Going wireless at school

[ngardiner23]

Hi All
I'm in a primary school that is expanding - my head wants to go the wireless route. We already have 48 laptops running wirelessly although not always concurrently. They are usually ok although sometimes slow to logon when everyone is on at the same time. We are looking at adding at least another 32 over the next couple of years, but my technician is worried that our infrastructure won't support that. Neither of us is very 'techie'. Any one already working in a school that has gone/is going this route? Any advice for us?

[localzuk]

What wireless system do you have in place?

[ngardiner23]

we have apple wireless routers in the classrooms linking back to a windows based server. not too sure of technical details

[CPLTD]

Hi ngardiner23,

give me a call; will be able to talk through options for you.

Thanks,

Mark

Wi-Fi Solutions Engineer (WiSE Guy)
08452491779

[localzuk]

we have apple wireless routers in the classrooms linking back to a windows based server. not too sure of technical details

For a high density system, I would doubt that that sort of solution would be able to handle it.

I'd say start looking at replacing it with a system designed for higher density wireless use - such as a Ruckus managed system.

[BHMS]

We use some old single band apple airport extremes here. They are very good for consumer kit but have a hard 50 client cap for each access point and usually start slowing down before that.

[zag]

You need a managed system for that number of laptops really.

Something like Ruckas, Aruba or Meru.

Will cost a couple of grand but well worth it in the long run.

[qcomer]

Ruckus is the way to go! Deployed 100 access points this summer across my entire district. Works great! Havent had a single problem.

Tied this in with Microsoft's NPS server for RADIUS computer based authentication and it is really nice.

[witch]

I have Ruckus in one school and Meru in the other. Both cost about the same (more than a few grand though) and both work very well. Can log on lots of machines at once