Best Practices: Outdoor Bridges | 1

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

880 West Maude Avenue, Suite 101
Sunnyvale, CA 94085

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

2 | Best Practices: Outdoor Bridges

Table of Contents
Overview..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Mesh AP vs. Bridge vs. Access Point ............................................................................................. 5
Ruckus-supported mesh APs .......................................................................................................... 5
Supported Topologies............................................................................................................................ 6
Standard Mesh ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Hybrid Mesh ......................................................................................................................................... 7
Mesh bridging ...................................................................................................................................... 8
When to use mesh vs. bridge .....................................................................................................................8
Performance Best Practices.............................................................................................................. 10
Mesh link distance........................................................................................................................... 10
Client coverage ................................................................................................................................. 10
AP mounting and installation...................................................................................................... 11
Vertical coverage model ........................................................................................................................... 13
Horizontal coverage model ..................................................................................................................... 14
Covering hard to reach areas ................................................................................................................. 14
Design for Success ................................................................................................................................ 16
Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 16
Choosing the right equipment..................................................................................................... 16
Radio selection ................................................................................................................................. 16
Bridging with a wireless mesh .................................................................................................... 17
External Antennas ................................................................................................................................ 18
Signal gain .......................................................................................................................................... 18
Beamwidth ......................................................................................................................................... 18
Antenna hardware .......................................................................................................................... 18

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Bridges | 3

OVERVIEW
In most cases, wireless LANs are seen as an additional connection method for clients to gain
access to wired network resources. The AP provides this accessibility because it has both a wired
connection and a radio. But what happens if there is no wired network connection available?
Without direct, wired network access, can we still deploy wireless and gain some connectivity?
Wireless mesh is an excellent way to provide wireless coverage in areas where wired AP
connections are unfeasible. If power is available, a wireless mesh can be installed. Mesh APs
work because client traffic is transmitted via wireless links between other mesh APs. Traffic
travels these links until it reaches an AP that is directly connected to the wired network.

Figure 1: Wireless mesh networking

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

4 | Best Practices: Outdoor Bridges

Devices within a wireless mesh network are divided into several roles:
Mesh Node (A, B, C, D)

Any ZoneFlex AP with mesh capability enabled

Root AP (A)

Communicates with the

ZoneDirector through an Ethernet
interface

Mesh AP (B, C, D)

Communicates with the

ZoneDirector through a wireless
LAN interface (via mesh uplink)

Mesh Link (A-B, A-C, C-D)

Wireless mesh connection between two mesh nodes

Mesh Uplink (D to C)

Client station to AP relationship

Mesh Downlink (C to D)

AP to client relationship

Mesh Neighbor

Other mesh nodes that are visible to an AP

Other key concepts include the mesh tree and hop count. A mesh tree is the tree-like structure
formed by interconnected mesh nodes. A mesh tree always has a root AP at the base of the
structure. All other mesh nodes in a tree are downlinks from the root AP.
The hop count refers to the number of links between the root AP and a specific mesh AP or
client.1 When designing a mesh network, it is recommended that no more than three hops be
used. This ensures good overall performance within the mesh.
1

The maximum hop count supported by Ruckus is 8.

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Bridges | 5

MESH AP VS. BRIDGE VS. ACCESS POINT

A WiFi AP is designed to connect wireless clients to a network. A mesh AP is similar; it also
connects wireless clients. Unlike a wired AP, a mesh AP does not have a connection to the wired
backbone. Therefore it transports wireless clients through one of its radios to an upstream AP.
The upstream AP can be another mesh AP or a wired (root) AP.
A wireless mesh can also be compared to a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint wireless bridge;
both transport backbone data over the wireless. A mesh network differs from a bridge in that it
is not typically designed as a fixed installation i.e. the mesh topology can change dynamically
as needed. A mesh network also introduces some latency and throughput reduction with every
mesh hop. This is unlike a bridge which is considered lossless and incurs no throughput costs for
a bridge link.

