Need help selecting router.

[Rivers]

Unless you have some strange need for more pain, don't involve ATT any more than you already have. If you set up your own in-house network, you will have full control over it. Simply use the ISP (internet service provider) like ATT, Cox, Time Warner, etc. to provide access to the internet.

If you want to do a truly clean job over the masonry walls, run conduit and terminate the CAT5e or CAT6 wire runs into single gang boxes with the network sockets. Your wiring is well protected and will last indefinitely. Wired is far more secure than wireless but if you don't maintain suitable security on the router and computers themselves, a good hacker can still access your computers without ever entering your building.

I just did my whole house with well over 1000 feet of wiring. With over 40 wire runs, it's tedious to make all the connections but I'm confident that it's done right. So easy, even a caveman can do it. Almost...

[Syst3m Ov3rrid3]

Where ever the modem is, I'd run a Ethernet Cable through those walls to the main area where your computers are. Setup the Router in that area so you achieve the best wireless coverage for all your computers.

Are you looking at something Enterprise Edition or just a Consumer Product?

The popular choice for all enterprise networking for businesses is Cisco. Depending on the type of business you're running and if Security is a factor, I'd suggest hard wiring everything just for that extra security at mind. Cisco makes plenty of Wireless AP's.

Most choices for Home Wireless Networking is: Cisco (formally addressed as Linksys), D-Link, Belkin, Netgear and Buffalo. Keep in mind, theres many other Home Wireless Networking choices for brands, I'm just naming some of the more popular brands.

Also pricing is a big factor. Enterprise routers can get very expensive (Over $300). Home Routers can vary between $50-$150 (depending on features)

50 Feet of Ethernet to get the Wireless Router located closest to you guys can be very cheap. A lot of routers can mount in the ceiling tiles (typical in most offices) so you can hide the wiring in the ceiling and run PoE (Power over Ethernet) to get power to your router from a distance.

[Rouge Recon]

You could still run WiFi, even with multiple walls. But you would have to implement Range Extenders into the mix. Really not difficult. Many tutorials online.

As for which router to go with, I stick with Netgear and Linksys brands. Of the two, I find Netgear is cheaper and easier to work with.

[sholling]

thats something i was wondering as well. what does it take to hack through these things.. not being a hacker im not really sure what it would take.

WPA2-PSK is much better than WEP. No wireless security is unbreakable but WEP is easy. I've worked in financial institutions where customer banking and financial data are too critical to allow any wireless and in distribution centers were wireless was a must-have tool. Honestly WPA-2 is good enough for most normal businesses as long as you use a loooooooong key. Still if it were me I'd just run cables and hide them behind cable molding. There are similar products to cover the cables where they have to crosses a floor and prevent tripping. It'll look presentable and be very secure.

Our provider is At&t, for now it seems they kind of screwed us over on the website they were making for us so may not be with them much longer. I can talk with the book keeper and see if she can call att to see if they have a router.

her office has 3 solid walls and one wall is a wood wall, which is towards the shop, with just some paneling on the other side but it doesnt go all the way up to the ceiling. And where the computer is, it is tucked in by a door way. so its not fully enclosed.

Bear in mind that wireless has a limited range. If that becomes a problem you can keep your existing wired router and run a single cable to a wireless access point (like a DAP-1522 or a something more business class) closer to the center of the work area.

Did not get a chance to talk to my boss any further today so we will see next week.[/QUOTE]

[Syst3m Ov3rrid3]

Honestly WPA-2 is good enough for most normal businesses as long as you use a loooooooong key. Still if it were me I'd just run cables and hide them behind cable molding. There are similar products to cover the cables where they have to crosses a floor and prevent tripping. It'll look presentable and be very secure.

+1 Definitely agree!

[stilly]

I hooked up a business with 8 computers and a wireless laptop.

I was not thrilled about them wanting a wireless laptop but oh well, they paid for it so I gave it to them.

They used a Cicso/Linksys E1000 router I believe.

At home I use a Zoom X6 or Zoom X5. It is a modem/router in one. Love it. I have a static IP address and of course since it uses NAT then I can hook up the entire house to it.

Running cables seems perverted at first but after that first time it becomes normal..