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Setting Up a Wireless Network for a Fraternity

Tags:
  • LAN
  • Ethernet Switch
  • Routers
  • WiFi
  • Wireless
  • Ethernet Card
  • Wireless Network
Last response: in Wireless Networking
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October 8, 2014 12:56:28 PM

Here is what we want: A single network run throughout our house with the same name similar to what our University does. Basically, we want our members to be able to connect throughout the whole house without having to switch to different networks.

Here is what we have right now: A central switchboard that runs ethernet ports to each room and our library. We have about 18 rooms total and 3 ethernet ports in the hallways that we have routers connected to.

We have a central switch board in our basement which must run lines up to the different rooms. We have three wireless routers in the dorm part of the house (basement, 1st floor, 2nd floor). They all have different names with the same password. We also have a router in the library which never works.

What is the best way to network the house? We have people in rooms who just use their own routers and people always have connection issues with the house owned routers.

There has to be some solution...

More about : setting wireless network fraternity

a b X LAN
a c 211 F Wireless
October 8, 2014 2:29:47 PM

If you want a single network you must use only one router for DHCP that will assign all dynamic network addresses. Then you should use the other two routers set in AP mode to provide wireless in addition to the main router wireless in the basement.

Your network is probably poorly configured and overloaded with no control over assignment of connections.

You will need to "assign" users to the different access points as each will only handle 8-12 wireless connections before failing -- consumer routers and access points have very limited radio capability. You can add a few more radio access points by adding more APs that use 5GHz (instead of just 2.4GHz) or get all dual band routers for the main and AP units so that each can do both 2.4 and 5GHz N.

Guys that want to use their own router are a problem. They can do it and create their own subnet, but they will be a likely source of interference for the rest of the network if they are not assigned specific frequencies (most likely in the 5GHz band) and nobody can use channel bonding 2.4GHz, since it will use up over 3/4 of the available bandwidth.

A few basic rules. The 2.4GHz units should be set to channels 1, 6, and 11 (the no-overlapping channels) and nobody else can use those in the house. I would not allow anyone to have a personal router or AP, only a switch. If you must allow them, then make them all use 5GHz only and that is easy to monitor. You must also not allow use of torrents or high definition video over wireless as that will use up too much bandwidth. No support for old legacy stuff -- that means all radios must be set for N only (no G) and you must use WPA2/AES security so that you maximize your wireless (allowing G or using older security limits a radio to only 54Mbps maximum and in reality about half that).
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