Wireless LAN

[Jimmyjammer]

Quite out of my depth here. I've been asked to investigate changing out ethernet LAN over to a wireless LAN. I've started researching but have found things like Wireless Printer servers etc. Basically we have at max 10 PCs in our network and about 4 network printers altogether.

What do I need to buy to be able to switch us over to wireless?

Thanks!

 

[Hooligan]

^bump I would like to know as well

 

[HappyPuppy]

Wireless networks are insecure. For a business, or even a home LAN with sensitive data, I would stick with a hard wired network.

Sorry if I'm negative about this.

 

[amnesiac]

802.11b router
10x 802.11b NICs

Dunno about the printers.

 

[xchangx]

HP has JetDirect boxes that have 3 lpt ports, you can hook 2 of those up and assign different ip's to them (to each printer).

 

[Zclyh3]

Wireless ethernet fu*king sucks. I'm using it right now at SJSU and I must say it's a piece of sh!t. Sometimes it would take a long time to get any internet and when I play multiplayer games like Medal of Honor, I get hella lag. The best way to get constant and non-interruptive internet is WIRED ethernet. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT go with wireless networking.

 

[RichieZ]

I'm wireless at home, the range kinda sux. But its enough to surf the web anywhere in my house. Altho I only get like 1 bar on the other side of the house. I would not recomend it for a business unless you get the commericial class AP's.

 

[iamme]

do they have a particular reason for wanting to go the WiFi route?

 

[CrazyDe1]

It's nice for lappys..I can sit on the internet and do homework or surf around while watchin a football game.
As a sidenote, like 60% of wireless networks are insecure. If you drive around w/ your wireless card u can find them. There's a lot of money to be made by securing these...

 

[dman]

Is there really a need to have the printers wireless? Do they move them around that much? All of them?

Why not just get a WAP (or two or more) and a few cards for those who need.

Keep in mind, 802.11b is SLOW. Max 3-400Kbytes/second with only one client using the airwaves. Even 10MBit ethernet is better (700+Kbyte/s) for speed and you can use a switch to get better throughput from multiple clients.

Go check out DSLREPORTS forums for help, they have Wireless Lan and specific forums for networking and various devices.

 

[Nocturnal]

wardriving.