802.11a WAP connections.

[mrwobbly]

What is a realistic number of laptops to connect to an 802.11a wireless access point?

Each class has a POE D-Link DWA-3500 AP on spaced out g channels. These were put in to sort out the connection problems the school had with the trolley of fifteen laptops which has since worked well.

Now without consulting me they have gone out and bought 30 new laptops and sapped the entire budget. The laptop wireless cards are a, b and g. I seem to remember reading that 802.11a would support many more connected clients but can’t find anything now to confirm that. I don’t think they are going to get more than 15 connected and a managed system is now out of the question.

[krishanm]

802.11a works in the same way as 802.11g which using a OFDM algorithm. and therefore .11a does really support more devices.

However 802.11a uses the 5Ghz band, which is alot less congested than 2.4 Ghz 802.11bg as the 2.4Ghz spectrum is used by cordless phones alarm systems, wireless cameras etc. Therefore 802.11a can work more efficently.

However if you have dual band APs and clients you can load balance a classroom full of kids between the two radio.

Krish