[ale] Ultra-cheap wireless gear - slightly [OT]

[Beddingfield, Allen]

It looks like this is going to be the route I go, at least until they 
can get funds for a better solution.  Hopefully that will occur this 
winter.  There will only be about three wireless-only printers and 10-12 
other devices.  Hopefully this will get them by for now.  I've had a 
couple of generous offers of equipment from the list (Thanks!) and a 
couple more from co-workers, and I have a switch and the CAT5.

Thanks for all the help, guys.  I will give you an update when we get it 
all hooked up.

Thanks.
Allen B.

On 9/13/17 1:07 PM, Horkan Smith wrote:
> FWIW, I've had good success w/ cheap routers (DLink, ASUS, Netgear, etc.) by either putting 'em into bridging mode (if supported), or by disabling the built-in DHCP and leaving the WAN port empty - I use one of the LAN ("inside") ports to chain to my network.  Sometimes I'll use the same SSID & password (but different channel), sometimes I'll mix it up for routing or testing reasons.
> 
> I suspect this setup will show some cracks w/ larger numbers of clients - it's rare that I've had to run more than 10 devices at once this way.  If you can get the better gear, do that.  If you can't, this'll likely work.
> 
> later!
>      horkan
> 
> On Wed, Sep 13, 2017 at 05:13:01AM +0000, Beddingfield, Allen wrote:
>> This is an impoverished shoe-string budget project.  I am helping with the IT "stuff" at a community center in a small town nearby.  They are in an OLD cement block schoolhouse.  They have a single CenturyLink 25mbs connection in an office in the center of the building (the only ISP and highest speed available).  The wireless does not penetrate those walls well, so it sucks if you get more than a couple of offices away.  The building is laid out as such that 3 access points should cover it adequately.  I'm thinking of running a single CAT5 to an unmanaged 100MB switch in the middle of the building,running the runs of CAT5 from there to the optimal places for access points, and connecting up some cheap/consumer grade access points there.  (Naming them "EAST-WIFI", "MIDDLE-WIFI", "WEST-WIFI", etc..).
>> Question:  It seems that dumb access points are harder to come by and more expensive than routers. Do any of you have an recommendations for just an access point (keep in mind, I need CHEAP), or for a router that is known to work well in access point mode?  (Keep in mind, I'm looking at sub-$30 wifi routers on NewEgg and trying to remember what was on the shelf at the thrift store at this point).
>> Any recommendations on cobbling this together on the cheap?  I need either a good access point, or a router that I can easily put in access point mode.
>> FYI, performance is not much of a concern.  The kids won't be using this, it will just be for a few staff computers. Main issue is reliability.  I am about 20miles away, and their on-site technical ability is low.
>> Alternatively, any opinions on wireless repeaters?
>> --
>> Allen Beddingfield
>> Systems Engineer
>> Office of Information Technology
>> The University of Alabama
>> Office 205-348-2251
>> allen at ua.edu
>>
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-- 
Allen Beddingfield
Systems Engineer
Office of Information Technology
The University of Alabama
Office 205-348-2251
allen at ua.edu