Setting up Wireless Network for 12 computers

dreadman

Member
Aug 11, 2008
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Hi everyone as stated in the title I was asked by a friend of mine to help him configure a wireless network for 12 computers.
Can your average router handle that amount of constant traffic?
It's for use in a business so reliability is extremely important. .
Are there any advantages from using USB or PCI wireless adapters?

Thanks
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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First question - why are you not doing wired?
Second question - why are you not doing wired?
Third question - why are you not doing wired?
Fourth question - what requirement for mobility that you can't do wired?

Wireless is only for mobility, clients that move constantly or frequently. If they don't move you wire them. If this is to save money, it's not going to. The questions about handling that many clients totally depends on the applications you are running.

I'm not trying to crap on your thread, but must come down hard on the "why do you want it to be wireless? If no good reason can be given then it should be wired". This is what any competent wireless network architect would ask.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,545
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The problem is Not the Router.

Windows Client OS' can support only 10 concurrent connections.

I.e. 12 computers on a peer-to-peer client OS is Highly Not Reliable.

You should take a look at Windows 2008 SBS.

http://www.microsoft.com/sbs/en/us/default.aspx

Originally posted by: dreadman
It's for use in a business so reliability is extremely important. .
Are there any advantages from using USB or PCI wireless adapters?

"reliability is extremely important" does not go together with Wireless.

For solution see Spidey above.
 

dreadman

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Aug 11, 2008
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Thx for the quick replies.
I was thinking wired too but there are some other factors that I probably should have mentioned.
He is setting up a small internet cafe and the landlady has given him a special price provided he can keep the look as clean as possible.
i.e. no drilling, no pvc tubing(to hide the ethernet cables) and she doesn't want cables to be visible either.
In other words, no damage to the place as is. Because of this, I thought wireless might be the easiest way to get around this.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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Originally posted by: dreadman
Thx for the quick replies.
I was thinking wired too but there are some other factors that I probably should have mentioned.
He is setting up a small internet cafe and the landlady has given him a special price provided he can keep the look as clean as possible.
i.e. no drilling, no pvc tubing(to hide the ethernet cables) and she doesn't want cables to be visible either.
In other words, no damage to the place as is. Because of this, I thought wireless might be the easiest way to get around this.

Well heck, that changes everything now that the purpose and application is understood. Any decent SOHO router/AP will give what you want.
 

dreadman

Member
Aug 11, 2008
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My bad..should have stated that.
So I take it there is no difference between PCI and USB wireless adapters.
The reliability factor was in terms of the connection dropping which could cause disgruntled customers.
Need to avoid this as far as possible.
I appreciate you guys taking the time to help.
 

kevnich2

Platinum Member
Apr 10, 2004
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My recommendation would be a SOHO type router and a separate wireless AP, that way it should be able to handle more wireless traffic. Dedicated WAP's are a bit more robust than all in one wireless router's are. You should be able to find router's that are designed for internet cafe's so that certain traffic is blocked as I would assume you'd only want the standard HTTP, FTP & SMTP traffic going through. Maybe try looking at a DDWRT capable router as I do recall seeing a hotspot application in it and DDWRT has proven very reliable in my experience.
 

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
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The selection of the client adapters depends on the environment. PCI/USB adapters are only dependant on the radio and the antenna. I don't get much into client adapters so can't offer much help there.

If these are stationary devices then something with an antenna that you can place is much better than one you can't. I'm sorry if I'm being vague, questions like this are incredibly dependent on your physical requirements. If you're within 150 feet, from your desciption, to the AP it really shouldn't matter.

"dropped" connections or "unreliable" means you are on the razor edge of the wireless coverage cell or have interference. There is a reason why people pay good money for others to do this for them. I'm not slamming you, just telling it like it is. I do this for a living.
 

dreadman

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Aug 11, 2008
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Constructive criticism can only help get the best results right?
The room is not extremely large and the computers are sectioned off by small partitions (to maintain a small level of privacy)
The furthest computer would not be more than 75 feet away from the router. So i guess that's fine then.
With regards to the wireless reliability I was thinking if there were some routers to stay away from because of the frequency with which they need to be reset or maybe bad stock firmware.
But I'll try to stick with reputable brands.
 

skyking

Lifer
Nov 21, 2001
22,704
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It is possible but if they plan to move any large files on the LAN it will be slow. I'd be looking to run wire to as many computers as possible. Any efforts in that direction will pay off in LAN speed and reliability.

EDIT:
LOL, I started this reply when no one else had posted, and got called away. I came back and submitted without refreshing. My answer still works though.
Wiremold or panduit can be put up and taken down with little or no damage, holes, etc. No exposed wires.
 

kevnich2

Platinum Member
Apr 10, 2004
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Another option to consider, if the computers are all going to be in one line, next to each other, you could always wire them to a wireless bridge, which would definitely be a bit more reliable and you still wouldn't have cables going across the floor to the router.
 

dreadman

Member
Aug 11, 2008
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That's a good point about theft Kevinich. Never thought of that. Will definitely choose PCI cards.
I will have to take a look into the wireless bridge especially if they come with 12 ethernet jacks.
 

Jamsan

Senior member
Sep 21, 2003
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Originally posted by: dreadman
That's a good point about theft Kevinich. Never thought of that. Will definitely choose PCI cards.
I will have to take a look into the wireless bridge especially if they come with 12 ethernet jacks.

You can connect a wireless bridge to any switch, so you'll be able to purchase a 16+ port switch separately and run off of that.

Also.. If you could manage running just a single cable from the main network area to where the computers are, you can uplink that into a switch and have all the cabling come out of that switch instead of needing to run 12 home-runs back to the main network area / patch panel.