Any wireless network problems?

[wbee]

Looking to upgrade computers - thinking about going wireless with Complete 2003. Anybody have any problems?

[ptown]

You should have no problem using wireless as long as the wireless connection is not dropping packets. You can watch for this by setting up a continuous ping at the workstation. Leave it run for an hour or so then look at the statistics. If your packet drop is under 3% you will be fine. I assume you will be using 2.4Ghz equipment. If so, watch out for 2.4 cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwave ovens. If you use any of the above, make sure you run the ping test while operating those devices. If they cause you problems, look for a substitute device that used 900Mhz or 5.8 GHz.

[amsbekins]

We just set up a wireless network recently and have had no problems running Peachtree. However, the caution about interference is a very real one. We had to switch from a 2.4 Ghz VTEC multi-line cordless phone system to the Uniden TRU8866 multi-line set that runs at 5.8 Ghz, since doing this, everything has run wonderfully.

It also helps to get the same manufacturer for the router and cards in the computers. It is not a big difference, but every little bit can help sometime.

Gabe

[Jim Dale]

I disagree. The main data corruption problem is communication. I wouldn't do it because you can't afford to drop any data. Even on hard wired systems data corruption occurs because of radio signals, flourescents, and other mystery bands. If your packet loss is 0.000% I might consider it.

[amsbekins]

How big is your network going to be and how are you using Peachtree? Is this an accounting office, or a small office that needs to do accounting for the business?

Gabe

[ptown]

When a packet is dropped on a wireless network, it triggers a retry. Only after a specific number of retries ( 6 I think) is there any loss of data. At 3% packet loss, you are not likely to have any data loss. At around 5% you will begin to see slowness and the potential for data loss increases. Interference is the biggest problem. Watch out for phones and microwaves.

[amsbekins]

PTown is right and like I said, I am using a wireless network and don't have any issues with dropped packets. Another tip, make sure you put your wireless access point as close to the computers you are using as possible. This reduces your chance of connection problems, unless you have the items PTown was specifiying.

[wbee]

as far as Ptree goes, only 2, maybe 3 being connected via wireless. Max. distance is probably around 40 feet.

Thanks for the input the input thus far from all of you.

Rick