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Question

mobile wifi network hardware questions, suggestions please!

Mar 18, 2017 11:07AM PDT

Ok so here's the situation, we have a mobile office that I need to set up a wifi network. In the mobile work environment there will be no internet (sometimes not evan a cell signal!). There will be 3 wireless computers & 1-2 wired printers in the mobile office, and the need to "broadcast" the signal to a wireless laptop and a couple iphones/ipads in the field. Sometimes the broadcast ability will be line-of-site around 1/2mi but most of the time it will be out of sight, inside a brick or metal building. Devices in the field need to transmit data back to computers in the mobile office. I'm not completely network illiterate (I can read and follow instructions) but I'm not really sure what hardware I need. All new laptops with 802.11ac, new printers with high speed ethernet, iphone 7+ all good for 802.11ac. Thanks!

Discussion is locked

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Answer
I can see why no one will solve this one.
Mar 18, 2017 11:34AM PDT

Not only no internet but you are limited by the laws of physics if you tried to use WiFi. The metal building is a Faraday cage.

In short, you aren't new to networking but I fear you need to refresh your knowledge of physics.

-> For now until you brush up, continue with your current way of doing this work.

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Answer
Easy
Mar 18, 2017 12:07PM PDT

Get a router, don't plug the internet to the WAN port, turn on the wireless and have each computer get assigned an IP address by DHCP. Make sure AP isolation is turned off, but if doing that, for security also have each computer's MAC assigned, and block all other unregistered MAC from your LAN.