Integrating a Wireless AP in your Network
Wireless AP’s connect to a LAN switch allowing mobile users to access to the company’s digital and internal resources from mobile phones, laptop PCs, tablets and other devices. The best way to power an AP is by connecting it to a power over Ethernet (POE) capable port on a LAN switch. This requires the POE LAN switch to have enough power output to support AP’s. A second option is to use local power such as a POE injector. This is suitable if you only have a small number of AP’s to manage.
WIRELESS COVERAGE? WHAT TYPE OF ACCESS POINT?
A wireless AP covers on average 1,500 sq. feet in a walled office environment (typically drywall). When installed in a n open environment or outdoors, coverage area expands greatly to approximately 10,000 sq. feet. These are orders of magnitude that will allow you to estimate the number of required access points and plan a budget. A site survey will determine the number of AP’s needed in your building. Depending on the model, AP’s can be installed inside or outside with integrated or external antennas. The standard AP is designed for use inside buildings; its coverage is concentric. External AP’s can cover large outdoor areas and are resistant to rain, cold and heat.
A wireless AP covers on average 1,500 sq. feet in a walled office environment (typically drywall). When installed in a n open environment or outdoors, coverage area expands greatly to approximately 10,000 sq. feet. These are orders of magnitude that will allow you to estimate the number of required access points and plan a budget. A site survey will determine the number of AP’s needed in your building. Depending on the model, AP’s can be installed inside or outside with integrated or external antennas. The standard AP is designed for use inside buildings; its coverage is concentric. External AP’s can cover large outdoor areas and are resistant to rain, cold and heat.
HOW MANY USERS? BANDWIDTH PER USER?
The ability of the AP to manage a large number of users will depend on the power of the processor, the number of radios as well as the software quality. You’ll find entry level AP’s that have difficulty managing three users and high-end AP’s capable of managing dozens of users under good conditions. The overall throughput of an AP is shared between all user. The more users the less throughput per user, hence the importance of having high throughput AP’s so that each user has a reasonable rate.
ACCESS POINT: SINGLE OR DUAL RADIO?
A wireless user-base generally includes different types of devices. It’s, therefore, essential to deploy dual radio AP’s that can send and receive on both frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) at the same time. In equal terms, a dual radio AP will offer more bandwidth than a single radio AP.
HOW TO CONNECT TO MULTIPLE WI-FI ACCESS POINTS?
When the area to be covered is too large for a single AP, simply add additional AP’s and connect them to the LAN. A smart phone connected to AP “A” will be able to chat with a computer connected to AP “B.”
The ability of the AP to manage a large number of users will depend on the power of the processor, the number of radios as well as the software quality. You’ll find entry level AP’s that have difficulty managing three users and high-end AP’s capable of managing dozens of users under good conditions. The overall throughput of an AP is shared between all user. The more users the less throughput per user, hence the importance of having high throughput AP’s so that each user has a reasonable rate.
ACCESS POINT: SINGLE OR DUAL RADIO?
A wireless user-base generally includes different types of devices. It’s, therefore, essential to deploy dual radio AP’s that can send and receive on both frequency bands (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) at the same time. In equal terms, a dual radio AP will offer more bandwidth than a single radio AP.
HOW TO CONNECT TO MULTIPLE WI-FI ACCESS POINTS?
When the area to be covered is too large for a single AP, simply add additional AP’s and connect them to the LAN. A smart phone connected to AP “A” will be able to chat with a computer connected to AP “B.”
