Public WiFi Network Setup

[kmusco]

I have a $4000 grant to create a wireless network for an open public area. The network needs to sustain several hundred users at a time. We have a 5MBPS internet connection but need help on what to purchase.

 

[bill001g]

You are better spending money on the internet connection. Does no good to put in a system that a single user can use all your internet bandwidth. 5m is nothing. 1 user watch a hidef movie from netflix needs 6m. 2-3 users just loading normal web pages will likely wipe out 5m.

You need a group of managed AP. Ubiquiti gives away their management software and their AP are fairly reasonable. It does not do everything a commerical system like cisco does but you would blow your budget just buying the controller and not even have a AP.

Still you really need to think about how to increase the internet before you proceed. In the 100mbs range would likely be a more reasonable value and you likely would have to limit certain type of access if you start to really get 100 users.