atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums VOIP Phones & IP PBX Networking PCs per Access Point

How many PCs can an access point support.

I have a customer that has a wired network but wants to have wireless for up to 10-12 laptops which want to be un-tethered. it's a 5000 sq ft office so we can only add maybe 2 APs. I plan to use EnGenius Access Points that are 600mw, 54mb/G. They'll use it for basic browsing, email and so forth.

Also is WEP unsecure/worthless and should I go for more secure wireless/WPA?

One of these would work

WPA is much better and easier than WEP, however if you have some older laptops with older wireless nics, they may not support WPA. Anything within the last 4 years should support WPA.

10-12 users is not much and almost any AP these days shouldn’t have a problem. However i would look for an AP that allows roaming between the two, if you do decide to setup more than one.

Depends on how much data and connections each PC is pushing out/in and also what type of environment the wireless APs are installed. One AP could easily handle 10 clients if all they do is basic web browsing.

As for AP placement, thick concrete walls and metal severely affect WiFi signals, as does other devices that use the 2.4Ghz range, such as cordless phones that are 2.4Ghz. You'll need to play with the placement of the APs until you have sufficient coverage. There is no 100% rule to WiFi. You just have to get the gear, install it, and see if it works well. Also, sometimes it isn't always the best idea to get the most powerful radio on an AP, as it will be able to pick up more sources of noise and interference. Most APs, however, have ways of turning down the power. So I would recommend doing that after you figure out the best placement. Generally, the higher the AP is placed, the better coverage is horizontally.

I would highly recommend WPA (actually WPA2 would better) as all data between the client and the AP would be encrypted. WPA can now be cracked in less than a minute by a determined person. WPA2, as far as I know, has not been cracked.. yet. Most WiFi client hardware has WPA2 support if it was made in the last few years. If not, check the manufacturer and see if a firmware/driver update will get the WPA2 support. If not, I'd highly recommend upgrading to newer WiFi cards that support WPA2.

You never know if someone would sit outside the client's office, crack the key, and either leech their bandwidth or steal data/logins/etc. Why take the risk. One note though, when you do enable encryption, you'll take a hit to the transmission speed, but not enough that 10 or more users who do e-mail or web browsing should notice.

One further note, if you don't have power outlets near where you want to put the APs, then get APs that are PoE enabled. Then you can run a single CAT5(e) line to the AP and power it from that, with an injector at the source of the network or a PoE enabled network switch.

it's a new wood frame building and I am going POE with Cat5e cable. I am going to use the EnGenius units and I will see if I can turn the down the power. Good advice!! I will try WPA/WPA2 but I want to keep it fairly easy for the staff to get online and not make constant trips back and forth to get a laptop online.

We have many horse farms around the probably 100 Engenius units outthere, they work great.

If your worried about security just use WEP, MAC filtering and don't broadcast the SSID and you will be protected.

I have to disagree - WEP is worthless, it's gives users a false sense of security. You can start doing packet injection attacks after snooping a single packet. It is also trival to snoop which MAC addresses are allowed and the SSID even if it isn't broadcast.

WPA2-PSK is the preferable choice, WPA-PSK only if you have network adapters that don't support WPA2. Pick a long key, at least 30-40 characters.

My personal credo, if you're really that worried about security, don't go wireless.

I wouldn't use wireless unless it's WPA2, then it's fine... for now.

WEP almost the same as unsecured and turning off the broadcast does not hide you from anyone that's looking to crack a wireless connection.

that's probably the best advice so far.