2025 UEN Tech Summit

A technical review of recent updates to wireless standards focusing on WiFi-6e and WiFi-7. RF design guidelines, troubleshooting tools and looking toward to the future – WiFi-8.

Ideal wireless design runs counter to our cave-person brains. More power is not the solution for wireless unless both participants, AP and device, can be more powerful. This leads to a frustrating tenet of wireless networks - the client device, not the enterprise network, determines the location and defines the relationship. This presentation will go into making the enterprise network more appealing to devices and delve into how to influence the relationship to deliver more robust and stable wireless networking. The presentation starts with general wireless terminology and then moves on to power and signal considerations. With better design addressed, trouble-shooting tools that have been successful in the field will be introduced. Throughout the presentation references to the new Wi-Fi 7 standard and the design goals of the Wi-Fi 8 consortium will be included. Of course, wireless presentation would be complete without some form of a bakeoff? A challenge will be extended to the audience to keep them engaged.

Discover how school districts in the SEDC region are saving money and improving communication with an easy-to-manage FreePBX VoIP system. Learn about remote provisioning, E911 compliance, voicemail-to-email, and more—delivering enhanced safety, flexibility, and major cost savings with minimal effort.

In this session, we will explore the deployment of a VoIP system utilizing FreePBX, focusing on key features that enhance communication, improve safety, and generate cost savings. Our implementation includes remote phone provisioning, enabling seamless connectivity for users across multiple locations while simplifying device management. We have integrated E911 services through Clearly IP, ensuring compliance with Ray Baum’s Act and Kari’s Law, which mandate accurate location reporting and direct emergency dialing. Additionally, features such as voicemail-to-email and intercom functionality enhance accessibility and collaboration within our organization. Several LEAs in the SEDC region have successfully transitioned to this VoIP system, with others currently in the early stages of implementation. One of the most significant benefits of this transition is substantial cost savings, reducing traditional telephony expenses while increasing flexibility and scalability. This presentation will outline the key components, challenges, and benefits of our FreePBX-based VoIP system, demonstrating how it improves both operational efficiency and emergency preparedness.