Wireless for shop

Yahoo Archive
1
Rob

I have 11 wireless data colletion stations in my two buildings of
the same size. I mounted two Linksys 54G WAP's in each building(about 15
feet up on poles) for redundency. The only problem I had was when someone
stole an antenna of a computer. I lock it down by MAC address.


Cliff Drumeller
IT Manager
Mass Precision Sheetmetal
408 954 0200 x 217



_____

From: Rob McFarlin [mailto:RobM@...]
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 12:59 PM
To: vantage@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Vantage] Wireless for shop


We are considering wireless pc's for some shop applications. Our only
experience with "wireless" in the shop has been limited to telephones
and range has been a problem. We have 2 50,000 sq ft buildings that are
attached. Their walls are cement block about 12' high on the bottom and
then steel the rest of the way up. We have had real problems trying to
get signals from one building to the other.

I don't want to run into the same problem with wireless pc's. I was
wondering what kind of equipment others are using, or have tried.

Is the a DIY type of thing, or is this a job for the experts?

* Rob McFarlin, CPA (Inactive)
Controller
* Accel Group, Inc.
325 Quadral Drive
Wadsworth, OH 44281
* Voice: 330-336-0317 x114
* Fax: 330-336-1224
* E-mail: RobM@... <mailto:RobM@...>


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Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
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<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.>
(2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
<http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages>
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
2
We are considering wireless pc's for some shop applications. Our only
experience with "wireless" in the shop has been limited to telephones
and range has been a problem. We have 2 50,000 sq ft buildings that are
attached. Their walls are cement block about 12' high on the bottom and
then steel the rest of the way up. We have had real problems trying to
get signals from one building to the other.

I don't want to run into the same problem with wireless pc's. I was
wondering what kind of equipment others are using, or have tried.

Is the a DIY type of thing, or is this a job for the experts?

* Rob McFarlin, CPA (Inactive)
Controller
* Accel Group, Inc.
325 Quadral Drive
Wadsworth, OH 44281
* Voice: 330-336-0317 x114
* Fax: 330-336-1224
* E-mail: RobM@... <mailto:RobM@...>
3
Put one centrally located access point in each building and you should be
fine. (assuming the interior is reasonably free of obstructions)
However, Vantage will run on the slow side, if it is just for data
collection - it's not too bad, but if you are going to be running any half
way decent reports - it might be an unacceptably long wait. Make sure to
use the 802.11g networking gear - 802.11b is just too slow for the type of
network traffic Vantage generates - especially as you add more wirelesss
nodes.

You can load the Vantage clients locally instead of the default of running
it over the network, but that makes updates a hassle.
If this type of configuration is going to become more the normal mode of
operation - then you need to consider using terminal server or remote
desktop if it is just one or two workstations.

All the other "improvements" can be added later if you need it.

Also, watch out for interference from other wireless networks and cordless
phones. Just because a wireless network is not detected by the tools in
Windows & the software with the wireless adapter - it doesn't mean they are
not there. Good security measures of disabling the SSID broadcast feature
renders the wireless network mostly invisible. The only way to tell for
sure what is running around in your air is with a spectrum analyzer

Also, the 5Ghz stuff is great because so few people use it and it has 4
times as many non-overlapping channels as the 2.4Ghz technology, but it has
lousy penetrating power and throughput drops off very dramatically with
distance.

Hope this helps - if you have questions please feel free to contact me off
line.

Charles

www.homeplanetnetworks.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob McFarlin" <RobM@...>
To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 3:58 PM
Subject: [Vantage] Wireless for shop


>
> We are considering wireless pc's for some shop applications. Our only
> experience with "wireless" in the shop has been limited to telephones
> and range has been a problem. We have 2 50,000 sq ft buildings that are
> attached. Their walls are cement block about 12' high on the bottom and
> then steel the rest of the way up. We have had real problems trying to
> get signals from one building to the other.
>
> I don't want to run into the same problem with wireless pc's. I was
> wondering what kind of equipment others are using, or have tried.
>
> Is the a DIY type of thing, or is this a job for the experts?
>
> * Rob McFarlin, CPA (Inactive)
> Controller
> * Accel Group, Inc.
> 325 Quadral Drive
> Wadsworth, OH 44281
> * Voice: 330-336-0317 x114
> * Fax: 330-336-1224
> * E-mail: RobM@... <mailto:RobM@...>
>
>
> Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
> (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> (2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
4
Charles,

Thanks for the speedy reply.

