Wireless networking

[coppo1]

People,
Who out there has good hands on experience with wireless and its limitations?

Current project i am asked about is a very large house that wants ADSL.
Then to have some wired Data, no probs, easy.

Next they want wireless as well, still no big deal...

However, due to the size of house, they will need a larger range than the standard 20-30 metres of wireless.
I read on the Linksys site forum about using one of their products in "repeater " mode......

Also bear in mind the house is 2 storey, so some of this probably doubles up.

Any suggestions??

[Forumadmin]

Hmm,

OK try using a dlink access point, go for a 108mps and add a ANT24-0500 antenna. You may want to check compatability between the 2 products before ordering anything. I have one on a DWL-200AP.

details here (http://www.dlink.com.au/Default.aspx?ArticleID=408) .

Basically you have a 5km radius with this baby. :D Should do a 2 storey house on its ear so to speak. Cost is about 125RRP inc GST, can be purchased alot cheaper with a bit of digging. Seriously I've used and recommend it.
PS. Don't forget and I'm sure you won't, but lock up that network bigtime if you are using this antenna, cause for 5 k's all around you hackers will now have something to try to break through. ;)

Repeater mode mode is achieved when you have usually 2 access points (more cost) usually of the same make and model and they are set up to repeat; therefore extend the signal distance between each other and the equipment using them.

There are many pit falls in wireless ap's. The main being security. Do your home work is the best advice I could give.
Cheers

[coppo1]

Hmm,

OK try using a dlink access point, go for a 108mps and add a ANT24-0500 antenna. You may want to check compatability between the 2 products before ordering anything. I have one on a DWL-200AP.



Excellent info, many thx.

as far as security i have to find out what his computers support first.
WEP or WPA.

I'll disable SSID broadcast as well. In the first instances i have set up
it seems to be the "broadcasting" that invites people to hack.

U recommend MAC filtering as well ??? as i have heard it may be average for security?

[Forumadmin]

Excellent info, many thx.

as far as security i have to find out what his computers support first.
WEP or WPA.

I'll disable SSID broadcast as well. In the first instances i have set up
it seems to be the "broadcasting" that invites people to hack.

U recommend MAC filtering as well ??? as i have heard it may be average for security?

It is possible for a dedicated hacker to "spoof" a MAC address, by intercepting valid MAC addresses and then programming his or her computer to broadcast using one of those. Despite that, for small network installations, using a MAC filtering technique can a be very effective method to prevent unauthorized access, understanding its limitations.

That being said WPA (found in all/most Wi-Fi AP's) is a powerful, standards-based, interoperable security technology for Wi-Fi networks. It provides strong data protection by using encryption as well as strong access controls and user authentication.

The best Wi-FI security to date, to the best of my knowledge is WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2). It provides network administrators with a high level of assurance that only authorized users can access the network. Based on the ratified IEEE 802.11i standard, WPA2 provides government grade security by implementing the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-2 compliant AES encryption algorithm.

In summary i'd try to use WPA. Easy to admin and very secure.

Cheers

[coppo1]

Further to this , i was contacted by D-LINK regarding proposed changes to their website.

I had asked if they were putting a forum or knowledge base online, and they
are. They sent me a preview link, which i have lost sorry....

Soon you will be able to search via a specific product, it then has
menus off that for setups, configs, install issues specific to that model.

It looks very good. I certainly feel more confident with the product and the
extra info.

After my inquiry to here and the info provided by forumadmin, i suggested
to D-Link some ideas from a newbie to WIFI and they are looking at making it easier for
you to find what WIFI products can be exhanced by larger antennas ,
repeaters, so forth...

[charlie crackle]

However, due to the size of house, they will need a larger range than the standard 20-30 metres of wireless.
I read on the Linksys site forum about using one of their products in "repeater " mode......



If you realy want to do properly you need to go CISCO. It will cost you more but they wont be discontinuing the model on you next week. You get Rock solid security, encryption in hardware, you can have multiple accesspoints with 50ms SECURE hand off between accesspoints. (you must have this if they are going to using wireless IP telephones) You can make the entire systems invisible (ie not visable antennas) Alerts when people are hacking. Power over ethernet to power the Accesspoints.

The most important thing is to do a site survey. This way you will know 100% coverage and black spots.

Avoid repeaters they half the bandwidth and double the latancy. Cable if you can


Charles

[Forumadmin]

If you realy want to do properly you need to go CISCO

Hi Charlie,
I'd agree, but you forgot to mention the price!. This is a house not a commercial enterprise. I agree with the other comments however but I do believe the word "overkill" has a place in the this particular recommendation.

Cheers

[coppo1]

Yep, the money thing does talk....

Cisco do have a home division though LINKSYS, whats the thoughts on them, reasonable price from what i have seen.

i used their products before as my ISP internode recommends their wireless
gear.

[Forumadmin]

I've never had much to do with Linksys gear. Some hate it others swear by it. Dunno either way.

I do know that CISCO == RTFM.

[rhamer]

I bought Cisco for my house and believe me I aint rich!

But I wanted to do it once and once only.

Cisco == upgradable radio modules
Cisco == upgradable Firmware
Cisco == lifetime warranty
and I agree,
Cisco == RTFM a few times, then search the net for "what the hell does that mean".

But When you buy Cisco you get it from a certified company and they should help you configure it.

Thats why;

Cisco also == $$$

Regards

Rohan

[Forumadmin]

Yep I'll go along with all that. They are industry leaders in most of the comms field. I configured a router once on a large setup. Well the manual was like a weeks reading and that was the index.!

They have so much configuation available the minds boggles.

I just don't see the need in a non commercial enviroment for the expenditure.

Cheers

[charlie crackle]

Cisco definatly means RTFM unless you are a "Cisco Certified Wireless Professional" (like me ! :) But to get here I have read alot of manuals

Cisco own linksys but that does not mean you get the cisco Quality or Support.

Basically you get the "netgear" / "Dlink" support model and quality. IE normal operation if you have to reboot the access point every couple of weeks.

Linksys are good but there support for "Ausie specials" like "big pond heart beat" are now there but a bit flaky.

If you have a cisco and a support contract ($200 per year) and you find a problem you will have a new software firmware fix in 24 hours. Try getting that out of dlink. You pay for the privilige though.

But saying that I have hand customers that have paid me 5 times what a dlink/netgear costs to get them JUST working. With the money they spent they could have bought a CISCO.

The main reason I sell cisco is that I get no call backs. Once is works it just keeps working.

Charles