Recommended wireless access point?

ignatz · 08-23-2004, 01:41 AM

I am doing some research prior to instituting some wireless access at my office. We're pretty small (~15 employees total) and of those 3 or 4 use laptops (PCs) regularly and this number may increase soon, though probably not to more than 6 or 7. I've got my boss interested in adding wireless to the mix, but now I need to find some solid equipment. There are a ton of access points out there, and it's difficult to tell where to start. The office space is relatively big and I'm wondering if there are single units that can cover the distance on their own, or if I'll need multiple units. (I imagine that I can mount the APs up above the drop ceiling to get the largest range without drywall in the way.) I would also prefer a unit with WPA encryption, as WEP is reasonably vulnerable. I've been browsing around and have some preliminary ideas, but if anyone's got experiences to share, I'd love to hear them!

doctorow · 08-23-2004, 11:25 AM

I have a Netgear WG602 and am happy with it. Supports 802.11b+g and offers WPA encryption.

ignatz · 08-23-2004, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doctorow

I have a Netgear WG602 and am happy with it. Supports 802.11b+g and offers WPA encryption.

This looks like a good unit to me. I've seen a couple of good reviews. What sort of range can you get with it?

doctorow · 08-23-2004, 12:41 PM

I haven't done scientific tests, but it works well from any place in the house (with 3 floors).

ignatz · 08-24-2004, 12:31 AM

Sweet. I'll see if I can sell my boss on it. Thanks for the help!

tbdean · 08-24-2004, 11:01 PM

We've been using wireless hardware here for years and now the ONLY thing I use is SMC.

I've got three remote (home) offices, one running 1 AP, one running 2 APs, and one running 3 APs. The SMC APs can link together - they have built in repeating features.

The main office has one access point acting as a traditional access point, and then two acting as bridges, connecting our main building and a warehouse a couple hundred meters away with external 14.5 dbi antennas on the roof.

Here is a page I wrote up for friends that asked me what to buy:

http://trugeek.com/Reference/Articles/HomeNetwork/

Just look at the recomendations page. The SMC 2870W is great!

ignatz · 08-25-2004, 12:11 AM

Thanks for the recommendation tbdean. I'm looking again at what to buy after finding some pretty negative reviews for the Netgear model that doctorow recommended (no offense big D!). It's one of those things that seems to be difficult to tell about until you have it in hand and are testing it. I'm trying to get my boss convinced that this will make life easier, so I need to do it right from the start.

Alexander Turcic · 08-25-2004, 04:09 AM

Hey ignatz,
I am using the ASUS WL-300g. Very happy with it. You can read a review here:
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Review...dID-WL300G.php

One nice thing about it is that the firmware is Linux-based and completely open-source (>180Mb download). Some kids are adding things to it like Telnet, FTP, etc. which makes it even more interesting.

ignatz · 08-25-2004, 09:15 AM

Alex, that sounds pretty cool. What sort of range do you get with it? I dont see any information about that in the review? Also, does it support 802.11b devices? The Asus product page is a bit hard to decipher on that topic. Edit: found it and it does.

ignatz · 08-25-2004, 09:21 AM

Oh yah, and what laptop card do you use with it? Do you use the Asus card? I've always been impressed with Asus and their technology has never given me any trouble. If I can use them here I probably will.

Alexander Turcic · 08-25-2004, 09:21 AM

Yes, it supports b+g. It is all in the review I think. Range + speed are both tested, you can even compare it to the Netgear which was also reviewed on the same page.

ASKmortgage · 01-11-2005, 05:38 PM

Sweet link and informative site! Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbdean

We've been using wireless hardware here for years and now the ONLY thing I use is SMC.

I've got three remote (home) offices, one running 1 AP, one running 2 APs, and one running 3 APs. The SMC APs can link together - they have built in repeating features.

The main office has one access point acting as a traditional access point, and then two acting as bridges, connecting our main building and a warehouse a couple hundred meters away with external 14.5 dbi antennas on the roof.

Here is a page I wrote up for friends that asked me what to buy:

http://trugeek.com/Reference/Articles/HomeNetwork/

Just look at the recomendations page. The SMC 2870W is great!

08-23-2004, 01:41 AM	#1
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Recommended wireless access point? I am doing some research prior to instituting some wireless access at my office. We're pretty small (~15 employees total) and of those 3 or 4 use laptops (PCs) regularly and this number may increase soon, though probably not to more than 6 or 7. I've got my boss interested in adding wireless to the mix, but now I need to find some solid equipment. There are a ton of access points out there, and it's difficult to tell where to start. The office space is relatively big and I'm wondering if there are single units that can cover the distance on their own, or if I'll need multiple units. (I imagine that I can mount the APs up above the drop ceiling to get the largest range without drywall in the way.) I would also prefer a unit with WPA encryption, as WEP is reasonably vulnerable. I've been browsing around and have some preliminary ideas, but if anyone's got experiences to share, I'd love to hear them!

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08-23-2004, 11:25 AM	#2
doctorow Guru Posts: 914 Karma: 3410461 Join Date: May 2004 Device: Kindle Touch	I have a Netgear WG602 and am happy with it. Supports 802.11b+g and offers WPA encryption.

08-23-2004, 12:41 PM	#4
doctorow Guru Posts: 914 Karma: 3410461 Join Date: May 2004 Device: Kindle Touch	I haven't done scientific tests, but it works well from any place in the house (with 3 floors).

08-24-2004, 12:31 AM	#5
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Sweet. I'll see if I can sell my boss on it. Thanks for the help!

08-24-2004, 11:01 PM	#6
tbdean Nameless Being	We've been using wireless hardware here for years and now the ONLY thing I use is SMC. I've got three remote (home) offices, one running 1 AP, one running 2 APs, and one running 3 APs. The SMC APs can link together - they have built in repeating features. The main office has one access point acting as a traditional access point, and then two acting as bridges, connecting our main building and a warehouse a couple hundred meters away with external 14.5 dbi antennas on the roof. Here is a page I wrote up for friends that asked me what to buy: http://trugeek.com/Reference/Articles/HomeNetwork/ Just look at the recomendations page. The SMC 2870W is great!

08-25-2004, 12:11 AM	#7
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Thanks for the recommendation tbdean. I'm looking again at what to buy after finding some pretty negative reviews for the Netgear model that doctorow recommended (no offense big D!). It's one of those things that seems to be difficult to tell about until you have it in hand and are testing it. I'm trying to get my boss convinced that this will make life easier, so I need to do it right from the start.

08-25-2004, 04:09 AM	#8
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Hey ignatz, I am using the ASUS WL-300g. Very happy with it. You can read a review here: http://www.tomsnetworking.com/Review...dID-WL300G.php One nice thing about it is that the firmware is Linux-based and completely open-source (>180Mb download). Some kids are adding things to it like Telnet, FTP, etc. which makes it even more interesting.

08-25-2004, 09:15 AM	#9
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Alex, that sounds pretty cool. What sort of range do you get with it? I dont see any information about that in the review? Also, does it support 802.11b devices? The Asus product page is a bit hard to decipher on that topic. Edit: found it and it does.

08-25-2004, 09:21 AM	#10
ignatz mechanoholic Posts: 582 Karma: 1000217 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Sarasota, FL Device: Nook STR/iPhone 4S/EVO 4G	Oh yah, and what laptop card do you use with it? Do you use the Asus card? I've always been impressed with Asus and their technology has never given me any trouble. If I can use them here I probably will.

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