Bob's Automotive earns designation; Sandquist returns to Hy-Vee; M.U.M. expands wireless access

Bob?s Automotive earns designation

Bob?s Automotive Inc. in Fairfield has earned the Approved Auto Repair designation from AAA.

In doing so, Bob?s Automotive joins a national network of nearly 8,000 automotive repair facilities displaying the AAA Approved Auto Repair sign.

To qualify, a repair facility must meet AAA?s strict criteria for technician certification and customer satisfaction. The shop must be certified in four categories of expertise including engine performance, minor engine repair, brakes and electrical systems. In addition, the shop must employ Automotive Service Excellence-certified technicians; maintain an excellent performance record and a good community reputation.

Sandquist rejoins Fairfield Hy-Vee as dietitian

Fairfield Hy-Vee Food and Drug Store recently filled its dietitian opening with Dee Sandquist.

Sandquist was the dietitian when the store opened in 2011 and now returns with even more knowledge.

Sandquist is planning to provide public service announcements, a column in the newspaper and other activities to help the community.

To contact Sandquist, MS, RD, LD, CDE, Hy-Vee dietitian and certified diabetes educator, visit the store, email 1180dsandquist@hy-vee.com or call 472-4119.

M.U.M. expands wireless access

In response to student requests and the need for more convenient Internet access, Maharishi University of Management is expanding WiFi availability on campus.

Originally limited to the student lounge in the Argiro Student Center, and now also available in the library, WiFi is being planned for Residence Hall 144, Residence Hall 106, Hildenbrand Hall and other residence halls. As many as a dozen additional wireless routers will be installed over time, said Tom Hirsch, director of information technology and telecommunications at M.U.M.

The decision to go ahead was made only after a thorough review of the scientific literature found no documented health effects. Hirsch pointed out the signal strength of WiFi is a hundred to a thousand times weaker than that of a cell phone.

Nevertheless, the routers will be off-limits in certain areas, such as the Vastu dorms and high-traffic public areas.

Hirsch said the particular routers being used, made by Ruckus, aren?t omnidirectional, as is the case with most routers.

Instead of sending a signal in all directions, like a light bulb, they use a system of 12-19 antennas to find the best transmitting pattern for the wireless device they?re communicating with and send a more focused signal like the beam of a flashlight. The result may be less ambient radiation as well as a stronger, more reliable signal for the user.

?More devices today are WiFi only, such as the iPad and MacBook Air,? Hirsch said. ?Students had been setting up their own routers, frequently causing problems with the campus network.?

He also said the signals from their routers would often interfere with each other, resulting in degraded performance.

The new routers will offer better service to students and contribute to convenient access to the campus network.