Wired or wireless?

This may be a bit off-topic, but is probably of interest to anybody
networking several machines.

In a new installation, is wireless networking and VoIP telephony over a
computer network (wired or wireless) a sensible replacement for a wired
computer network and conventional phones?

I am thinking of a network of 25-50 users, in a location with no
existing arrangements.

Wireless networking is cheaper and more flexible than installing
cabling; but do issues of performance, reliability, maintenance costs,
and security outweigh this?

The same questions for VoIP; and does it do 100% of what conventional
phones do?

I'd be interested in opinions, and also pointers to similar discussions
on the Web.

Best wishes,
--
Michael Salem


Michael Salem

I have just set up a wireless network in London for 100 users using 3
access points on each floor, a radius server with PEAP and
certificates to authenticates users together with a NT domain - works
great no major issues or anything...

we opted to use a 802.11a - also stopped SSID broadcast as well..

the cost was about 20 thousand pounds will includes all
software/hardware etc

On Thu, 9 Sep 2004 14:00:53 +0100, Michael Salem <a$-b$(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>This may be a bit off-topic, but is probably of interest to anybody
>networking several machines.
>
>In a new installation, is wireless networking and VoIP telephony over a
>computer network (wired or wireless) a sensible replacement for a wired
>computer network and conventional phones?
>
>I am thinking of a network of 25-50 users, in a location with no
>existing arrangements.
>
>Wireless networking is cheaper and more flexible than installing
>cabling; but do issues of performance, reliability, maintenance costs,
>and security outweigh this?
>
>The same questions for VoIP; and does it do 100% of what conventional
>phones do?
>
>I'd be interested in opinions, and also pointers to similar discussions
>on the Web.
>
>Best wishes,

"Michael Salem" <a$-b$(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed) T...
> This may be a bit off-topic, but is probably of interest to anybody
> networking several machines.
>
> In a new installation, is wireless networking and VoIP telephony over
> a
> computer network (wired or wireless) a sensible replacement for a
> wired
> computer network and conventional phones?
>
> I am thinking of a network of 25-50 users, in a location with no
> existing arrangements.
>
> Wireless networking is cheaper and more flexible than installing
> cabling; but do issues of performance, reliability, maintenance costs,
> and security outweigh this?

Wired networking is more reliable, more secure and faster than wireless
networking.
However wireless networking is easier to add more clients (no extra
wires to run), and more flexible.
If you choose to take the wireless route, if possible, it is more secure
to use 802.11a which offers the same speed as 802.11g but is inherently
more secure as less people own hardware to be able to access it. It is
also theoretically more reliable, as it uses the 5GHz frequency rather
than 2.4GHz as used by DECT cordless phones, Bluetooth, and most
wireless video senders to name a few technologies, so there is less
interference. The trade-off is price and availability.

>
> The same questions for VoIP; and does it do 100% of what conventional
> phones do?

Don't know much about VoIP, one thing to consider tho is running a voice
IP network and a data IP network, as more traffic means a slower
network, and if you were to obtain global IPs for the VoIP devices (in
order to take incoming VoIP calls from anyone), then management is
easier on a separate set of wires and hubs.
Wireless VoIP devices must be available, but I *expect* most will use
802.11b/g technology, which may influence the decision on which wireless
technology to choose for PCs, and if you use wireless instead of wires
at all.
>
> I'd be interested in opinions, and also pointers to similar
> discussions
> on the Web.
>
> Best wishes,
> --
> Michael Salem

Many thanks for the opinions on wireless networking (WN) and VoIP. They
tend to confirm my view that WN is not a good idea if its particular
advantages (mobility) are not needed.

VoIP is surely coming technology, but maybe not mature enough to replace
wired phones at the moment.

But I am told that people who have been involved with large WNs and VoIP
(in the U.S) have been enthusiastic, largely on grounds of cost.

Best wishes,
--
Michael Salem