2008 AGI-Information Management Consultants

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802.11 Wireless Network Site

Surveying and Installation
Bruce K. Alexander

Cisco Press
Cisco Press
800 East 96th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46240 USA

viii

Table of Contents
Introduction
Part I
Chapter 1

xviii
Understanding the Prerequisites of a Site Survey

Defining a Wireless Network's Protocols and Components

The Evolution of Wireless Standards 3
The First Proprietary WLANs 4
Standards-Based WLAN Systems 5
Introducing 802.11 6
Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum 7
IEEE 802.1 lb Direct-Sequence Channels
Frequency Hopping 8
802.11 Working Groups 9
802.11a 10
802.11b 11
802.llg 11
Additional Wireless Standards
Bluetooth 12
HiperLAN 13
Home RF 13
Ultra Wideband 13

11

Wi-Fi Alliance 14
Other Wi-Fi Certifications 14
Wi-Fi Capabilities Label 14
WLAN Components 15
Access Points 16
Client Devices 17
Bridges 18
Accessories 21
Summary
Chapter 2

23

Understanding RF Fundamentals
Understanding RF Components 25
Frequency 25
Modulation 26
Amplitude Modulation 28
Frequency Modulation 29

25

ix

Phase Modulation 29
Binary Phase Shift Keying 30
Quadrature Phase Shift Keying 31
Complementary Code Keying 31
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation 31
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing 32
Modulation Methods for 802.11 Technologies 33
Signal Strength 34
Understanding RF Power Values
Decibels 35
Power Ratings 35
Antennas 36
Gain 37
Directional Properties 38
Omni-Directional Antennas
Directional Antennas 40
Polarization 40
Antenna Examples 40
Patch Antenna 41
Panel Antenna 41
Yagi Antenna 41
Dish Antennas 41
Diversity 42
Connectors
Cables

34

38

45

45

Understanding RF Site Propagation 46

Frequency Versus Coverage 47
Material Absorption, Reflection, and Refraction 47
Reflection 47
Signal Strength, Noise, and Signal-to-Noise Ratio 48
Coverage Versus Bandwidth 49
Modulation Versus Coverage 50
Outdoor RF Issues 50
Propagation and Losses 51
Earth Bulge and Fresnel Zone 51
Summary
Chapter 3

52

Regulating the Use of 802.11 WLANs

Early Spread-Spectrum Regulations
RF Regulatory Domains

57

55
55

WLAN Frequencies of Operation 58

900-MHz Frequency Band 59
2.4-GHz Frequency Band 60
5-GHz Frequency Band 62
Dynamic Frequency Selection and Transmitter Power Control with 801.1 lh

64

Regulatory Channel Selections 65

North American Domain Channel Scheme 65
2.4 GHz (NA) 65
5 GHz (NA) 66
ETSI Domain Channel Scheme 66
2.4 GHz (ETSI) 66
5 GHz (ETSI) 67
Japan Channel Scheme 67
2.4 GHz (Japan) 67
5 GHz (Japan) 67
Other Regulatory Domain Frequency Limits 67
Maximum Transmitter Power Levels 67
EIRP 68
North American Regulatory Power Levels 68
2.4-GHz Power Levels for the North American Regulatory Domain
5-GHz Power Levels (NA) 71
ETSI Regulatory Power Levels 72
2.4-GHz Power Levels (ETSI) 72
5-GHz Power Levels (ETSI) 73
Japan Domain Power Levels 73
2.4 GHz (Japan) 73
5 GHz (Japan) 74
World Mode (802.1 Id) 74
Amplifiers

75

Antenna Connectors and Remote Antennas

Health and Safety

77

Plenum Locations

79

Summary

79

Recommended Reading
Chapter 4

79

WLAN Applications and Services

Typical WLAN Environments
Retail/Bar Coding 84
Retail 85

83
83

76

68

xi
Warehousing 88
Enterprise Offices 89
Health Care 91
Education 93
Manufacturing 95
Hotel, Conventions, and Hospitality
Public Hotspots 98
SOHO 99
Defining the WLAN Requirements

97

100

Defining Your Technology Requirements

Selecting Necessary WLAN Services
VLANs 105
Quality of Service 105
IP Subnet Roaming 106
Security 106
Load Balancing 107
Interoperability 107
Building-to-Building Connectivity
Summary
Chapter 5

101

105

107

108

Selecting the WLAN Architecture and Hardware

Key Features of a WLAN 111
Software Upgrade Capabilities 112
Rogue AP Detection 112
Flexible and Secure Mobility 113
Assisted Survey and Installation Tools
Self-Healing Systems 114
Remote Debugging 114

111

113

Various WLAN Architectures 114

Distributed Intelligence 115
Centralized Intelligence 117
Core Device Architecture 118
Comparing Packet Flows of Distributed and Centralized Intelligence
Systems 120
Edge Device Architecture 123
Switched Antenna Systems 124
Phased Array Antenna Technology 125
Phased Array Antenna Extends Range 126
Mesh Networking 129
Free-Space Optics (Laser) 130

XII

Selecting the Access Point 131

Single- or Dual-Radio Architecture
AP Radio Styles 134
Selecting the Client Products
Summary

