building's wired network and provide backhaul connectivity. This can improve mobile phone call quality.
Are there enterprise femtocells that can be configured for open access? The models I've seen limit access to a list of phones that an administrator provides.
My university office building is not LEED certified, but it has UV foil on the windows. I keep my mobile phone away from the window... it's usually in a dock on AC power. We have a couple of towers nearby so the call quality is good. I use a Bluetooth headset, too.
5. cal35 - September 05, 2010 at 01:10 pm
Please lets add whatever it is that is inhibiting cellphone tranmission TO CARS--driving problems all SOLVED-lives saved. Who ever knew, sustainable tech can actually save lives! Please apply this to automobiles.
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