Question

What kind of setup do I need?

Asked by: level9tech

I have a building with 2 floors an around 20,000 square feet. I am looking to provide free Wi-Fi. I also want to have content filtering, such as no torrents. I would also like some type of authentication such as what is used at Starbucks. So main things I need are:
1)How many Access Points do I need/what kind?
2)What kind of software/hardware is required for content filtering and authentication.

Thanks.

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Asked On
2009-11-04 at 09:32:58ID24871669
Tags

Access Points

Topics

802.11 Wireless Access Points

,

Wireless Network Access Points

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
6

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Answers

 

by: level9techPosted on 2009-11-04 at 11:39:26ID: 25743030

Anyone?

 

by: dkwiebePosted on 2009-11-04 at 21:00:25ID: 25746889

I would use Ubiquiti Picostation 2s.  How many you need really depends on the layout of the building but these are very powerful and sensitive devices so you will get excellent coverage.  There is a wealth of different applications you can use to control access to the wireless network.  The last hotspot we built we used Monowall as a hotspot controller.  The next one is going to be a PFSense box using a 3rd party hosted billing solution.  I'd also recommend checking out the Endian product line for hotspots.

 

by: level9techPosted on 2009-11-05 at 13:10:03ID: 25754061

How many AP would you recommend starting off with? Its a 2 level apartment complex.

 

by: dkwiebePosted on 2009-11-05 at 13:43:17ID: 25754372

I'd start off with 2 access points.  Concrete walls are bad for wireless signal so it depends on your firewalls.

 

by: level9techPosted on 2009-11-05 at 15:16:56ID: 25755170

what kind of access points would you recommend?

 

by: dkwiebePosted on 2009-11-05 at 17:05:35ID: 25755861

We've been using PicoStations by ubiquiti.  I know some people would recommend Cisco but we've had excellent results with Ubiquiti products for a fraction of the price.  The PicoStations are a nice little AP with omni antenna.  If you want to use your own antenna then you could hook it up to a NanoStation.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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