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

[Beddingfield, Allen]

It is.  Old habit in just typing CAT5 :D

--
Allen Beddingfield
Systems Engineer
Office of Information Technology
The University of Alabama
Office 205-348-2251
allen at ua.edu

On 9/14/17, 7:54 AM, "ale-bounces at ale.org on behalf of DJ-Pfulio" <ale-bounces at ale.org on behalf of DJPfulio at jdpfu.com> wrote:

    It really needs to be CAT5e, not CAT5.  REALLY, REALLY, REALLY.
    
    
    On 09/14/2017 12:10 AM, Beddingfield, Allen wrote:
    > 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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    >>> See JOBS, ANNOUNCE and SCHOOLS lists at
    >>> http://mail.ale.org/mailman/listinfo
    >>
    > 
    
    
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