RUCKUS-SUPPORTED MESH APS

All Ruckus ZoneFlex APs support wireless meshing with SmartMesh intelligent mesh technology.
Ruckus makes no distinction between a root AP and a mesh AP at the hardware level. Any AP in
a mesh can have any mesh role. Instead of hardware, a mesh nodes role is determined by its
connectivity and throughput compared to other mesh nodes.
A mesh AP can be single radio or dual radio. In the case of dual-radio APs, the wireless mesh is
always run on the 5 GHz radio. A single radio AP will share its radio with other mesh APs and
wireless clients.
Another important issue is radio compatibility. A wireless mesh must consist of APs with the
same type radios. For example, all radios must be 802.11g or all could be 5 GHz. You cannot
have a wireless mesh with different type radios.
If different radio types are required within the same WLAN, mesh functionality should be
disabled on the APs that cannot participate in the mesh.2

If APs with different radio types are installed on the same WLAN, wireless mesh will not come
up until only one radio type is enabled for mesh.

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

6 | Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

SUPPORTED TOPOLOGIES
Ruckus Wireless supports the following mesh topologies with SmartMesh:

Standard mesh
Hybrid mesh
Bridge mesh

STANDARD MESH
The simplest mesh configuration is a standard mesh that takes full advantage of SmartMesh
automatic configuration and self-healing. With automatic SmartMesh, a wireless mesh autoforms to create an optimal uplink topology that is load-balanced across as many root APs as
possible. In a standard configuration, each APs mesh role is determined automatically.3

B
D
C

Figure 2: Standard Mesh Topology

Since mesh role is automatically assigned, care should be taken during planning to make sure
excessively long mesh hops are unlikely to occur. Mesh stability is also particularly important:
constant changes to the mesh (AP or Ethernet link goes/down up) will force constant topology
reformation. Since the wireless network is offline during topology calculations, instability has a
huge impact on overall performance and reliability.

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh| 7

HYBRID MESH
Unlike a standard mesh, a hybrid mesh uses wired connections to extend the mesh. Normally,
an AP with a wired connection would be a root AP. But in this case, the wired connection does
not connect to the main network. If an AP has a wired link, but is unable to directly
communicate with the ZoneDirector via that link, SmartMesh assigns it a hybrid role called
eMAP.

Figure 3: Hybrid Mesh Topology

A hybrid mesh has the advantage of extending the mesh without the cost of an additional hop.
Its also key for any large mesh network. Very large mesh networks are more likely to encounter
RF interference on the mesh channel at some point. Hybrid mesh topologies allow the mesh
beyond the eMAP to use a difference channel. This makes the mesh more resilient and agile;
particularly in cases where potential interference is expected.

D
B

Figure 4: Hybrid Mesh Channel Reuse

2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

8 | Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

MESH BRIDGING
A mesh bridge is somewhat similar to a true point-to-point bridge both take traffic from one
side of a network and transport it to another. A bridge is purpose designed for this task; a mesh
AP can do a similar function as within the limits of mesh topology.

Figure 5: Mesh Bridge Example

Unlike bridging, in which each bridge link incurs no performance cost; a mesh bridge is still
considered a one hop (or more) mesh. Like all mesh networks, performance is determined in
part by the number of hops.

WHEN TO USE MESH VS. BRIDGE

Since both configurations can produce similar results, the deciding factor should be based on
overall goals and future needs. The following are good rules to follow.
Use a bridge instead of wireless mesh when:

Only need to connect two locations

Link distance is greater than 300m-400m
Low latency is required, e.g. voice
Point-to-Multipoint is needed but would require a very large beamwidth at the root
Client access support is not required

Consider the use of a wireless mesh when:

Need to connect multiple locations (point-to-multipoint, multi-point to multipoint)

Link distances are short
Client access is required

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh| 9

LOS is difficult to achieve

2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

10 | Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

PERFORMANCE BEST PRACTICES

Regardless of the topology you choose, some general rules for optimal performance apply
regardless of configuration differences. Care should be taken to follow these guidelines:

MESH LINK DISTANCE

Distance between mesh nodes is a critical factor in overall performance. Signal quality and
throughput decrease as distance increases. Ruckus Wireless provides tools to help estimate
expected performance of different model APs by distance, number of walls and client type (AP
or wireless client).

