So I have this thing. I like wireless stuff, like my laptop, my cell phone, etc. But. Given the option, I'll always go for a wire. For example, I would <insert conditional here>never</conditional> use wireless for my desktop computer, the hard wire is always faster, more reliable, less subject to interference, etc. I know some folks who fall in love with wireless internet, such as the city of Tempe's wifi network. Yeah, it's a nice idea. In fact, right now due to the lack of motivation of our telco/cable/power companies to roll out really good internet access, the wireless access is in many cases as fast as wired. But I see things like this Slashdot article, an I have serious doubts wireless will ever achieve this. But maybe it will someday, and I'll be eating my words. I still doubt it thou.
The architects who designed our library decided that wires are ugly. And for unknown reasons didn't want them in the walls. Additionally, many of our computer tables are not up against walls and they feared bunches of wires creeping up tables. Or some such silliness. As a result our entire library is on a wireless network, but the monitoring software that allows patrons to log on to the system requires a constant connection. Should that connection be even momentarily interupted, the computer goes "out of order" and shows up as faulty. We are directly below a diagnostic imaging lab which provides plenty of interference. Every "fix" and upgrade has made the situation a little bit worse. These last two weeks have been unbearable as patrons log on and are immediately kicked off, by an interupted signal that does not get transmitted to the control computer that still shows them as logged on and keeps them from using a different computer. Of the 14 desktops for use in the children's area, currently 3 are working. Patrons are yelling at us, and staff is about at the breaking point. We've been approved to have the building be wired which should be getting done in the next week. We've also heard these promises before. I hate wireless. It isn't at all stable enough to be a legitimate use. And this is now longer than your entry, and I apologize. I got carried away venting.
Wow that's silly. Cat5 is so easy to run beforehand, and so much harder and more expensive after the fact. Even as such, I don't think you should have that much interference from the imaging lab... and I'd hope they would have access points in the library setup on different frequencies so that the computers could hop on a different access point if theirs is momentarily "jammed"... although, the frequencies are right next to each other, so the imaging stuff could mess up the whole spectrum. Score one for the wires.