131

136

139

Part II

The Site Survey

141

Chapter 6

Preparing for a Site Survey

143

Pre-Site Survey Form Information 143

Customer Information 145
Site Survey Location 146
Current Network and Communications Information
WLAN Equipment Requirements 148
Site Information 149
Survey Personnel Requirements 152
Scope of Work 152
Coverage Map 152
Outdoor Bridge Links 153
User Input

154

Balancing Wants, Needs, and Capabilities

Summary
Chapter 7

155

Site Surveying Equipment

157

WLAN Equipment 157

Access Points 158
Client Devices 160
Connectors 162
Antennas 163
Cables 165
Attenuators 166
Physical Measuring Devices 167
RF Analyzers 168
Spectrum Analyzer 169
Portable Analyzer Tools 169
Two-Way Radios 170
Outdoor Tools 170
Battery Packs 170
Digital Camera 172
Mounting Hardware 172
Site Survey Kits
Summary

175

173

154

147

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Chapter 8

Discovering Site-Specific Requirements

177

Recommended Facility Documentation 177

Site Map 178
Building Construction 179
Building Contents 180
Defined User Areas and Densities 184
Limitations Affecting Equipment Installations
Customer Restrictions 186
Regulatory Limitations 186
Environmental Concerns 187
Using Cookie Cutter Designs
Summary
Chapter 9

188

189

Discovering Wired Network Requirements

Switches, Routers, and Hubs

Deploying VLANs over Wireless

203

QoS for WLANs 206

Wireless QoS Deployment Schemes 206
Downstream and Upstream QoS 207
QoS and Network Performance 207
Cabling Requirements 208
Power over Ethernet 208
802.3af 211
Proprietary PoE Methods 212

References

214
214

191

191

Roaming 192
Developing a Policy for Device Roaming
802.1 If IAPP 194
Association of Clients 195
Layer 2 Roaming 196
Layer 3 Roaming 197
The Nomadic-Node Approach 198
The Mobile-Node Approach 198
Mobile IP 198
Mobile IP Disadvantages 200
Proxy Mobile IP 200
Layer 3 Wireless Switching 202

Summary

185

193

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Chapter 10

Discovering Wired Network Requirements

217

Types of Site Surveys 218

Manual 218
Automated 218
Assisted 219
Theoretical Surveys 220
Manual Site Survey Tools 221
Cisco Systems Aironet Client Utility 221
Cisco Systems Aironet Desktop Utility 226
Intel Centrino Utility 228
ORiNOCO Survey Utility 230
Netgear Clients 231
Wireless 802.11 Phones 232
AirMagnet 233
AirMagnet Site Survey Utility (SiteViewer) 237
DOS and Other Systems That Do Not Support Standard Utilities 242
Automatic and Assisted Site Survey Tools 243
Aruba 243
Cisco Assisted Survey Utility 244
Theoretical Site Survey Tools 245
Summary 246
Chapter 11

Performing a WLAN Site Survey

249

Steps in the Site Survey Process 249

Obtain a Floor Plan or Facility Blueprint 250
Inspect the Facility 250
Identify User Areas on the Diagram 251
Identify Potential Problems Areas on the Diagram
Identify AP Locations and Antenna Types 253
RF Issues in the Site 253
Detecting Interference 255
The Walkabout Test 258
Defining the Cell Boundaries 258
Overlapping Cell Coverage 262
Performing a Manual Survey 263
Documenting the Site Survey 270
Surveying with the AirMagnet Tool

270

Assisted Site Surveys 273

Performing a User-Density Test 274
Using the Assisted Site Survey Tool 276
RF Configuration Parameters 276

251

XV

Site Surveying for Repeater Usage

Dual-Band Surveys

278

Site Surveys for Voice

Final Verification
Summary

277

278

279

280

Part III

Installing WLAN Components

Chapter 12

Installing WLAN Products

283

285

Understanding Installation Issues

Facility Construction 286
Aesthetics 286
Physical Security 289
Environment 290
Building Codes 291

285

Proper AP Mounting 293

Wall Mounting 294
Ceiling Mounting 296
Proper Antenna Mounting
Ethernet Considerations
Summary
Chapter 13

296
300

301

Preparing the Proper Documentation

Final Site Survey Report
Documenting the Work

303
305

Site Survey Report-Generation Programs

Summary
Chapter 14

303

309

310

Outdoor Bridge Deployments

313

Understanding Bridge System Characteristics

Understanding Bridge Topologies

314

Using Common Applications over Bridges

VLANs 316
QoS 317
Voice over IP 317
Security 318
Feasibility Study 318
Determining Line of Sight 319
Environmental Issues 322

313
315

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Fresnel Zone 322

Determining the Possible Coverage Distance
Interference Study

325

326

Installing Bridges 326

Lightning Protection 327
Indoor Testing Before Installation: Understanding Maximum Operational Receive
Level 331
Aligning the Antenna 332
Weatherproofing the Connectors 332
Parallel Bridge Links for Increased Throughput 333
Summary
Part IV

334

Appendixes

337

Appendix A

WLAN Product References

339

Appendix B

Antenna Radiation Patterns

347

Appendix C

Alternative Antennas

Appendix D

Sample Forms

Glossary
Index

417

395

373

365