Suggestions for wireless BUSINESS setup.

[newyorkny]

Hi, Tippers:

I run a small financial services office with just six workstations and two rooms. An ethernet wiring job has been estimated at $15000. We are thinking wireless is the way to go.

What would be your suggestions for our router / wifi cards? It is really necessary to spend $1200 for a Cisco Aironet? Is the security so much better?

We would like the best speed / security / price combo available. And I am not sure I understand how to enable printers for wireless. Can I simply also install wirless cards in those?

Thanks very much for your perspectives on any of this!

Best,

nyny

 

[G0AOZ]

Without knowing the spec and geographical locations of computers within your complex, it's impossible to say whether or not $15000 is good value for money. Having said that, it sounds one h*ll of a price!!

Consider Ethernet-over-mains adaptors. They will preclude the need for difficult cable runs round offices and through walls etc. And will be much cheaper. I'd guess you should be able to find 85Mbps devices for around $100 or less...

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[newyorkny]

Thanks, Roger:

I guess we can consider that, too. The new office is in a (an?) historically-designated 18th C. farmhouse in New England. Long story behind that one.

We actually need to get architect's drawings and a rather pricey permit.

I'm still hoping there is an entirely wirless solution to this problem, and one that doesn't require the expensive Cisco!

Thanks, NY

 

[G0AOZ]

Bear in mind that wireless doesn't like trying to get through thick stone walls! If, however, the farmhouse is pretty much open plan, then it's possible WiFi could be the solution for you...

Not sure if you're saying that you need to get architect's drawings and a permit just to install a computer network? That would certainly not be the case here in the U.K. for an ethernet-over-mains system, even with listed or historic buildings. I can see eyebrows might be raised if one was planning to run Cat5e all over the place though!

Good luck.

ROGER - G0AOZ.

 

[newyorkny]

No, no: I was referring back to the LAN situation. New England farmhouses are all built with wood anyway: why use rock when there're lots of lovely forests to cut down?

Powerline Ethernet (as we colonials term it) does seem like it might be something to consider, though I suspect there are security considerations there, too. There are other businesses in the building.

Thanks again.

 

[dput]

We use HP Wireless Access Points (approximately $450 each) for our laptops with WPA2 and Radius Authentication turned on. We feel that the combination provides us with a secure link. Speed wise, the speed is about half of our wired network.

I don't believe it matters as much which WAP's you use as how they are configured. You really need to bring in somebody who knows wireless to help set your network up securily.

Good luck,

Dan

 

[newyorkny]

Thanks for your thoughts. We're leaning towards a $200 D-link that features 802.11a and PEAP. "a" because there is some advantage to its relative rarity, and PEAP because of the auth features.

Best, NY

 

[UKalliance]

I would always recommend a netgear product. I have never had any problems with these and they are so user friendly. I have just started using this product for our WAP,

http://www.netgear.com/products/details/DG834PN.php

and there are some pretty decent PCI and PCMCIA cards to match this.

________________________________________

The Collective known as
The UK Alliance
________________________________________