ej - 21 September 2009 08:53 AM

We are deploying the Ruckus WAPs with Zone Director 1000 controllers in our integrated system installations.  As mentioned the controller makes it possible for wireless panels like 8x to roam throughout the home with no signal drops or other annoying connectivity issues.  This is a bulletproof solution that goes in and is forgotten about as it just works.  Guest WIFI network is an added benefit.

In smaller systems we are using the Ruckus WAPs standalone.  They still report in to the remote server for remote management and WAN tracking and their range cannot be beat.

All Ruckus equipment is supplied by Access Networks who is an enterprise grade network provider to home integrators.  Good margins, pre-programmed drop in Cisco and Ruckus networking gear that can’t be beat.  Multiple VLan configurations and many other advanced configs are possible and done everyday by these guys.

Good luck.

Thanks EJ!

http://www.accessca.com

We use Onq for most customers, but now that budgets are tight these days people are looking for $ to save.

The Onq models are overpriced since they are really only a POE with an off the shelf ASUS AP with some plastic.

For customers who want to save $ I really like the new D-Link AP’s they are 4 port switches as well.

I still always get pissed at the cost of these things though.. $100 bucks? Why..

if a router is only $49, why not just use the same hardware and change the firmware to add an AP mode. Some MF’s have it most don’t however.

Very frustrating.

For those of you who don’t know check out what seavsoft is doing (Sp may be off).

At my old office we used a basic linksys wrt54g and a 9db antenna, with a firmware upgrade you can turn up the radio 150%, we had 1/2 mile range. Some of my employees that lived by stayed on the office network for free

-ADS-

Before I would have said it depend on the size of the job and the type of wireless clients.  Then I found Ruckus a little over a year ago and that simplified the range of what I need to worry about.  All the devices I need coverage for play nice with it and even in a smaller home (4,500 sq ft range) I can get solid coverage.  At this point if I’m doing a smaller project I’ll use just one, but if it’s a large project the ability to put in a controller to manage them saves me a lot of time and hassle. 

Mark

doc:

You can find anything cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Reliability: We have Cisco 350 access points we took out from client’s houses after nine (!) years of operation that are still working. They are so reliable we ended up donating them and they are still working at a comunity center today.

Technology: Ruckus Wireless is the only company using BeamFlex (Dynamic Beamforming) technology. This stuff works and cannot be found anywhere else. Even Cisco is lagging behind and only applied “static beamforming” technology to their new 802.11n access points. Yes, the product is not cheap, but it is solid and outperforms any wireless product in the market. Combine that with the controllers, SmartMesh and some remote access software (which allows you to manage any system down to a house with a single AP) and you have a winning solution.

As far as your WRT54G antenna example and people surfing for free on work wlan: I have never seen such a range unless you use the Cisco 1500-series metro ap, or the new Ruckus 7762 outdoor AP, and even if you were able to do it – It’s a very bad practice (and just plain irresponsible) to allow anyone to connect to the office WIFI from outside the office.

I know you are going to post a reply saying “my WRT works for 10 years already” – so here: I use my house as a lab (I’m sure we all do). My AV closet is ventilated, and still its about 100 degrees in there at all times. I keep my small network in there as well.

What failed within a year: dlink di-604, Linksys WRT54G, Vonage router, Linksys SD2008 switch, Belkin N router (the original N router that came out).

What never failed: Cisco PIX501, Cisco ASA5505, Cisco 1100- series 802.11g AP, Ruckus 2942 remotely managed access point, my AV equipment

@ Rookie & docauto

I’ve installed a fair amount of WIFI gear in hotels and homes.  Usually there is no comparison between enterprise grade equipment and consumer level gear.  Like pretty much any other technological category.

However for the past couple of years I’ve been using DD-WRT an awful lot on off the shelf Linksys stuff.  the price/performance ratio can’t be beat.

Also had good luck with Bountiful WIFI BWRG1000.

Unfortunately in a new install if you have to budget out the WIFI it means that you are probably already making compromising on the really important hardware.

Like most of the users here, i’m using onq and so far, i don’t have any problems with it.

Regards,
Leester
Simulation pret immobilier

David_Haddad - 11 August 2009 05:13 PM

We are in substantial agreement.  I believe your post I quoted was (unintentionally) slightly misleading as it made it sound as though it was an issue specific to Pakedge.  It applies to all WAP’s, OnQ, D-Link, Linksys, Netgear etc.  Only high end systems such as Cisco, Ruckus etc. offer the types of features you are mentioning.  We should also clarify for readers that just because some channel conflict might exist does not mean the end of the world.  Depending on needs/budget more than 3 access points without a central controller may work fine.  In such an instance the channels chosen for each WAP should be based on the channel of adjacent WAP’s.

not a bad idea ...

I love how this “NetworkEngineer” asks a question related to his product so he can freely advertise his products and services.. Maybe Access Networks should actually pay for advertising like everyone else!

Poor Form!

Keep in mind that the three non-overlapping channel limitation is for the 2.4 GHz range.  If you use 5.x GHz, you have more available.  That is where 802.11a and dual band n have a lot to offer in that space.  Of course, your devices within the home all need to support 5 GHz or they will not connect.

Regards,

  =D-

Derek R. Flickinger
Interactive Homes, Inc.

Netgear and an expander for small jobs. Meraki Pro for large internet access jobs. Meraki Enterprise for large network and internet access jobs. All access points are cloud managed and because it is a MESH network, you can just keep expanding it as large as required. You could use it for an entire estate, a village or a city…that is the capability of the product.