[KLUG Members] WAPs that don't suck

[Adam Tauno Williams]

>>> What are you using for a firewall?
>>> I'd recomend a Cisco or HP WAP.
>>> Configure the Firewall to bootpforward to the DHCP Server of your choice
>>> or make it the DHCP server for the wireless segment.
>> I've got a LINUX firewall standing by, and it is running DHCP relay.  But
>> the
>> retardness of the WAP squelched the project.
>>> I've had too many of the Linksys/D-Link/Netgear WAPs die just past their
>>> warranty.
>>> Cisco/HP are more expensive but you get what you pay for.
>> Yep.  Any particular Cisco models?
> I haven't used Cisco in a while but I'd look at the 1230 ag unless you
> need oursite access then the 1300.

The purchasing dept got a couple of Cisco Aironet 1100 series with G
transievers.  They cost about ~$400 a pop.  Now that I've finally had a chance
to measure the signal and coverage I have to say I'm very very 
impressed. We've got a D-Link 614 and a Linksys WRT54 here to compare 
to, and in this old
industrial building the Cisco APs have *EASILY* twice the range of either of
the 'consumer grade' APs.  And even when the carrier drops down to 1Mbps the
signal is still rock solid,  I can maintain a constantly scrolling telnet
session.  With either of the other two, even when weak signal was 
detected, you
can't really get any data through.  And as far as the web UI and 
configurability
go the Cisco AP has an order of magnitude more parameters as well as 
diagnostic
information.  I'd say the $350 price difference is easily justified.