Wireless hardware

Hi,

So far i have only setup a simple wireless router for internet access.

I am considering setting up wifi in my office where we use around 10
laptops. what is the kind of hardware i will need to do this? We have two
floors to cover.

Is it as simple as installing an access point in each floor and linking them
to the existing ethernet LAN? Or is there more to it?

i checked with a professional networking company and they have quoted over 5
times than what i thought it wud cost for a couple of access points..

Am i missing soemthing?

Thanks for any inputs.

Ramesh

Ramesh wrote:

> Hi,
>
> So far i have only setup a simple wireless router for internet access.
>
> I am considering setting up wifi in my office where we use around 10
> laptops. what is the kind of hardware i will need to do this? We
> have two floors to cover.
>
> Is it as simple as installing an access point in each floor and
> linking them
> to the existing ethernet LAN? Or is there more to it?
>
> i checked with a professional networking company and they have quoted
> over 5 times than what i thought it wud cost for a couple of access
> points..
>
> Am i missing soemthing?

I don't think you're missing anything. We do this at my kid's school
with access points and cover 4 rooms in 2 different buildings with
access points for about 150 laptops. Not all the laptops are
necessarily all in use at once, but still a lot more than just 10
machines are on the network at any one time. Just make sure you have
good security on the wireless network. I'm always hesitant to use
wireless for businesses because security is so important.

Professional networking companies are notorious for overcharging. Try
and yourself and see how it goes. If you have any problems, post back.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message news:(E-Mail Removed)...

> Professional networking companies are notorious for overcharging.

Yes - mostly because their customers are other professional
companies that will then push the cost down the food chain,
and they need the work done with professional quality
and warranty.
Do-it-yourself is cheap, if one's data and time are cheap.

--PA

Thanks Malke. Shall dive in and figure it out.

Just needed the confidence from someone else before I did that.

Just a couple of questions.
Is there a limit to number of PCs that can connect to one AP?
What s usually the range covered by an AP?
When is it advisable or required to use an antenna?

thanks
ramesh

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ramesh wrote:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> So far i have only setup a simple wireless router for internet access.
>>
>> I am considering setting up wifi in my office where we use around 10
>> laptops. what is the kind of hardware i will need to do this? We
>> have two floors to cover.
>>
>> Is it as simple as installing an access point in each floor and
>> linking them
>> to the existing ethernet LAN? Or is there more to it?
>>
>> i checked with a professional networking company and they have quoted
>> over 5 times than what i thought it wud cost for a couple of access
>> points..
>>
>> Am i missing soemthing?
>
> I don't think you're missing anything. We do this at my kid's school
> with access points and cover 4 rooms in 2 different buildings with
> access points for about 150 laptops. Not all the laptops are
> necessarily all in use at once, but still a lot more than just 10
> machines are on the network at any one time. Just make sure you have
> good security on the wireless network. I'm always hesitant to use
> wireless for businesses because security is so important.
>
> Professional networking companies are notorious for overcharging. Try
> and yourself and see how it goes. If you have any problems, post back.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Ramesh wrote:

> Thanks Malke. Shall dive in and figure it out.
>
> Just needed the confidence from someone else before I did that.
>
> Just a couple of questions.
> Is there a limit to number of PCs that can connect to one AP?
> What s usually the range covered by an AP?
> When is it advisable or required to use an antenna?

The practical limit and range really depends on the access point
hardware. IIRC, around 30 machines to an access point is the practical
limit but it depends on how much bandwidth is needed. I really don't
think you should have much trouble with only 10 machines, particularly
if all 10 machines aren't on the same access point.

If you have all the machines in the same room as the access point, you
probably won't need an antenna. I'd start with just regular equipment
and see how it goes. No point in spending more money upfront!

Look at the information on MVP Jack's site here:
http://www.ezlan.net/

He's got answers to the questions you're asking.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

"Ramesh" <ramesh2020@gmaildotcom> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...

Q: Is there a limit to number of PCs that can connect to one AP?
A: There is a limit but it is usually over 100 hundred (Technology limit
256).
Q: What s usually the range covered by an AP?
A: The range of an Access Point is highly depending on the environment. So
there is No way to gues without seeing the place. You can start with one per
floor and experiment from there with location and adding more Access Points.
Q: When is it advisable or required to use an antenna?

