What wifi router for small/medium business

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › What wifi router for small/medium business

lomenak

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#146699 26-May-2014 16:23

Do you guys have a suggestion for a good wifi router for a an open space office with 25-30 people?

sbiddle

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#1053690 26-May-2014 16:27

Number of people isn't a good measure.

How many devices?

chevrolux

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#1053757 26-May-2014 17:02

I would say put up a couple of access points. 30 people could easily have 60 devices.

As for make/model, the Ubiquiti Unifi range is awesome. I would personally say the Pro model but you may want to spring for the AC model if budget allows

jarledb

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#1053773 26-May-2014 17:13

The AP I have had the best results with has been the ones from Cisco (Not Linksys, but Ciscos own branded routers). They have been the most stable APs I have ever had to deal with. The models I have used has not been the most userfriendly in setup, but when they are setup they just work.

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sbiddle

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#1053808 26-May-2014 18:16

jarledb: The AP I have had the best results with has been the ones from Cisco (Not Linksys, but Ciscos own branded routers). They have been the most stable APs I have ever had to deal with. The models I have used has not been the most userfriendly in setup, but when they are setup they just work.

There is no way in the world you'd run an office with this number of people from a single wireless router. It's a situation where you would deploy two, or possibly one depending on the number of devices and throughput requirements individual access points.

lomenak

119 posts

Master Geek

#1053893 26-May-2014 20:20

sbiddle: Number of people isn't a good measure.

How many devices?

The number pf devices is but more difficult to determine. They are all on laptops on docks on lan but move around the place a lot so they are on the wifi on and off. Some of them have their phones on wifi too (maybe 10). I would say if everyone is off their dock there could be around 40 devices.

nitrotech

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#1053904 26-May-2014 20:36

I'd be asking a few questions before suggesting anything.

Some questions would be.

What type of internet connection do you have?

Are you looking for a router or access point(s) or both?

If you're replacing the router is there anything to consider? Eg. Customisations, IPSEC, Static IP

Are you moving lots of data?

What are your policies around BYOD and do you want the router and AP's to implement these?

Do you need a guest network SSID?

Have you run a site survey to see what interference is about?

Do you have an IT provider and have you consulted them or asked them for a quote?

Inphinity

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#1053913 26-May-2014 20:47

I would go with 2 or 3 UniFi LR APs, depending on the size of the area.

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jarledb

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#1053973 26-May-2014 22:28

sbiddle: There is no way in the world you'd run an office with this number of people from a single wireless router. It's a situation where you would deploy two, or possibly one depending on the number of devices and throughput requirements individual access points.

Where did I say anything about only using one?

sbiddle

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#1054043 27-May-2014 07:17

jarledb:
sbiddle: There is no way in the world you'd run an office with this number of people from a single wireless router. It's a situation where you would deploy two, or possibly one depending on the number of devices and throughput requirements individual access points.

Where did I say anything about only using one?

No - but you did make reference to a router where in this case the OP is actually after access points.

As for my recommendation, if you're only after a basic setup then a couple of Unifi's APs are the most cost effective option.

If you have a BYOD environment and/or want granular control over users then I would recommend a couple of Aerohive APs.

lomenak

119 posts

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#1054050 27-May-2014 08:07

Thanks all for the suggestion, I think I will go for the Unifi's APs.

michaelmurfy

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#1054069 27-May-2014 08:30

lomenak: Thanks all for the suggestion, I think I will go for the Unifi's APs.

If you want some help with getting things set up let me know, I've done MANY UniFi installs over the country but we can scope out and do a free audit to see what the requirements are.

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Glassboy

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#1054120 27-May-2014 09:33

lomenak: Do you guys have a suggestion for a good wifi router for a an open space office with 25-30 people?

Hi there, no one actually commented about the router. You need to consider the APs after you consider the network core, and you understand whether they can be power over ethernet or you need to get power to where you want to mount an AP.

One thing to have a look at is this http://www.gowifi.co.nz/clearance-sale-items/mikrotik-rb2011uas-2hnd-in-802.11n-wireless-router-with-sfp-port.html . At the price it's a good way of dipping you toe in the water.

bisr

227 posts

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#1054261 27-May-2014 12:28

Inphinity: I would go with 2 or 3 UniFi LR APs, depending on the size of the area.

I'm no network engineer but that is what I do in our small office and it works flawlessly. They are extremely easy to configure. I personally would rather have 3 x standard UniFi APs in a smallish area rather than only 1 LR for example, and having 5 bars wifi in every single possible office environment is, I believe, "how things should be".

Get a rock-solid LAN-only router, and have APs broadcast the WiFi.