Re: adding wireless access points (WAP's) to my network - can't get it to work

I'll take your suggestion on the DHCP issue. One Q ...
is it advisable to re-boot the server after making changes
like this to DHCP?

I don't believe that's required. You may need to restart the DHCP
Server service on the SBS.

(1) I'd like them "outside" the network - at least for now.
We are a research org. and have lots of scientists & graduate
students living here in our dormitory. I'd like to give them
internet access for professional and personal use, but don't
want to let them in the network until they have a valid need.
(At this point, it's "baby-steps" for me; keep the access
limited and loosen it up as I learn more.)

OK, that's helpful. In that case, SBS is not really an issue (yet).
This is purely a question of how to setup a wireless network for shared
Internet access.

It sounds like you have three WAPs. See my response to #4 for more
info.

(2) I had 2 guys with wireless laptops try to get on, and ensured
they had the right SSID. No luck.

Do the laptops at least recognize the wireless network is present? If
you "View available wireless networks" does your SSID show up?

(3) I did not turn on any security

OK.

(4) The intial configuration with all three was done in my
server room so I could connect them directly to the router,
per the setup CD's instructions.

I confess I never use the setup CDs provided with these devices. Using
the browser-based interfaces has always been sufficient, and I can be
sure what the settings are. You might want to try doing a factory reset
on each WAP (usually press a RESET button for at least 30 seconds) and
try that. The product manual probably has a chapter on "Manual
Configuration" or something similar.

Having three WAPs in the same room might be causing some interference,
especially if they are all using the same wireless channel. Try
configuring one WAP with the others disconnected and powered off.
Verify it works with a wireless PC. Once that is working, disconnnect
the WAP and configure the other WAPs the same way EXCEPT for the WAP's
IP address and wireless channel. The WAPs should have different
wireless channels - probably 1, 6, and 11 - to minimize overlap.

-- Owen Williams
.