Kilkenny Castle is a 12th Century castle set in beautiful parklands. Previously, it was networked with Cat2 cabling, which is incapable of transmitting data at fast speeds. Staff could not communicate with other wings in the castle or the outside world, which was becoming a problem. The team therefore decided to implement a new network.

“It was a very tricky situation. Productivity was starting to suffer because of our lack of modern communications. Wireless seemed like the perfect option,” said Paul Smith, project manager, OPW.

Dimension Network Systems installed a secure wireless Local Area Network (LAN) using the Motorola WS5100 wireless switch, 802.11b/g access ports and several PTP100 wireless canopy products to provide wireless coverage.

The Motorola solution is now enabling the 60 staff onsite to access their email, use the Internet and carry out print and file-sharing tasks.

“Although it’s difficult to quantify the benefits of such essential technology, there have been a number of specific instances. The ground staff can look up details on plants and pests online, rather than consulting a physical library, which is much quicker and more up-to-date,” concluded Smith “The solution has really brought us out of medieval times and into the 21st Century.”

St John's Hospital

Founded in 1780 in Limerick, Ireland, St. John’s is an acute General Public Voluntary Hospital. Up until now, staff had to access all patient information via a limited number of computers throughout the wards, spread over three floors. With little space for additional work stations, access to the network was in great demand.

The hospital chose a Motorola-based wireless network, including 31 AP300 access ports installed across the campus. The network is controlled using a WS5100 wireless switch, which incorporates state-of-the-art security measures including smart intrusion detection. The equipment connected all patient treatment areas in the hospital, including the day unit, in-patient wards, A&E and operating theatres. Additionally, the hospital introduced three mobile PACS (Picture Archiving and Communications System) Clients - mobile imaging carts containing 20 inch displays - which allow clinicians the freedom to read and assess x-rays and ultrasounds at the patient’s bedside.

The IT team at St. John’s has found that the wireless system is providing staff with quicker and more convenient access to information. With the new solution, doctors and nurses are spending less time trying to retrieve and update patient records and more time consulting directly with the patients at the bedside.