Wireless solutions for primary schools?

[localzuk]

I have a current quote for 15k for 30 APs(120s) and if you wait a couple of weeks I can tell you how it works out!

Have you tried speaking to someone about Ruckus?

[LazyD]

Thanks sparker, that would be brilliant if you can let me know how it goes.

[sparker]

No Problemo. I looked at Meru, Netgear, Ruckus etc but selected Aerohive as I like the controller less architecture. Our cabling is pretty poor and during the rebuild I need the wifi to add some redundancy. Hopefully we shall be ordering this week so Ill keep you posted. I spoke with a secondary school in Abingdon who have had Aerohive for two years and they love it so fingers crossed it wont look like christmas dinner.

[SkreeM1980]

The areohive kit is fantastic, i deployed about 50 ap's throughout our college last year. Really easy to manage, i have the cloud based management platform, which works really well and is relliable. Having been on the official training course there are so many benefits to the controller less architecture, particularly the performance. also with automatic meshing it can be quite cost effective to install without having to cable to each AP location. you could also put a few AP's to provide the mesh than attach 2 AP's to the laptop trolley to provide sufficient connectivity to the classroom which may save money.

The ruckus stuff is also good though, we trialled it alongside the aerohive and it was a very close run thing as to which we chose. a managed wireless solution is essential if you are ever going to expand beyond a very small number of clients or networks as having to make configuration changes on even 12 seperate AP's is a pain in the rear end. e.g. a PSK change or changing the IP of a gateway.

Skr

[rbance]

Hi all,

Just a bunch of points....

Have a look at Xirrus. Get them to do a wireless survey of all locations.
Look at Wireless n only.

I have seen one Xirrus device handle 220 devices all streaming video...now that is extreme load, but you get the idea.
I have them currently in two buildings handling 70 devices each, and am planning another 6.

A school near me went from 175 HP WAPs to something like 30 Xirrus devices from memory....a lot of schools here in Canberra are going Xirrus in a big way...

I have Xirrus in front of Aruba by a bit after doing a comparison...
From memory, the Aruba and HP solutions use the same technology inside...

Netgear will not cut it. A cheap solution will no doubt help with up-front costs...but the cost to manage all the problems will hurt you....


Having a WAP on a Trolley is problematic from the point that if you have multiple trolleys, this means multiple WAPs...and then you can get cross channel issues, unless of course you invest in WAP controllers that can use cell based technologies....then of course you need a teacher who is capable of plugging it into the right port in the room.....it is also nice to have it plug into a specific VLAN for WAP only.....

[Dos_Box]

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[BHMS]

My 500 pupil primary was until recently using 7 Apple airport extremes. Normally I say Apple stuff is overpriced but these are good enough quality to cover a school and only ~£110-115 each. They are can be managed centrally with the airport utility which is great for the price bracket they are in. The only major limitation you will come across is the 50 client limit per AP. I've just installed a couple of Ruckus APs in the high density areas to get around this problem and improve connection quality in the one place where it wasn't great (School opposite stole too many channels for us to cover without interference).

I have a few cheap spares for sale if you are interested. 2 still boxed and 4 others used. Old gen single band ones only, think the new ones are dual band.

[rbance]

@Halkin..... I think that any solution you look at needs a site survey that the vendor will back up...I know that Xirrus claim this (so far no problems with the implementation), not so sure others really do this (no experience).

Just noticed his post was removed???? hmmm....

[spadam]

and if you wait a couple of weeks I can tell you how it works out!

So... how's it working out for you then?

[Dos_Box]

You have seen the date on the last post, haven't you?

[sparker]

So... how's it working out for you then?

Actually they are fine, just had a few problems with power supplies but the units them selves seem flawless and I have had good support from AIT (reading)

[plexer]

HP do a single gang mountable poe powered wap with built in 4 port switch.

Ben