We are already using terminal server and, I should have mentioned, were
considering using tablet pc's for shipping / receiving / inventory
control functions.

On the subject of cordless phones, there are now several out in the
shop. Many were brought in by supervisors so that the would not have to
trek back to their work center every time the phone rang. These are just
residential units. Are there readily available commercial quality units
that would cause less interference with wireless networks?

Rob.

----- Original Message -----
Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 23:00:59 -0500
From: "Charles Paluska - HPN" <cpaluska@...>
Subject: Re: Wireless for shop

Put one centrally located access point in each building and you should
be fine. (assuming the interior is reasonably free of obstructions)
However, Vantage will run on the slow side, if it is just for data
collection - it's not too bad, but if you are going to be running any
half way decent reports - it might be an unacceptably long wait. Make
sure to use the 802.11g networking gear - 802.11b is just too slow for
the type of network traffic Vantage generates - especially as you add
more wirelesss nodes.

You can load the Vantage clients locally instead of the default of
running it over the network, but that makes updates a hassle.
If this type of configuration is going to become more the normal mode of
operation - then you need to consider using terminal server or remote
desktop if it is just one or two workstations.

All the other "improvements" can be added later if you need it.

Also, watch out for interference from other wireless networks and
cordless phones. Just because a wireless network is not detected by the
tools in Windows & the software with the wireless adapter - it doesn't
mean they are not there. Good security measures of disabling the SSID
broadcast feature renders the wireless network mostly invisible. The
only way to tell for sure what is running around in your air is with a
spectrum analyzer

Also, the 5Ghz stuff is great because so few people use it and it has 4
times as many non-overlapping channels as the 2.4Ghz technology, but it
has lousy penetrating power and throughput drops off very dramatically
with distance.

Hope this helps - if you have questions please feel free to contact me
off line.

Charles

www.homeplanetnetworks.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob McFarlin" <RobM@...>
To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 3:58 PM
Subject: [Vantage] Wireless for shop


>
> We are considering wireless pc's for some shop applications. Our only
> experience with "wireless" in the shop has been limited to telephones
> and range has been a problem. We have 2 50,000 sq ft buildings that
are
> attached. Their walls are cement block about 12' high on the bottom
and
> then steel the rest of the way up. We have had real problems trying to
> get signals from one building to the other.
>
> I don't want to run into the same problem with wireless pc's. I was
> wondering what kind of equipment others are using, or have tried.
>
> Is the a DIY type of thing, or is this a job for the experts?
>
> * Rob McFarlin, CPA (Inactive)
> Controller
> * Accel Group, Inc.
> 325 Quadral Drive
> Wadsworth, OH 44281
> * Voice: 330-336-0317 x114
> * Fax: 330-336-1224
> * E-mail: RobM@... <mailto:RobM@...>
5
Rob,

Panasonic has several multiline cordless phones that use Frequency Hopping
Spread Spectrum technology (FHSS). The wireless networking equipment uses
DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum). The FHSS constantly jumps from one
frequency window to another. It also "smells" the air for other radio
traffic. So the FHSS phones would jump around the DSSS radios thereby not
causing any interference. The DSSS doesn't move, you pick a channel and it
sits there.

You could also use 900mhz phones or 5ghz phones without any problems. I
believe a company called enGenius has 900mhz phones designed for the
industrial work place. Another option I'm looking into for a customer is
using PDA's with WiFi capability and VOIP service. Symbol Technology used
to have WiFi phone systems, but I just recently checked and they are
discountinued. The Wifi phones would use your existing wireless network to
communicate back to the phone system interface to gain access to either the
public or private phone system. The wifi phones are about $200-300 apiece
and the interfaces are over $1000. Because of the costs & maintenance,
paying $15/month for 500 minute Vonage plan per phone isn't a bad deal -
especially since all Vonage to Vonage calls are free.

