Will Wi-Fi in School Buses Conflict With Current Bus Regulations?

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Wi-Fi on buses is definitely something that several school districts are discovering very helpful in order to offer students with an option for wireless internet connectivity. Many administrators and teachers find that students enjoy the portability of having their laptops ready to go, as well as the added flexibility of being able to keep their laptops on the bus without having to worry about whether it's safe to do so. School bus students are typically targeted by Wi-Fi coverage issues, but many of them don't have it, and some students simply don't like the idea of being tethered to a desk or bus interior. Fortunately, there are solutions to this problem, and today's school bus manufacturers are coming up with innovative solutions that really open up the door to Wi-Fi on the school bus.

One of the most common complaints from students, parents, and school bus administrators is the fact that Wi-Fi in buses isn't always available during school hours, especially during non-school hours when students are mostly asleep or school is out. This issue can certainly be remedied by adding additional Wi-Fi hot spots throughout the bus. These hot spots would allow users to connect to the Wi-Fi network, which will allow them to surf the web, send email, and access text messaging and other networks that are critical to staying connected with their friends and other school activities. Hot spots can be installed on each individual seat, or they can be installed in between the seats so that Wi-Fi is available not only during the school bus commute but also while the students are sitting in the parking lot waiting to get into the bus. Learn more about Wi-Fi services on this page.

Another problem that some students and parents have been the fact that the signal interference that can come from Wi-Fi signals can be quite irritating. Many of these hotspots cause erratic signal strength, making it difficult to pay phones or surf the internet in certain areas of a bus stop. In addition, some buses stop at traffic lights without giving signal time to Wi-Fi hot spots. These issues can be remedied by drivers responding quickly to requests for Wi-Fi connection by stopping at traffic light rather than traffic lights.

Another concern is the fact that Wi-Fi signals do not travel through concrete barriers and other obstacles around schools. While schools are eager to save money, they're also unwilling to spend money on a vehicle that may break down every few minutes because of problems with the signal or because of lack of maintenance on the buses. In recent years, some school bus drivers have requested Wi-Fi be added to their vehicles to help keep them current on roadwork, but those requests have been met with opposition from bus owners who feel that it takes away from the quality of service provided by their buses. Drivers and bus owners have begun requesting that school bus Wi-Fi is added to city buses, and some cities have buckled and agreed to add the technology.

Even as Wi-Fi continues to make its way into city buses, it's important that parents and educators are preparing to deal with any potential issues before they occur. Parents today have an easier time searching the web and watching videos on their smart phones, and many are turning to their cell phones to take action if their buses stop working. Some students are taking advantage of their parent's absence. "I'm going to text my mom to see how long she's been gone," said one student. Others are waiting for the school bus Wi-Fi to arrive on their smartphones so that they can get online and check Facebook. While there are some parents who aren't overly worried about the potential inconvenience, there are others who feel the importance of having a Wi-Fi working in their school bus and have purchased or are preparing to purchase a device to connect their buses to the Internet.

Some school bus drivers are wary of adding Wi-Fi to school buses because they don't want their vehicles to become another Wi-Fi hotspot. For those bus drivers who are concerned about their vehicle becoming a Wi-Fi hot spot, there is a solution they can purchase that will block all potential Wi-Fi signals. Manufacturers of the blocking devices recommend a width of one foot along all sides of a bus.You can get more enlightened on this topic by reading here:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wireless_network.