which of the two AP 1100 or 1231

[736xl]

I have been using Cisco for quite some time but never got involved heavily into Cisco APs. I would greatly appreciate if anyone can give me some guidance on which of the two would be a more stable AP. I need a stable wireless network for an automated house project.


Greatly appreciated

 

[ADB100]

The 1100 can only have 1 radio installed - either 802.11b or 802.11g, it is field upgradeable from 11b to 11g by swapping out the radio. The 1231 can have 2 radios installed - an 802.11b or 802.11g in one slot and an 802.11a only in the other slot.
Both AP's are based on the same IOS software so either, although the cheapest will be the 1100 - in my opinion the only reason you would want the 1200 is if you need 802.11a.

I have an 1100 and a 350 both with 802.11b radios and funtionality (and stability) is exactly the same on each. They both run IOS 12.3(7)JA2.

HTH

Andy

 

[736xl]

Andy,

Very much thanks for your info. One other quesion I have is reading the material looks like both do roaming. I'd like to know how this process is acoumplished. Does the connection is dropped when switching between APs? Which protocol is used? This is the function I need the most and Id' like to know if I should be concerned about anything.
I've used cheap APs in the past without much success in roaming.

Again thanks for your help.

Steve

 

[ADB100]

Roaming - well it depends on what you mean. Seamless roaming requires either an AP configured as WDS (Wireless Domain Services) and can support up to 60 remote AP's. Cisco also has a dedicated WDS device that takes up a slot in a Catalyst 6500-series switch - the WLSM (Wireless LAN Services Module), this supports up to 300 AP's. You can also cofigure an ISR router as a WDS to support up to 100 AP's.
WDS gives you fast, secure roaming and is generally used for Voice where you need very rapid re-authentication. I don't have any WDS configured and I can happily roam between AP's, although the re-authentication takes a second or so.

Have a read on CCO about WDS if you think this is something you need.

HTH

Andy

 

[736xl]

Thanks again Andy for your info.

I was hoping not to go to that extend. Altough the project is complex, the network is not. One cisco switch connecting all the APs. I'd like the option for the device to be able to roam between APs since it is the source of house control. Is this something I can acoumplish with 1100 (I will only need 802.11g) and not to go throgh the extend of installing high end switches? I can live with 1 second delay for re-authentication.

Again thanks for your help.

 

[ADB100]

You should be OK with just a few 1100's in my opinion, although I would recommend testing it. I have never actually walked around the house with a PC and tested the re-authentication times since it isn't a big requirement for me.
How many devices are you looking at? There are guidelines to follow for max devices per AP etc.

HTH

andy