Would you buy WC7520 Netgear managed wirless?

I have a fab quote for site wide Netgear WC7520 with WNDAP360 AP's managed wirless solution to replace our ageing 3 com system, i also have a good price for a Rucus ZoneDirector 1125 system theat is basically the same spec but there is a £3000 price difference. We are only going to be using 25 AP's so this is one hell of a difference.

Has anyone used/experianced the netgaer system? i have had a trial of the Rucus system and think it is really good, i have read loads of reviews about the ruckus system and seems to get very good write ups and i have read the 'Toms Hardware' review of wireless that sugests that the ruckus system is a very high performer in the current wirless market.

What would you do? i have a budget that is as tight as a Nats a*** hole and every pound counts.

Would you take a gamble on Netgear?

All advice would be much appreciated i have to make a decision ASAP, thank you.

I would recommend Netgear 100%. I work with them very close and not only is the kit itself excellent, but the support from Netgear is one of the best!

I know @RTFM has Netgear wireless. Perhaps he could give some words of wisdom? :)

their wireless g stuff was fine but the ammount of problems ive had with their n stuff is not funny. I wouldnt touch it with a bargepole even netgear themselves seem to be stumped by the issues it causes

As above, plenty of issues with netgear kit in schools I have been too (from firewall to wireless - though to be fair if the firewall is set up properly from the start it is solid as a rock), would not go with them for anything.

@Millgate whilst you may have had good dealings, I think a large portion of people have had bad experiences with them and there wont be much to change their mind unless netgear pay us several million in untraceable bearer bonds!

We have netgear wireless in our place and don't have any issues with it. We don't have N so can't comment on that but if your on a tight budget I would give netgear a go.

Luke can organise a full site survey from netgear for free which he did for a school we are working with and been very impressed with them.

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Originally Posted by nephilim

As above, plenty of issues with netgear kit in schools I have been too (from firewall to wireless - though to be fair if the firewall is set up properly from the start it is solid as a rock), would not go with them for anything.

@Millgate whilst you may have had good dealings, I think a large portion of people have had bad experiences with them and there wont be much to change their mind unless netgear pay us several million in untraceable bearer bonds!

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I suppose you get ups and downs with every vendor but quite a few of my schools have gone to Netgear (their own choice) and loved it. Especially recently with the lifetime warranties!

But i agree, things didn't used to be as good as they are now. But based on recent experiences, i give them two thumbs up. :)

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Originally Posted by RTFM

We have netgear wireless in our place and don't have any issues with it. We don't have N so can't comment on that but if your on a tight budget I would give netgear a go.

Luke can organise a full site survey from netgear for free which he did for a school we are working with and been very impressed with them.

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the wireless g stuff weve installed has been touch wood no problem its just the n stuff pcs fail to get dhcp leases but as soon as you run a nic cabkle to them the wifi gets a lease and other wierdness

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Originally Posted by Millgate

I suppose you get ups and downs with every vendor but quite a few of my schools have gone to Netgear (their own choice) and loved it. Especially recently with the lifetime warranties!

But i agree, things didn't used to be as good as they are now. But based on recent experiences, i give them two thumbs up. :)

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as above ive found its got worse

Thanks for your divided opinion :)
Have any of you had any experiance of the Ruckus system? i am thinking it may be worth paying a bit more for the peice of mind that i am not about to invest in a sytem that could fall over, especially as it will be me they blame if it all goes wrong.

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Originally Posted by gavman

Thanks for your divided opinion :)
Have any of you had any experiance of the Ruckus system? i am thinking it may be worth paying a bit more for the peice of mind that i am not about to invest in a sytem that could fall over, especially as it will be me they blame if it all goes wrong.

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Any system can fall over at the end of the day, as long as it is configured correctly to begin with your probably going to be in with a fighting chance of it working correctly :)

I have only heard positive reports on the Ruckus gear on here, and lots of them where as Netgear reviews are divided with some rather nasty stories. Personally from my own dealings I won't be specing Netgear stuff again if I have any other option, by that I mean that we would have to be out of everything including paper cups and string.

We still have a business grade Dual band 11n AP that won't allow centain Toshiba laptops to connect under N thanks to the Atheros chipset. Thats after 1.5 years of firmware upgrades, and tweaking.

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Originally Posted by gavman

Thanks for your divided opinion :)
Have any of you had any experiance of the Ruckus system? i am thinking it may be worth paying a bit more for the peice of mind that i am not about to invest in a sytem that could fall over, especially as it will be me they blame if it all goes wrong.

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Ruckus is amazing kit, it's takes a little bit to get set up just due to the fexibility you have with it but once that's done it really is an install and forget type system.

Ruckus is absolutely cracking! Get N access points and you're laughing.

Ask @CPLTD or @MarkPower or @Aggy to have a word and get some quotes drawn up. Nothing but high praise for Net Ctrl and CPLtd for their prices and help with ruckus!

I have the WNDAP350 access points around school. I don't have the controller unit as this is something I will get on another years budget as things come round, but as the access points going (running with RADIUS server on 2008R2) they work brilliantly.

I only use B/G for the provisioning of machines, but I use the N as a mesh which has allowed me to put in access points where previously I'd of been drilling, fiddling with and poking cables through places cables just don't want to go. It does occasionally drop the connection, but it's quick to find itself again, so I think that's more to do with the location of the routers it's connecting to as opposed to the N system in access point.

Another vote for Ruckus had it in all the schools I've worked in now and its great, just bought the latest Dual Band APs for my current school and the controller from Net-Ctrl excellent pricing and support as ever from them. A search of the forums here will show you some Netgear managed Wifi Views as well as Ruckus ones and I am sure you will find the Ruckus pleasing :)

As they say you don't get owt for nowt and I have found wireless is well fitted to that :)

Take a look at the Ubiquiti Unifi stuff - its awesome and a fraction of the price of any of the others, scaleable and perfomance is on a par with Ruckus.