A: Access Point comes with an Antenna. Some time replacing the original
Antenna with a better, high dbi, Antenna can help.



In sum, you have to start with basic Hardware and experiment by doing it
one-step at the time.

The content of these links my help as well.

Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html

Wireless Router as an AP - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging

Hi Gain Antenna - http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html

Jack (MVP-Networking).

Thanks indeed. Got a wealth of inputs from jacks pages.

Now for some more questions ..

Since wireless routers cost less and they can be used as an access point,
would i be wise to cascade two of them between the two floors and get my job
done? Or would i be pound-foolish in some way?

Can i cascade more than 2 routers if required?

Thanks
Ramesh

"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ramesh wrote:
>
>> Thanks Malke. Shall dive in and figure it out.
>>
>> Just needed the confidence from someone else before I did that.
>>
>> Just a couple of questions.
>> Is there a limit to number of PCs that can connect to one AP?
>> What s usually the range covered by an AP?
>> When is it advisable or required to use an antenna?
>
> The practical limit and range really depends on the access point
> hardware. IIRC, around 30 machines to an access point is the practical
> limit but it depends on how much bandwidth is needed. I really don't
> think you should have much trouble with only 10 machines, particularly
> if all 10 machines aren't on the same access point.
>
> If you have all the machines in the same room as the access point, you
> probably won't need an antenna. I'd start with just regular equipment
> and see how it goes. No point in spending more money upfront!
>
> Look at the information on MVP Jack's site here:
> http://www.ezlan.net/
>
> He's got answers to the questions you're asking.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Ramesh wrote:

> Thanks indeed. Got a wealth of inputs from jacks pages.
>
> Now for some more questions ..
>
> Since wireless routers cost less and they can be used as an access
> point, would i be wise to cascade two of them between the two floors
> and get my job
> done? Or would i be pound-foolish in some way?
>
> Can i cascade more than 2 routers if required?

You can use routers as access points. Look at the router mftr.'s website
for specific instructions. Since I can't see your site and since
successful wireless networking depends so heavily on the specific site,
I'm going to just say: try it and see what happens. Use Jack's pages as
a guide about buying stuff and then buy the least you think you'll need
and see if it works.

I'm sorry, but I really can't tell you more than that long distance. I'm
sure you'll do a fine job.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Thanks again Malke.

Lastly, if i want to connect an existing wired LAN to the wireless network,
can i just link the router to the ethernet switch? Or is there more to it
than that?

when is a network wireless concentrator used? is it warranted for a small
network of wired and wireless PCs?

Thanks for your tons of help.
Ramesh
"Malke" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Ramesh wrote:
>
>> Thanks indeed. Got a wealth of inputs from jacks pages.
>>
>> Now for some more questions ..
>>
>> Since wireless routers cost less and they can be used as an access
>> point, would i be wise to cascade two of them between the two floors
>> and get my job
>> done? Or would i be pound-foolish in some way?
>>
>> Can i cascade more than 2 routers if required?
>
> You can use routers as access points. Look at the router mftr.'s website
> for specific instructions. Since I can't see your site and since
> successful wireless networking depends so heavily on the specific site,
> I'm going to just say: try it and see what happens. Use Jack's pages as
> a guide about buying stuff and then buy the least you think you'll need
> and see if it works.
>
> I'm sorry, but I really can't tell you more than that long distance. I'm
> sure you'll do a fine job.
>
> Malke
> --
> Elephant Boy Computers
> www.elephantboycomputers.com
> "Don't Panic!"
> MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

Ramesh wrote:

> Thanks again Malke.
>
> Lastly, if i want to connect an existing wired LAN to the wireless
> network, can i just link the router to the ethernet switch? Or is
> there more to it than that?
>
> when is a network wireless concentrator used? is it warranted for a
> small network of wired and wireless PCs?
>

If you have an ethernet switch, adding the router will give you the
wireless you want. If you are already using a wired *router*, then
disable DHCP on the wireless router. You need to be getting DHCP from
somewhere or be using static IP's. Obviously all IP's need to be in the
same subnet.

I don't know what a "network wireless concentrator" is. Check on Jack's
site or perhaps someone else will come along with the answer for that.
I did a Google using that search term and perhaps the links produced
will help you:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User