Wireless Access

A little bit over my head with this forum but here it goes...

I run a small specialists medical office.  Currently using a CheckPoint 600 UTM with integrated wireless access point for the office (2.4GHz only).  It is 800 square feet, standard drywall walls, in a medical office building with multiple other offices WiFi interfering (roughly 30 SSID picked up).  There are typically 4 active devices on our wireless network, no guest access.  I have had bad experiences with consumer grade WiFi equipment in the past, and cannot find a reliable SOHO/SMB type solution, particularily with AC.  I want something that has the capabilities to deliver reasonable speeds throughout our office, despite all the interference.  The additional feature set in a enterprise grade solution certainly seem like they would help.  However, it would obviously be impractical and completely blow the budget to purchase a device that requires a controller.

As far as I could understand the IAP model of the 200 series can function without a controller and doesn't have any additional costs associated with the setup I am describing?  Would really appreaciate the feedback.

Hello!

When you get an aruba instant you dont need any controller

It can work as a stand alone or work with other instant which means that for example

Let say that in your office you cannot cover it all with one IAP 205 and you need 3 IAP 205.    If you put them in the same network they will form a virtual controller in which you can control all of them with one virtual console.

You dont need any license the aruba instant brings all the license for free.  So you got the firewall capacibilities already on it.

Being said that

Now lets go with your problem.   It seems you have got a lot of interference in your office.  Your issue is that 2.4ghz band just got 3 usable channel.   And it seems that in your small office you can see around 30 aps in the same band, which is bad.   You are all fighting 3 channels...  

Now it could be a noise issue which is bothering besides the interference.  I have been in situation in which 2.4ghz band is no usable for interference and noise at the same time, but 5ghz band its good.

I would advice you getting 5 ghz capable devices(laptops, tablets,etc) if you already dont have those... in 5ghz you got 23 non overlapping channels vs 2.4ghz that just got 3 non overlapping channels.(as a personal thing all wifi devices i buy must run in 5ghz, dont really buy devices that just work on 2.4ghz)

Having your devices that works on 5ghz you should be able to have a cleaner channel and a good wifi.

It would be good if you had a arubanetworks partners near your area which can give you a demo for a week, at least we do that.   The client try and most of the times buy.   If you got any trouble with 2.4ghz the engineer should be able to see it and advice you on what to do.(hopefully you will get a good wifi engineer) 

I really dont know if you are a techy guy and i hope i didnt confuse you with what i tried to explain you.  As you sounds like you are like the owner of the office and you just looking for something to work in your  bussiness :) 

Cheers

Carlos

Thanks for your reply!  That is encouraging

Yes the devices are Surface Pro 3s, work fine in 5GHz band elsewhere, I think I will give the IAP 205 a try

Just to follow up the 205 arrived this morning, was up and running in 10 minutes.  Despite being a enterprise geared device it was surprisingly user friendly and straight forward to get a basic setup. 

I am now getting great speeds throughout the entire office, a major improvement, I think the Interference Detection System is making a big difference, quite pleased with the device. 

Thanks again for your input

Yep 

The IAP 205 does have a interference filter... 

Its a great AP and aruba is a great brand.   Happy to hear that its working for you.   Hope you recommend Aruba  to everyone else :)

As something additional information for you.  If you ever want to know what else you can do with your instant AP 

http://www.arubanetworks.com/products/sme/training/instant-training/

Here is a free traning for the aruba instant product.  Really easy, they are all videos,  and it show you all you can do with it, and all the benefits you got from it.

Cheers

Carlos