Upgrading access points

[karolpl2004]

I have a office building approximately 120ft x 100ft. Currently there are three access points (Linksys WAP54G) and i am having dropped connections constantly. The access points are connected to a network switch. I have on average around 60 active connections (employee phones, laptops, ect). Is it better to upgrade all three access points, or just install a good router in the middle of the building to handle all the traffic?

 

[Mindweaver]

While those were great access points I personally would replace them with something newer like a dual ban wireless n ap. Do you not have a router after the modem? If not then I would flash one of the WAP54G's with DD-WRT and then add everything else after it including the new AP's.

 

[Kursah]

I really like Ruckus AP's, very powerful, great range, a little pricey, but the controller and AP's are amazing to work with.

Is this a serious budgeted project or a tightly budgeted project to limp along? I would spend the money and get something solid, easy to manage and works well. That's why I like to use Ruckus gear. Top notch. Look into it, and if you can get the budget for it, you won't be disappointed. I gotta ask to...do you have a router in between the modem and switch? I would assume so...if not +1 to above or really step it up and get a Dell SonicWall TZ2xx series or similar.

 

[remixedcat]

Hi. Presented a few options for you: (Note: All from my own tests in our lab and ran for more then 1 month) Click model numbers for reviews by me!!!!

1) Cisco Meraki-Cisco in the clouds without a controller. Pros: They host it for you and with that comes nice remote control and very smooth provisioning. Intuitive interface and ease of defining traffic shaping, etc. Cons: Lacks extensive RF tools and you gotta shop around for a cloud license. (units tested MX60W/Z1/MR12)

2) Aruba Networks-Has 3 options;controller/standalone(but clusterable) instant/cloud. Pros: Excellent RF tools, 3 operational modes, high performance throughput with mixed clients, lots of traffic shaping options. Cons: Client station monitoring requires either cloud or airwave licensing and if you run cloud you can't have access to local config but you can convert at any time from one to the other. (units tested: RAP109 and IAP225)

3) Xirrus-Has both cloud and local. Pros:Amazing amount of RF controls and options, XR630 (One I'm currently testing) can handle 240 clients (120 per IAP), 5Ghz legacy clients won't slow .ac clients down, cloud and local can work at the same time. Cons:Easy to crash arrays with too many global filter policies, throughput can be low at times, VLAN issues occasionally.

4) Fortinet-Local only no cloud+CLI. Pros: excellent firewall options (forti "wifi" 60D tested) very secure "locked down by default" config. Cons: TERRIBLE wireless performance. Very low throughput and very frequent disconnects. Major firefox issues to where changing wifi settings bricked the device and it took me a long time to revive it.

 

[karolpl2004]

While those were great access points I personally would replace them with something newer like a dual ban wireless n ap. Do you not have a router after the modem? If not then I would flash one of the WAP54G's with DD-WRT and then add everything else after it including the new AP's.

i have to ask, what is the advantage of flashing one of those old APs and hooking up two new APs to it rather than just replacing all three with new ones straight to the network switch?


edit: for some reason my other post got erased. There are two modems (T1 and comcast). there is also a sonicwall, all that fed into 2 network switches which feed data to all desktops and printers throughout the office. Also all 3 APs are connected straight to the network switch (one was a pain in the ass to find as it was inside a pillar under drywall) There is no router. All three AP have the same network name and password, just different static IPs. Im not very familiar with larger scale networking like this.

edit 2: as far as i can tell, the sonicwall handles the firewall, and i have no need for cloud. I just need something simple, and more reliable than the current APs.

 

[Mindweaver]

i have to ask, what is the advantage of flashing one of those old APs and hooking up two new APs to it rather than just replacing all three with new ones straight to the network switch?


edit: for some reason my other post got erased. There are two modems (T1 and comcast). there is also a sonicwall, all that fed into 2 network switches which feed data to all desktops and printers throughout the office. Also all 3 APs are connected straight to the network switch (one was a pain in the ass to find as it was inside a pillar under drywall) There is no router. All three AP have the same network name and password, just different static IPs. Im not very familiar with larger scale networking like this.

edit 2: as far as i can tell, the sonicwall handles the firewall, and i have no need for cloud. I just need something simple, and more reliable than the current APs.

Yea, having a sonicwall don't flash one of the old ones, just get all new AP's. I was only suggesting to flash one to more or less turn it into a Router/firewall if you didn't have one and then add the 3x ap's to it, but your Sonicwall has you covered.

 

[karolpl2004]

Yea, having a sonicwall don't flash one of the old ones, just get all new AP's. I was only suggesting to flash one to more or less turn it into a Router/firewall if you didn't have one and then add the 3x ap's to it, but your Sonicwall has you covered.

Sounds good. Thats what i will probably do

 

[karolpl2004]

So having established that im not looking for anything complicated with a firewall and cloud, just local, what would the recommendations be now?

I should add that some laptops are bit older, so that might not pick up wireless n

 

[remixedcat]

Aruba RAP109 if not 802.11ac and if you need that the Aruba IAP-225

 

[xvi]

We use Ubiquiti gear at work. It might be worth checking some of their UniFi gear or just use what we use and try a PicoStation M2. You can crank the output power up on those fairly well, although that doesn't mean the output power from the client will be able to make its way back.

 

[Mindweaver]

I bought a couple of these to put into or offices with upgraded 8dbi antennas, and haven't had a problem. Newegg doesn't have the antennas I bought anymore, but they were only around 15 bucks. Just search around for dual band 8dbi antenna. I was out under 70 bucks total a unit.

 

[karolpl2004]

We use Ubiquiti gear at work. It might be worth checking some of their UniFi gear or just use what we use and try a PicoStation M2. You can crank the output power up on those fairly well, although that doesn't mean the output power from the client will be able to make its way back.

Are these any good?http://m.tigerdirect.com/products/7410885

Also POE should be fine through the network switch?

 

[xvi]

I'd be careful what you hook up to the PoE. Ubiquiti uses 24v rather than the standard 48v for most of their gear, so it shouldn't be the end of the world. PoE will not pass through a switch though, if that's what you're asking.

I haven't tried the UniFi APs, but they should be pretty nice.

 

[remixedcat]

will that be able ti give you 3x3 802.11ac tho??

 

[karolpl2004]

I'd be careful what you hook up to the PoE. Ubiquiti uses 24v rather than the standard 48v for most of their gear, so it shouldn't be the end of the world. PoE will not pass through a switch though, if that's what you're asking.

I haven't tried the UniFi APs, but they should be pretty nice.

No im just asking if the switch will put out enough juice to power the APs