Which setup to go with?

[Synomenon]

Ok, I'm going to be setting up a new network at home. A friend is going to give me the gear, I just have to choose what I want.

I have a network closet where all the ethernet ports in each room of the house is routed to so wired routing performance must be good.

I also need a good wifi network since we have multiple laptops and tablets we use around the home. I do have 2.4GHz and 5GHz devices so I need the dual, simultaneous wifi operation.

The gear I can choose from to do this:
Asus RT-N56U

OR

Cisco RVS4000 + Netgear WNDAP360

The home is a 2-story unit and the networking closet is upstairs near the front of the house. If I go with the Asus RT-N56U, the wifi network will be centered in the network closet. If I go with the Cisco RVS4000 + Netgear WNDAP360, the Cisco router will be in the network closet and the Netgear WNDAP360 will be connected to an ethernet jack closer to the center of the house.


So, which setup should I go with? Any suggestions, comments or advice?

 

[Synomenon]

Anyone?

 

[JackMDS]

If you need End Point VPN the Cisco RVS400 is a good choice.

The wireless device should not be in a closet. Lay a cable to a good open center point in the house and put this there configured as a switch with and AP.

Using a Wireless Router as a switch with an Access Point - http://www.ezlan.net/router_AP.html

The most reasonable sub $100 Wireless Cable/DSL Router is currently this.

High Power RF, a/b/g/n, Giga switch, simple USB for External HD as a storage server, and a user choice to install propriety firmware or DD-WRT.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833162047

 

[Synomenon]

Like I said in my post above, the RT-N56U OR the Cisco RVS4000 + Netgear WNDAP360 are my choices. I don't need the VPN functionality or any of the enhanced security features of the Cisco and Netgear and after looking at their manuals, those features can be disabled anyway.

If I go with the Asus RT-N56U, it'll be in the network closet. If I go with the Cisco wired router + Netgear access point, the Cisco router will be in the network closet and the Netgear access point will be connected to an ethernet jack closer to the center of the house (that ethernet jack would be connected to one of the Cisco router's four ports).

 

[Arcanedeath]

if wireless coverage is important go with the Cisco + Netgear setup, Hardware wise the Asus unit is the best of the 3 units but it's better having 2 units than 1 if you can't place the wireless where you want it.

 

[Synomenon]

I'll try out that combo then. If I can go with both the Cisco router and Asus RT-N56U, should I go with that instead (use the RT-N56U as just an access point)?

 

[Synomenon]

Have another question related to the Netgear access point. Its supplied AC adapter supplies 12V and 1A to the access point. The access point is PoE compatible though. I was looking at this PoE injector:
http://www.engeniustech.com/index.p...94:accessories&id=9230:epe-5818gaf&Itemid=119

but it shows that it provides 48V and only 375mA. Do you think it'll work with the Netgear access point?

 

[mammador]

I would suggest buying a switch, and using Ethernet cables to provide two wifi access points in your house (in suitable areas of course). All traffic can then be switched and connected to a router. This way, you can retain the wired aspects and add wifi as an addition.

 

[Arcanedeath]

The Asus unit is the most powerful hardware wise so it can be used either as an access point or your router the Cisco unit could also work as your router but it's not as feature rich as the Asus unit. The way this should be setup is use the whichever device you chose as the router and then run an ethernet cable to the other device where you want your access point for the best wireless coverage.

edit: the POE adaptor will most likely not work.

 

[Synomenon]

The Cisco router is good enough. I just need a basic gigabit wired router in the closet.

Netgear support replied and said that the PoE Inject does work with their access point.

 

[Arcanedeath]

The Cisco router is good enough. I just need a basic gigabit wired router in the closet.

Netgear support replied and said that the PoE Inject does work with their access point.

I'd be supprised of the POE adaptor works as it's 4 times the rated voltage and less that 1/2 the power, and POE is pointless for a home system it just means you use an ethernet cable for the power cord when you could just use the power brick that comes with the unit and an extension cord I just don't see the point unless you have a specifc use for POE in this case.