Needless to say - there are many directions one could take.

Charles

www.homeplanetnetworks.com



----- Original Message -----
From: "Rob McFarlin" <RobM@...>
To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 8:40 AM
Subject: [Vantage] Re: Wireless for shop


>
> Charles,
>
> Thanks for the speedy reply.
>
> We are already using terminal server and, I should have mentioned, were
> considering using tablet pc's for shipping / receiving / inventory
> control functions.
>
> On the subject of cordless phones, there are now several out in the
> shop. Many were brought in by supervisors so that the would not have to
> trek back to their work center every time the phone rang. These are just
> residential units. Are there readily available commercial quality units
> that would cause less interference with wireless networks?
>
> Rob.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> Date: Sun, 6 Feb 2005 23:00:59 -0500
> From: "Charles Paluska - HPN" <cpaluska@...>
> Subject: Re: Wireless for shop
>
> Put one centrally located access point in each building and you should
> be fine. (assuming the interior is reasonably free of obstructions)
> However, Vantage will run on the slow side, if it is just for data
> collection - it's not too bad, but if you are going to be running any
> half way decent reports - it might be an unacceptably long wait. Make
> sure to use the 802.11g networking gear - 802.11b is just too slow for
> the type of network traffic Vantage generates - especially as you add
> more wirelesss nodes.
>
> You can load the Vantage clients locally instead of the default of
> running it over the network, but that makes updates a hassle.
> If this type of configuration is going to become more the normal mode of
> operation - then you need to consider using terminal server or remote
> desktop if it is just one or two workstations.
>
> All the other "improvements" can be added later if you need it.
>
> Also, watch out for interference from other wireless networks and
> cordless phones. Just because a wireless network is not detected by the
> tools in Windows & the software with the wireless adapter - it doesn't
> mean they are not there. Good security measures of disabling the SSID
> broadcast feature renders the wireless network mostly invisible. The
> only way to tell for sure what is running around in your air is with a
> spectrum analyzer
>
> Also, the 5Ghz stuff is great because so few people use it and it has 4
> times as many non-overlapping channels as the 2.4Ghz technology, but it
> has lousy penetrating power and throughput drops off very dramatically
> with distance.
>
> Hope this helps - if you have questions please feel free to contact me
> off line.
>
> Charles
>
> www.homeplanetnetworks.com
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rob McFarlin" <RobM@...>
> To: <vantage@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2005 3:58 PM
> Subject: [Vantage] Wireless for shop
>
>
> >
> > We are considering wireless pc's for some shop applications. Our only
> > experience with "wireless" in the shop has been limited to telephones
> > and range has been a problem. We have 2 50,000 sq ft buildings that
> are
> > attached. Their walls are cement block about 12' high on the bottom
> and
> > then steel the rest of the way up. We have had real problems trying to
> > get signals from one building to the other.
> >
> > I don't want to run into the same problem with wireless pc's. I was
> > wondering what kind of equipment others are using, or have tried.
> >
> > Is the a DIY type of thing, or is this a job for the experts?
> >
> > * Rob McFarlin, CPA (Inactive)
> > Controller
> > * Accel Group, Inc.
> > 325 Quadral Drive
> > Wadsworth, OH 44281
> > * Voice: 330-336-0317 x114
> > * Fax: 330-336-1224
> > * E-mail: RobM@... <mailto:RobM@...>
>
>
> Useful links for the Yahoo!Groups Vantage Board are: ( Note: You must
have already linked your email address to a yahoo id to enable access. )
> (1) To access the Files Section of our Yahoo!Group for Report Builder and
Crystal Reports and other 'goodies', please goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/files/.
> (2) To search through old msg's goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/messages
> (3) To view links to Vendors that provide Vantage services goto:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vantage/links
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>