atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums VOIP Phones & IP PBX Networking Wireless access points

I've been offered service and installation for wireless access points and appear to need software and i guess a wireless card in my Dell laptop.

Could someone provide me with what I need in software and hardware.

Also is there generics that work on any brand ?

One person suggested Net stumbler for 0 cost soft ware. :shrug:

Ken, are you going to be doing site surveys? If so, Net Stumbler should work, but there are some MUCH better programs although not free.

If site surveys are what you're after I know someone who has a business that does nothing but site surveys. If I need to arrange an introduction shoot me a PM and I'll try to get you a Q&A phone call. I know he is so proficient with the software he uses, that the company that makes the software actually uses him as a trainer.

Mac
Actually its installs and service.
Their question to me was install the cables,unit and test or service existing.

Thank you for the intro offer .

Most any 802.11g wireless card should work fine, you can use either XP's built-in wireless utility or the utility that came with your card to connect to the network and Netstumbler for general survey/signal strength.

Most access points I've seen use either a web browser or telnet to configure. Brush up on wireless terminology and security if they want you to configure the units.

Before you plunge off into this I would check to see what exactly they need. If it's just simple wireless install such as in a hotel or other public area then you should not have any trouble. Most of your basic access points such as Dlink and Linksys will plug right and if DHCP is running grab an address and away you go. You should be able to find any documentation you need online if none is provided by the client. As Junkman said most of the access points out there have some sort of web interface that you can program them with. If the customer wants something more complex implemented then you need to be familiar with wireless network implementation as well as local area networking. There should be no quesswork involved because if you are installing and configuring access points in a company's network then you are opening their network up for attack and the proper steps need to be taken to secure the network.

It's funny that this subject is running because I was just getting ready to post something similar. I have a LAN at home that is 95% wired with about 12 devices on it now. We just got a wireless Vodavi IP phone, so I changed the router out to a wired/wireless D-Link in the office on the second floor. Everything works great except there are a few weak signal spots, mainly outside the house.

Since I had a spare wired network drop on the main level, I figured I would just run to Best Buy and grab an off-the shelf wired access point to extend the signal. I had to get Linsys since they didn't have a D-link one. They assured me it would be fine. It looks like it worked, but is it really that simple? The router has three devices connected directly to it, then a tie cable goes to the basement where a 16-port unmanaged switch is installed. All other devices, including the new access point are connected behind this switch.

I haven't been able to test the coverage because it's pouring outside. Is it OK for these things to overlap each other's coverage? Is the signal handed off between them while moving around, like cell phones?

Yes, it can be that simple. Your network now is exposed to the public though. You definitely need to implement the security features of that router. Overlapping coverage is OK and recommended however access points do not hadn off their user like a cell tower does. You can however setup your laptop so that it will automatically connect to your access points without any input from you. So that if you are in your basement and decide to go upstairs the laptop will automatically connect to the preferred wireless network. Your basic home and public installations are fairly straightforward and simple but in a business environment there are a lot more variables such as scalability and security to consider. Security in my opinion being the most important aspect.

You'd be better off with a single wireless device (router or access point) and put a high-gain antenna on it. I'd put it near the ceiling on the first floor.

If the IP phone doesn't have settings for wireless security like WEP, set the access point for MAC address security where only specific devices can access the wireless.

I just installed some of these in a hotel
there output is 400mw compared to the otc dlink,linksys,cisco etc. which put out 50mw
b/g since most older motels with doors to the outside are just concrete boxes make deployment
of wireless a pain in the ass plus all the other
things that cause interferance. 2.4 gig cordless
phone use the entire band.With this high output
the need for more ap,s is reduced ,also i have learned that if you have a hotel with a service
breezeway that runs down the middle ,find out where the mirrors are i placed a ap that had a mirror on both sides were the ap was placed. The signal from the ap was reduced 75% in the rooms.

https://www.engeniustech.com/datacom/products/details.aspx?id=170

Those "concrete box" motels with doors to the outside are good candidates for "leaky coax" running straight down the awning.