Help with wireless solution for a building

[tung]

Hello everyone, we would like to setup a wireless for a building with 5 floors to have to have wireless. The buildings are about 100ft height and 60 wise. We would like a laptop to be able to access the network even when we are outside the building. I don't know where to start from; can someone guide me through this? Thanks

[scottmac]

How far away from the building will you be when you are "outside the building?" (are we talking immediate area, or kilometers/miles away?)

You are looking for wireless on five floors and outside, right?

Is there an elevator core in the middle? Are the walls permanent (like brick & morter) or temporary (like sheetrock on metal studs)?

GENERALLY SPEAKING - A single AP could conceivably cover a floor at 60 X 60 square, and the separation of floors would allow you to rotate through the preferred channels. As for the external access, if it's for the immediate area, a single AP feeding antennas on the roof (at the building's diagonal corners) could handle it.

The only way to really answer your question would be a good site survey. Without a survey, it's all off-the-cuff speculation. There are many complications depending on the actual layout of the structure, security, building materials, etc.

Good Luck

Scott

[francisco.custodio]

Hi!

Like was said on the previous post, a good site survey must be done in order to avoid problems. A site survey is one of the initial steps before starting the network design.

The number of AP's in each floor, will depend on the material the walls are made. The corridors between each room and the materials in each room. For example, here in Portugal the walls aren't very wireless friendly.

You should also check for cordless phones and microwave ovens, they use 2.4Ghz (same freq. wifi uses) and will cause interference on the network.

So...run your site survey..and take your own conclusions, then start your design process.

If you need help on how to conduct your site survey, we're here! ;)

Francisco.