Wi-Fi Design
CRITICAL DESIGN ASPECTS
1. Primary Coverage Goal
CLIENT HEARS
PRIMARY AP
3. Capacity Plan
High Client Density
Low Client Density
RF DESIGN PROCESS
1. GATHER REQUIREMENTS
4 Blueprints / CAD drawings
4 Coverage areas
4 Facility layouts & construction materials
4 Client number and mix
4 Client density distribution
4 Critical applications / business process
2. PRE INSTALLATION DESIGN
4 Predictive modeling
4 Wall attenuation measurements
4 AP on a stick measurement
4 Wired network integration
3. POST INSTALLATION VALIDATION
4 RF site survey (passive / active / spectrum)
4 RF tuning channel and power plans
4 Association and authentication tests
4 Roaming tests
4 Spectrum analysis
wi_fi_design_poster_500x700_final_dinpro_HAEdits.indd 1
2. Secondary Coverage Goal
OBJECTIVES OBJECTIVE
4 Provide Wi-Fi service in all required locations 4 Provide coverage for
4 High quality signal strength 2 APs in each location
4 Maintain high data rates
CLIENT HEARS PRIMARY AND
RESULTS SECONDARY APS RESULTS
4 Improve airtime efficiency Ch 44 4 Improve client roaming
4 Improve density handling 4 Low latency roaming for
Ch 36 real-time application
4 Redundancy for AP failure
4. Minimize Interference
CONSIDERATIONS
OBJECTIVES
4 More spectrum in 5 GHz provides
up to 8x the capacity of 2.4 GHz 4 Isolate APs on same channel
4 Understand client mix
4 Reduce shared airtime
4 Client offered load / SLA 4 Limit contention domains
4 Model airtime demand 4 Eliminate external interference
4 Understand airtime saturation limits
(80% BE, 50% BE/VO/VI, 35% VO)
Ch 1 BOTH APS ON CHANNEL 1
RESULTS RESULTS
RESULTS IN CCI
4 Minimize co-channel interference (CCI)
4 Optimal number of APs and adjacent channel interference (ACI)
4 Proper client distribution between between APs on the same or overlapping
5 GHz and 2.4 GHz
channels
4 Leave idle airtime for growth
4 Ideally, only one AP audible on each
channel in a physical location
Client Device Efficiency Ch 1 4 Ideally, remove sources of external RF
interference or avoid impacted channels
if they cannot be removed
LOW
MICROWAVE OVEN
INTERFERES WITH
MED WI-FI DEVICES
HIGH
HIGH PERFORMANCE WI-FI TIPS & TRICKS
1
1. Design for 5 GHz as Primary
4 The 5 GHz band provides 8 times the capacity of 2.4 GHz
2. Define Coverage Goal(s)
4 Too aggressive can lead to co-channel interference
4 Too conservative can lead to poor client performance
3. Place APs Where Users Are Located
4 In-room placement is best for client performance
4 Avoid hallways, if possible, unless required for voice roaming
2 4. Tailor Coverage to the Facility
4 Leverage RF obstructions for frequency re-use
4 Consider proper antennas and orientation for signal propagation
5. Fine Tune AP Power Levels
4 Align with on-site signal measurements of RF propagation
4 Align with AP density and frequency re-use requirements
6. Disable 2.4 GHz Radios if Necessary
4 There are fewer available channels in 2.4 GHz
4 Disabling radios can prevent co-channel interference and shared capacity between clients
4 Some APs allow switching 2.4GHz radio to 5GHz
3 7. Design and Validate with Representative Client Devices
4 Spot-check with actual client devices to ensure the design matches actual client performance
4 Alternatively, measure with a standard RF site survey adapter and compensate the signal based on
actual client device characteristics
8. Higher AP Density Requires Smaller Channel Widths
4 Reduces co-channel interference and shared capacity between clients
4 Reduces client contention and improves network stability
9. Disable Low Data Rates to Improve Performance
4 802.11b clients can significantly impact network performance
4 Reduces overhead from management frames and broadcast/multicast traffic
10. Minimize the Number of SSIDs
4 Network overhead increases with each SSID defined
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10.6.2016 9:59:51