Building a wireless network from scratch

Hello Everyone,
I was hoping someone may give me some pointers on how to start building a wireless network. Recently I was assigned with a project to build a wireless network from scratch. This network will be mounted in a residential home 6 stories tall and about 5,000 square feet. I am running a wireless Linksys router in the basement connected to the VPN box but the signal doesnt even reach above second floor. To make a long story short, can anyone suggest any commercial routers and repeaters, or maybe suggest a layout of the AP around the house. I was looking at Cisco and Orinoco seems like a solid product, i would appreciate if someone could confirm this based on their experience with the product. Should I use an AP or repeater? I read somewhere that repeaters reduce performance. Does it matter what kind of antenna I use indoors? I was thinking about putting 2 repeaters on each floor, would that be a good idea? I am pretty much new to wireless networks so if anyone could chip in with their ideas I would be greatfull.

Thanks everyone in advance for taking your time.

Really need to know the approx. floor space you are dealing with on each floor. Also need to know makeup of building...brick, wood, steel?

I posted on this forum for a guy that was looking to do basically the same thing in a commercial building and there is good info there too

http://www.wirelessforums.org/wireless-networking-discussion/can-nebudy-guide-me-about-outdoor-wireless-access-points-4805.html

Write back with more info and I will see what I can do for you...

Thanks for you reply,
The house i will be installing the wireless network is mostly wood and brick walls. I have a modem, router and a VPN in the basement the ISP has been in place for years, i just need to make the place wireless. I was reserachiing brands like Linksys or Netgear as well as Cisco. What should i look for? i am looking into putting two AP's on each floor is that a overkill? How does repeater work as opposed to AP? I need this network to be completelly wireless, i cant run wires anywhere. Oh and i forgot to mention that money is no object.
Thanks.

Well... with tht known you can start by mailing me a huge ass check:-)

No... The problem is that unless you run SOME wire you are really limited in what you can do. The best option is to run a "repeater" or wireless bridge system. I don't know how big each floor is but for the most part you can get away with one system per floor, centrally located to the middle of the floor. You may even be able to get away with one on the third floor and no other if you have a good quality antenna on it.

What a repeater does compared to an AP is this. An AP takes what it gets through its uplink port (typically internet connection) and broadcasts it through an antenna into thin air. The computers in the network connect through the router side of the AP and have internet connectivity through the uplink port to the modem. A repeater generally has no uplink port and simply takes what it receives from channel whatever and rebroadcasts it back out through channel whatever. It receives a weaker signal and boosts it and sends it back out.

Technically you could daisy chain a set of repeaters together on each floor and each floor would have a different channel. The wireless devices would just select the hottest signal and you'd be cooking. The problem is that I am not a repeater guru as far as equip. goes. If your in the states, contact Pasadena Networks at www.wlanparts.com . This is not a plug except for the fact that when I had some difficult questions that needed answered he was not afraid to help...which was contrary to most that I talked to. His support was awesome too.

Let me know what you figure out. and I'll forward the address for the check

Thanks for you help,
As far as equipment goes what would you recommend? I was looking at the SRX series from Linksys, i was also looking at Cisco. What brand do you think could do the job? Also, should i change the stock antenna on the router? or keep the existing one. Each floor is about 1000 sq.feet. I was also looking at the devices that run over power lines, any comments on that?
As for the check i wish i could get the piece of the pie but i am on salary so pretty much i am doing this as a part of my job. sucks

Lynksys and Cisco both make really good equipment. I can't answer for that unfortunatley. That would take someone that is really up on the exact details on the products.

Now...network over powere line gear. My opinion...DON"T DO IT!!! Every time that someone turns on the coffee pot, the lazer printer cycles, the lights get flipped on inthe restroom, WHATEVER...there is a power induction/surge int eh line and that creates noise. I have never had any luck with that type of equipment. You want to keep it in the lines so to speak and not on a foreign mode of transportation.

My suggestion to you is to consult with a professional networking provider. This is really beyond residential gear and goes into enterprise works especially since you can't run wires. If you could run wire its a snap. Unless you want to be the guy that they blame every time they have to reset the $#%@...#%@$%$ router:-) At home its different but at work it can get ugly. Been there!!!

Thanks again for your reply,
I've been looking at Cisco for the most part, i've also spoke with someone at Linksys about their SRX series AP's. Seems like a powerfull AP. I think i'll go with one or the other. You think i should reserach into changing the antenna or go with the stock antenna that came with the AP?

Hi there

I have come across the same issue with going between floors, you will most likely find that there is reinforced concrete between the floors in which case you might never get a good enough signal though. If it is not concrete tilt the antenna horizontal as this can give beter vertical coverage. There is a real performance issue using wireless repeaters, unless they have two radios built into them because they are half duplex which means the actual throughput would be about 4Mbps even if you connected at 54Mbps. I have seen a Cisco one with two but it was very exspensive.
The best way with multi level buildings is to run a network cable between each floor to connect each of the access points back to the internet connection.

All the best
Dale