Re: What is consider as an overkill for Wireless Set up

In article <estC1S2ZIHA.1208@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, hmooc@xxxxxxxxxx
says...

I would like to know what model is consider as an overkill in terms of
installing AP in the office. I got couple of inputs and so I am being thrown
left right and centre on which one to try. I am only asking to get
feedbacks because the vendor will not take back the access point once the
box is open.

I got to install the AP in a new office with about 4 glasses offices.
Everything is pretty much open space. There will be about 13 - 15 people
the most in the office. The office is about 2008 square feet.

Which AP would you recommend?

http://www.cdw.ca/shop/products/specs.aspx?EDC=1361652&cm_sp=Product-_-Specs-_-Main+Tab

http://www.hp.com/rnd/products/wireless/ProCurve_Access_Point_530/overvi
ew.htm?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

I don't know what "about 4 glasses offices" means, but if all 13-15
people will be in a 2008 sq ft open office, coverage (having enough
signal strength) as such should not be a major issue.

What you need to think about is that wireless is a shared medium,
comparable to using an Ethernet hub rather than a switch with wired
connections. Depending on how the wireless computers will use the
network, you may need more than one WAP. Basic e-mail and file & print
should not be a problem, but if there will be a lot of streaming media
or frequent large file downloads, you could have a performance problem.

Provided the WAP does the job, I am hardware-agnostic. I work
exclusively with very small organizations and have had good experiences
with several types of WAPs. I nearly always use a wireless router
reconfigured as a WAP - a very each change - because they are usually
easier to find and often less expensive.

I agree with kj about the automatic channel selection, but you no longer
need a "high-end" (= higher cost) WAP to get this; it has become a
common feature in many modern WAPs and wireless routers.

One device I have had good experiences with is the D-Link DIR-655:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127215&Tpk=DIR-
655

This does NOT include the other capabilities kj mentions, such as VLAN
and multiple SSIDs. Those _can_ be useful in specific circumstances.

For an open office you will probably want to mount whatever device you
select - or at least its antenna(s) - at the ceiling to get the best
coverage.

-- Owen Williams (SBS MVP)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: What is consider as an overkill for Wireless Set up
    ... Owen Williams wrote: ... Provided the WAP does the job, ... wireless router reconfigured as a WAP - a very each change - because ... For an open office you will probably want to mount whatever device you ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
  • Re: What is consider as an overkill for Wireless Set up
    ... Thank you for the great link btw. ... What you need to think about is that wireless is a shared medium, ... Provided the WAP does the job, ... For an open office you will probably want to mount whatever device you ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)
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  • RE: DHCP and wireless access point
    ... wireless router I've had could not be used as a WAP functionality wise. ... Turning off the DHCP in the wireless router was just a means of connected ... include a switch which can be useful. ...
    (microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs)