Wi-Fi(ing) Department Premises

S

spawnfreak

Discoverer
Hey guys, I'm a law student and We want to Wi-Fi our deptt. premises.
Around 100 people would access the wi-fi network (morning and evening batches) and atleast 40 would do simultaneously at a time.

So, I need help from you guys regarding selection of BEST device, installing high gain antenna on it (if need arises to WInable the whole campus), how to restrict access to the network.

Access Restriction Method:

Dont wanna use the WEP & WPA Method
Want to use the MAC address registration in router method (If any such method exists)

Please Guide
 
If you want to restrict usage by MAC address filtering, you will need to have an admin present at all times who knows how to configure the router. Otherwise if someone brings a new laptop or a new wi-fi device and wants to surf on it, he will get no access.

Why dont you consider using WPA2?

Is your institute installing the routers?
Then ask your head of IT department to contact wireless device providers like CISCO. The company may help suggest which are the best routers suitable for the use in your campus and they may also point out the strategic locations where the routers should be placed to get best coverage. Of course view will recommend the routers of their own only.
 
You will be better off getting some professional help since you want to allow access to a lot of people and over a wide area. There will be many things that will have to be considered and it is better if you get some firm or a consultant to help you along with the planning (including budget). Also make sure that you get the quotations from 2-3 guys/companies and then bargain hard to get a good deal. That way, none of you will have to worry if there are network issues (and trust me, there will be loads). Simply make a phone call and all is well :D
 
hotshot05 said:
If you want to restrict usage by MAC address filtering, you will need to have an admin present at all times who knows how to configure the router. Otherwise if someone brings a new laptop or a new wi-fi device and wants to surf on it, he will get no access.

Why dont you consider using WPA2?

Is your institute installing the routers?
Then ask your head of IT department to contact wireless device providers like CISCO. The company may help suggest which are the best routers suitable for the use in your campus and they may also point out the strategic locations where the routers should be placed to get best coverage. Of course view will recommend the routers of their own only.
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Actually, As its a law deptt., people have a very less tech knowledge regarding this wifi stuff. No IT deptt. n head.
I have to manage all the stuff as the deptt. is not installing it, we, the students after contributing the money have to buy the router.
 
you should go for Latest N Series routers, which have more speed. perhaps get a dual band router.

anyways, you should start here, lot of helpful resources:

Learning Center

Don't forget to read the Network Basics and Network Security articles.
 
First of all You should have scale map of the network and a rough idea of how many people will be using it with max. load.

If people are just browsing the web (unlikely) then when you consider 802.11g has a max throughput of 27mbps divided by 50 clients is roughly 500kbps each and adequate to browse. but streaming video will choke up the AP's bandwidth leave alone WAN speed. :D

WPA encryption eats about 10-15% additional loss in throughput (handshaking, encryption, timeslicing).

for the devices. get Sonicwall APs' or Businees class linksys router.
 
You could also employ a proxy server for authetication.

Every user will have to enter a username and password to browse the net
 
Cisco/ Linksys is your best option as you will need proper support.

WPA2 is a must as there will be a lot of data moving across and you do not want to let anyone else tap into it.

MAC binding can be bypassed very easily by MAC spoofing.
 
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