After the installation of data ports is complete in Eggers and Gardner residence halls, students will have direct access to the VAX computer system without needing a modem.

The construction began in Eggers Residence Hall on Nov. 13. The staff began by establishing a main panel, called a hub closet.  The hub closet is similar to telephone wiring, in that it is where the wiring base is held. 

After that, the staff drilled holes in the floor and ceiling of lobbies on all floors, said Director of Housing Brad Reid.  The holes will house  trunk lines and boxes, which are the computer and power lines.  

The trunk lines will go through the hallway walls to the individual student rooms by wiring called the raceway, Reid said.  The raceway is the metal track that the wires follow. 

To install the raceway, construction workers need to enter individual rooms to drill holes for the premise wiring.

Reid anticipates that the installation will be complete in February.

Eggers resident Jennifer Lancaster is frustrated with the timing of the construction.  “It will be worth it to have the data ports, but it’s just one more thing to deal with during finals.  I don’t think this is the best time,” she said. 

In Gardner Residence Hall, a telecommunication staff from the ASU Physical Plant is installing the raceway and data port boxes in each room.

According to Reid, the new data port connections are unique in that students do not need to use modems to be connected.  Theoretically, there could now be two telephone lines in one room, because the phone jack has a plug for both telephones and data ports, Reid said.

For the installation of data ports in Doughton, East and Hoey residence halls, an outside contractor was brought in.  “The outside contractor was the problem, and ASU had to finish the work out,” Reid said.

Reid said that approximately $100 is being saved per connection since the work is being done by Appalachian staff from Housing and Residence Life and the Physical Plant.  “Unfortunately, it is taking longer because we have to go one (at a time),” said Reid.

The connections are costing the Department of Housing approximately $200 per connection, where with a private contractor, it cost well over $300.

All residence halls have data ports with the exceptions of Mountaineer Apartments, Cannon, Cone, Frank, Justice, Lovill, White and Winkler halls.  

Reid anticipates that campuswide data port installation will be complete by August  2000.