[kool]

Hi guys,

I though I've read something here, but I could not find the thread from the search.

I've been tasked to help setup the home network for someone who is moving into a 3 storey terence house.

There is no plan to put in cat6 cables as the house is already furnished and no major work is planned.

The requirements is as follows:
1. Internet will probably be SingTel ADSL
2. 2 PC on second floor for kids.
3. mum and dad to use wireless at living room on ground floor. May use wireless on 3rd floor but probably rare.
4. All floors have phone line.


I'm thinking the simplest way is
phone line -> Mio Box - > good range wireless router

1. Mio box will run two lan cables to the two PC. 1 to the wireless router.
2. All services handled by Mio box (DHCP, firewall, etc). Only wireless encryption handled by the wireless router.
3. Place the wireless router near/at stair well for signal to both ground floor and second floor (also covers 3rd floor). (Or is it better to be near the second floor window?)

Comments?

I'm now looking for a wireless router with good range for them. Any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

[tensor]

hmmz how about using an AP with Beamforming?
This should help.
Indoor Dual-Band 802.11n AP (ZoneFlex 7962) | Ruckus Wireless

alternatively try Aironet 1140
it has beamformer feature.

[kool]

Looks very expensive leh. I'm thinking of run-of-the-mill wireless router is good enough.

[DragonFire]

You need one router, a switch and 3 access points. 1 radio for 3 floors is NOT going to cut it.

You may want to consider homeplug wireless APs if the house is on single phase power

If you can live with multiple blind spots, and absolutely cannot have more than 1 AP installed, you will want to place the router in a clear open area somewhere in the middle of the house, probably the family area on the 2nd floor.

DF

[sirchua]

Wireless sucks even for single floor with multi user.
Would advise you to seriously consider homeplug.
Best of course is still wired connection.

[John_Chee]

I would suggest homeplug or use repeaters. So some cabling between the floors is needed.

Because wireless router just won't do even if you are on Wireless N because many people living in homes with just one floor encounter blind spots here and there already.

One thing you should ask the person is if anyone play internet games. Xbox, computer laptop etc. Because I always tell people to hook up gaming rigs via LAN cable because if the wireless technology fails on them during their game, it won't be long before they start pulling LAN cables from the AP to their com.

[liangtam]

Placement of router is very important if you do not want blind spot.
In terms of throughput, there is a high chance wireless n will outperform powerline most of the time as well.

And of course, 1 AP will definitely do for single but NOT multi-storey! Best is 1 for each floor like mentioned

[kool]

Hmm, they don't play games, only light surfing.

Any wireless N AP/router to recommend?

[PsyNidE]

Looks like you will need a router + an AP/repeater for this else the signal will be very weak by the time it reaches the 3rd floor. May I suggest the location of the AP/repeater to be mounted somewhere on the staircase area between 2nd and 3rd floor? Then the router is placed near level 1

[tensor]

using a repeater has its problems...
1. throughput reduced
2. Use dynamically assigned and rotated encryption keys may present problems.