Although other factors may impact these numbers, its still a good idea to use this calculator as a
rough guide during the planning phase.

CLIENT COVERAGE
Some mesh networks are strictly backbone transport with little or no client access. The majority
of mesh networks however are typically designed to support wireless client devices. If full
coverage is required between mesh nodes, clients become a significant limiting factor on
distance between APs. The reason is simple: client devices operate at greatly reduced power as
compared to an AP. Therefore, each mesh node must be close enough to other APs such that
the distance is no more than twice that of the clients ability to transmit. As a precaution, it is
recommended this distance be somewhat less than twice to allow some overlap.

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh| 11

This distance will vary by client type. In general, laptops have a higher transmit power and
greater range than devices such as phones. The following table gives an estimate of power and
range for a variety of popular wireless clients.

Note that not all devices of a given type, e.g. phones, have the same performance
characteristics. A good example is the Apple iPhone 3GS vs. the iPhone 4. Most would expect
these devices to have similar performance; but as the table makes clear, there is a significant
different in power and range. When planning wireless client support, always make a habit of
designing to the lowest powered device.

AP MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION

It is extremely important to mount APs in the correct position. An incorrectly aligned or
positioned AP can result in signal loss and a decrease in coverage area. Since there is no reason
to give up performance if possible, its worth spending time considering how the AP is mounted
as well as its orientation.
The optimal mounting orientation for an AP is dome down or facing the target coverage area.
For example, if the coverage area is relatively horizontal, dome down is idea. If coverage is more

2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

12 | Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

vertical, mounting the AP dome facing out would give a better range. If mounting APs on a
building, you may consider a small inward tilt.

Figure 6: AP Orientation for Maximum Horizontal Reach

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh| 13

Figure 7: AP Orientation for Maximum Vertical Reach

With respect to APs that are providing direct client coverage, we divide these into two different
models: horizontal vs. vertical. Vertical coverage is designed to cover the windows of
apartments from APs at the top of the building. Horizontal coverage is engineered towards lowrise neighborhoods and provides blanket coverage from light poles or similar mounting assets
throughout the area.

VERTICAL COVERAGE MODEL

The vertical model, as the name implies, is intended for situations in which the client devices are
directly below the AP mounting points. This is ideal for dense population areas such as tall
apartment buildings in an urban landscape.

2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Root AP

14 | Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

APs are either mounted directly facing dome down or are tilted at an angle. The angle is based
on the actual mounting location. For example, an AP mounted directly on top of a tall building is
providing broadband access to residents inside the building. You might install the AP so it is
hanging perfectly downward. But if this takes design would provide coverage outside the
building at the expense of interior coverage. Instead, the AP might hang out and away from the
building and use a slight tilt inward to maximize the signal inside the building.

HORIZONTAL COVERAGE MODEL

A more suburban or rural area would typically do better with a horizontal coverage model. APs
are best mounted higher than the average roofline that precludes the apartment style top down,
outside in, approach. Higher mounting locations include utility poles, towers, hills and other tall
structures.

Mesh AP
(1 hop)

Figure 8: Horizontal Coverage Model

COVERING HARD TO REACH AREAS

In both cases, the realities of wireless physics limit just how far the RF signal will propagate from
the outside to the inside. Buildings with high attenuation construction materials may block the
RF enough to produce some dead spots inside. Or the building may simply be too large to reach
all of the way inside. With enough APs these problems could probably be addressed but at a
substantial cost as related to the amount of space covered.
In these cases Carrier Premise Equipment (CPE) is very useful in reducing the number of APs
required for coverage, and for repeating the signal throughout the inside of a residence.

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh| 15

Ruckus offers a range of CPEs to extend an outdoor WLAN inside. The MediaFlex series of
products offers a CPE that connects to the outdoor WiFi network as its uplink to the Internet.
The device can then, in turn, repeat the signal or even broadcast a different SSID inside the
residence. These devices also offer bridged Ethernet ports that allow wired devices to connect
as well.

