Wireless Solutions, Which Is Best For A Large Primary School?

[themightymrp]

We regularly get between 27 and 35 clients on the Unifi AP's (thanks to BYOD) and they don't bat an eyelid. I think the 15 client limit was more when WiFi cards were 802.11g - once we got n standard in the laptops number shot up.

 

Management is simple, if you want to add a new AP, just plug it in! All we do additionally is manually set the channel number.

[synaesthesia]

Ditto, regularly get 30 per AP without any issues whatsoever. One of my primaries is really pushing towards 1:1 and they;re already half way there. 12 Unifi Standard AP's and again they don't bat an eyelid. Performance is outstanding.

 

Yes, they are different systems to Ruckus, yes they are psuedo-managed. As said though, pros and cons, swings and roundabouts. The money saved when I put that in bought them an entire IT suite.

 

That cost I gave was an initial "off the cuff" price from a reseller, bearing in mind our split site it's a more awkward setup than most.

 

I will be blunt though; for a small to mid range primary, unless there is definitely a need for something over and above standard, I would question your motives for needing to put in something more than UniFi.

Edited March 23, 2015 by synaesthesia

[ForgotMyPassword]

We're quite a small school (although secondary) so probably of equivalent size (550 students) to a large primary? We went Meru - it wasn't the cheapest but it's worked GREAT and the only issues we've had have been a bit of interference from some dodgy burglar alarm sensors!

 

In my opinion, WiFi shouldn't ever be scrimped on - that's not to say that cheaper systems wouldn't do a good job but I would look to find a company who can be your wireless 'partner' to help you make the right decision, like all mission-critical systems I find it IS worth having the extra support.

[AdamzB]

I love the so amazing, simple management comments... just after I manually configure them. #FacePalm

[jamin100]

OP check out unifi, ruckus, meru etc

 

Check out the prices, evaluate your needs and then make a decision and buy a solution

 

People are just going to argue tit for tat as to what systems best.

 

It's just another Mac vs PC

[snagrat]

Interesting to see how long Unifi will go on for. That would be my main concern over the leaders like Ruckus, Arubu and Meru. Although Meru might be the first to go...

[synaesthesia]

Interesting to see how long Unifi will go on for. That would be my main concern over the leaders like Ruckus, Arubu and Meru. Although Meru might be the first to go...

 

How so, I'm fairly sure they have a larger deployment base than Meru or Ruckus.

@AdamzB - Setting up UniFi AP's is the same as setting up anything else.

Once the controller is set up initially, additional points are literally plug and play - plug them in, that's it. The only additional configuration "required" is placing them on your map in the software.

[njc235]

How so, I'm fairly sure they have a larger deployment base than Meru or Ruckus.

@AdamzB - Setting up UniFi AP's is the same as setting up anything else.

Once the controller is set up initially, additional points are literally plug and play - plug them in, that's it. The only additional configuration "required" is placing them on your map in the software.

 

No channel re-planning? How do you handle the cross channel problems?

[themightymrp]

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the Unifi units will auto channel scan the first time they load up and assign themselves the clearest frequency. Where this falls down is after a power cut. All the units load up at the same time and assign themselves channel 1 Never managed to look into zero-handoff where this situation is supposed to work??

[synaesthesia]

As above. We haven't changed *any* channels or anything and they handle themselves just fine.