Need to turn an apartment building into a hotspot

[Rustchild]

Hey gang!

YOu guys seem like real experts here, so I've got a big tough question:

Basically, I was commissioned to create a wireless hot spot in a 60 unit apartment building. The owner would like wireless internet access in every unit. Each unit is roughly 500 square feet (pretty small). The building is 6 stories high.

I'm trying to do my diligence and figure out what the best way would be to set this up, and I am being DROWNED in options! There is so much @#$@# stuff out there I have no idea where to start. Completely overwhelmed.

I'm assuming I will be placing access points in bridge mode on each floor (maybe at the ends of each floor) and the main connection / router will be on the ground floor in the manager's office. Will this work? What will I need to pull this off? Any ideas?

I've found what seem to be decent BBSM's (public access gateways).... Anybody have any opinions on these?

Nomadix access gateway: http://www.connectronics.com/nomadix/

smb hotspot gateway: http://estore.itmm.ca/product_info.php?cPath=21_39&products_id=148

aptilo access gateway:
http://www.aptilo.com/solutions_public_access.htm

Thanks in advance!!

- Justin

[YeOldeStonecat]

I'm assuming I will be placing access points in bridge mode on each floor (maybe at the ends of each floor) and the main connection / router will be on the ground floor in the manager's office. Will this work? What will I need to pull this off? Any ideas?

One thing, you'll want to do something like a site survey, to figure out just how many APs you'll need, and placed in what locations, will give you complete coverage without any dead spots. Consider a birds eye view of the building. Having them at the end of each hall, might leave central units dead. Having them too close together might leave end units or corner units dead. So doing one floor first with your chosen product...repeat many setups til you find the optimal one.then proceed with the other floors.

It appears the owner wishes to charge for each unit to have internet access?

[Rustchild]

Thanks -

Any suggestions on what equipment works best as far as bridgable AP's and a good main router? There are literally hundreds to choose from and I have no idea where to start....