Question about installing wifi.

[Apocalypse23]

I have a client that I have an appointment for next week to inspect his wireless connection in his office/pub. he says he has a few Point of sale systems and computers using his cable internet connection via a DLink router, but he wants Wifi connectivity downstairs in his lunch room. He says the office is far up and he want's to separate his office use from Wifi use. I'm wondering if he requires VLANs to be setup in this case, now given that he has a basic $100 Dlink router in his office, should I run a cat5 from the dlink to an AP downstairs? Or run multiple Aps from point to point to feed his wifi?

I will go an inspect the site next week, but if anyone has any cheap solutions and product recommendations, it would be appreciated.

 

[Apocalypse23]

**update**

I went to the client's site (pub), he wants a seperate connection downstairs for wifi and wants noone to access his office/Point of sales network..I recommended he get another connection from his ISP to feed wifi for customers in the pub downstairs...Something around 7 mbps...

He has an option for going a 1mbps route as well but i dont think it will be enough...

My question is what would be the best wifi router or access point to install to give the widest 802.11b/g/n coverage to the most users at an acceptable speed and suitable time?

Something that has a constant streaming speed for iphones/blackberrys/pdas/laptops, etc for checking email, etc..but something that doesn't degrade signal at the same time...Is there a product you folks can recommend?

I was thinking more like getting something like

a

Linksys WRT400N-CA Simultaneous Dual Band Wireless N Router 4 Port 10/100 Canadian Version

vs

Cisco Aironet 1250 Wireless Access Point 802.11A/G/N-D2.0 2.4/5-GHZ Mod Unified Ap 6 RP-TNC FCC

This is for customers a a decent sized pub mainly for checking emails and surfing, something that can handle decent loading...what do you propose?

thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

I did think of initially connecting a AP downstairs from his original business network Dlink but then that would pose a security risk and performance risk as users could use up his bandwidth for his business....Unless I could use QOS to designate a bandwidth limit for general wifi use....So i decided to let him get a seperate connection from his ISP..let me know guys, much appreciated..

 

[bobdole369]

Can't go wrong with Aironet.

 

[Apocalypse23]

Can't go wrong with Aironet.

What particular model would you recommend? Keep in mind, that my client will need a router as well for the new connection....Would a wifi/router combo not suffice? Let's say 20 people using wifi at once....in a pub/restaurant?

Cisco has a bunch of Aironets...something that does 802.11 n as well, let me know, thanks

 

[JackMDS]

For 20 people a separate connection should be used.

Depending on the layout of the Pub, two regular Wireless Router/AP might be better than one expensive Aironet.

I think that providing 802.11n in a public connection is a mistake, it does not do any thing for regular surfing and email, and it enticing people to do download and use more bandwidth.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I think that providing 802.11n in a public connection is a mistake, it does not do any thing for regular surfing and email, and it enticing people to do download and use more bandwidth.

Somewhat agreed. In order for an N network to reach full potential, ALL of the devices connected to it must be N. Considering how many G devices are on the market, it seems like even with an N router/AP, it will be degraded to G speeds anyways. So might as well make it a G router.

I would recommend a Buffalo "HP" (high power) 54G router/AP, that can be flashed with DD-WRT.