Access point capacity limitations?

[ramavi]

Can anyone tell me if there is a limitation or general guideline as to the number of users connecting to a access point? The back bone is 100Mb ethernet. I'm thinking of requesting the D-Link DWl-7100AP for a new office area.

 

[JOAMON]

If you plan to use a large number of clients you should consider the Cisco 1200 series G access point. It has the capability to setup wireless vlans and has advanced functions not available on SOHO equipment.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps430/products_data_sheet09186a00800937a6.html

 

[ramavi]

would 100 54mb wireless connections be ok over a 100mb ethernet backbone?

 

[bcastner]

How Many Users Can Use a Single Access Point?

Wi-Fi networks, like wired networks, are a shared medium. An 802.11b Wi-Fi network may provide 11 Mbps of bandwidth to an individual user. Theoretically, if ten users are simultaneously using the network, each will have to share and may only get 1 Mbps or so each. However, network sharing is not quite this simple. A lot depends on the users' behaviors. Someone who is just sending and receiving e-mail just uses the wireless connection in bursts. They will probably never notice any slow down. On the other hand, a roomful of Wi-Fi users who are accessing high-resolution multimedia over a single access point may indeed notice a slowdown. In this instance, they may require additional access points or higher speed access points that use 802.11a or 802.11g that provide 54 Mbps or better of bandwidth.

Depending on how the users connect and what they do once they are on the network, you may need to use higher speed access points, as well as more of them.

http://www.wi-fi.org/OpenSection/design.asp?TID=2