How much would it cost to install a WiFi system for a 929 unit condominium complex on 300 acres?

Question

What are the alternatives? Most (60%) people now have dial up or dsl - there is no cable service available. We are told that the 30 year old buried coax won't handle a broadband signal.

Answer 1

What area/state are you in? You should probably find out who your local Cisco Commercial Account Manager is in your area. Tell that account manager (and his/her Systems Engineer) that you would like to discuss a controller/LWAPP based (Airespace) wireless LAN solution for your condo complex. Have them come in for a discussion on what this solution will do for you, and they'll give you the rundown on pricing and what kind of discounts you can get. Moving forward, to get an accurate and final bill of materials together, you will need to pay for a site survey to be completed, this is the best way for you to understand how many APs you will need and what the coverage will look like.

I'm thinking you'd want to use a 4404 controller for up to 100 access points max. See the data sheet link below for the controller appliance. Your Cisco account team will also advise you on the APs to use, they will probably select either 1000 series or 1240 series lightweight APs. You'll also have to advise them of where you current wired network exists, hopefully it's not just in the main office, but if it is, they might also consider setting up a 1500 series wireless mesh network such that every AP doesn't require a wired network connection. Many things to discuss, including security requirements, billing/accounting options, guest access, etc, so get your requirements and network drawings and property survey together and bring in your Cisco account team.

PS: Don't get sticker shock... a 929 unit condo complex on 300 acres requires a solid, robust, secure and efficient solution that includes dynamic RF management, rouge detection, and intrusion prevention features. So it will cost a few bucks, but you will get what you pay for. So don't look to Netgear or Dlink or Linksys and try to do it yourself or have a networking buddy do it for you. Bring in Cisco. If cost becomes an issue, consider doing it in phases, or consider leasing versus buying the equipment.

Answer 2

Depends on a lot of factors .. mostly what the buildings are made of .. but figure about $500 per access point (when doing this, you don't use $50 linksys cheapies .. you get the commercial stuff from Cisco). You hide the AP in the ceiling and select an appropriate antenna .. the most common ones are about 5x5 and 1/2" thick.

The problem you'll have is how to interconnect all those access points .. if there's no way to pull cable, you'll have to put a switch in the attic of each building, and use a point-to-point wireless (or laser) link to backhaul all the buildings to a common location where you have the router and demarc for whatever broadband connection you have. Those rigs vary in cost depending on the antennas you use and distance you cover .. about $1500/pair for 802.11g, much more for laser.

Don't automatically assume the cable can't handle broadband. I've personally installed devices in apartment complexes that use the "30 year old" cable. Blonder-Tongue makes such gizmos, and they aren't all that expensive.

Answer 3

depends on requirements from few hundred dollars to thousand's