Figure 9: MediaFlex 2211 and 7211 CPE

2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

16 | Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

DESIGN FOR SUCCESS

OVERVIEW
This section discusses points to consider during the design phase of an outdoor
mesh deployment: choosing the right equipment, calculating amount of equipment
needed, etc. These guidelines can help you make sure you are designing the best
possible solution for a given project.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT

The Ruckus solution portfolio includes a range of products geared towards specific
applications. Selecting the right product is key to good design, scalability and
performance.

Figure 10: Equipment Selection Guidelines

Which device is right for your project depends on the design requirements,
performance, and budget.

RADIO SELECTION
One of the most important choices when designing a mesh is the mesh node AP
hardware. As mentioned earlier, all mesh nodes must share the same radio type for

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh| 17

the mesh. If dual-radio APs are used, this will always be the 5 GHz radio. Single radio
APs will necessarily use their 2.4 GHz radio (802.11g or 802.11gn).
If there is a lot of background RF interference, it may be a good idea to use a radio
that is subject to less interference for the mesh. This is typically the 5 GHz spectrum
which has more channels to choose from.
If a longer distance is required, a 2.4 GHz radio will give greater range. A 2.4 GHz
radio is also a better choice is there are obstructions such as trees. This radio will
penetrate obstacles much better than the 5 GHz radio.

BRIDGING WITH A WIRELESS MESH

Some mesh topologies may require the use of wireless bridges as well as mesh
nodes. Bridges are ideal for helping to span long distances within the mesh,
preserving and injecting additional bandwidth into the mesh, allowing the use of
root APs over the air, e.g. via a bridge backhaul rather than a wired connection.

2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

18 | Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh

EXTERNAL ANTENNAS
The internal BeamFlex adaptive antenna array supports a 30 3 dB beamwidth and a
maximum gain of 14 dBi. However, some applications may require external
antennas. Examples of this include:

Distances longer than 20 km

Higher required throughput
Larger beamwidth
Smaller beamwidth

SIGNAL GAIN
An increase in signal gain can provide connectivity at longer link distances for the
bridge. Likewise, a higher gain can translate to higher throughput as opposed to the
internal antenna where the external antenna gain is greater than 14 dBi.
When choosing an external antenna, ensure it complies with all local regulatory
requirements and does not exceed maximum allowed transmit power/EIRP.

BEAMWIDTH
A different antenna beamwidth may be required if:

A higher gain antenna is used (higher gain typically reduces beamwidth)

The environment has too much RF noise: choose a narrower beamwidth to
exclude adjacent or nearby noise
A Point-to-Multipoint configuration requires a larger beamwidth to
accommodate all remote non-root bridges

ANTENNA HARDWARE
Ruckus Wireless recommends the following antennas:

5.15-5.875 GHz Dual Polarized Base Station Antenna, 120 MA-WE56-DP12

Mars 4.9-5.875 GHz Dual Polarized/Dual Slant Antenna & Enclosure (Part
number: MA-WA56-DP25SBRF)
Mars 4.9-6.1 GHz Dual Polarized Base Station Antenna, 60 (Part number:
MA-WC56-DP17)

Copyright 2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.

Best Practices: Outdoor Mesh| 19

Mars 4.9-6.1 GHz Dual Polarized Base Station Antenna, 90 (Part number:
MA-WC56-DP16)
Mars 4.9-6.1 GHz Dual Slant Base Station Antenna, 60 (Part number: MAWC55-DS17)
Mars 4.9-6.1 GHz Dual Slant Base Station Antenna, 90 (Part number: MAWD55-DS16)
HyperGain 5.1 GHz to 5.8 GHz 28.5 dBi Broadband Parabolic Dish Antenna
(Part number: HG5158DP-29D)

In addition to the antenna, each 7731 will also require two N-male/N-male RF cables
(~50cm).
Other external antennas may also be used, just ensure they have N-type connectors
and are dual-polarized.

2011 Ruckus Wireless, Inc.