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Monday, November 24th, 2008
So the question is, how is a wireless network setup implemented when it requires a little more than a bog standard wireless broadband firewall to provide the coverage that is needed?
Well to start with, a little planning is required and considering the following questions is as good a place as any to begin the planning process: -
The answers to these questions will help guide the selection of wireless equipment as well as how long the installation, configuration and testing will take. The number and types of aerials required is influenced by factors such as the area of coverage’s shape and construction, sources of radio interference, the number of users and objects that could attenuate / block the signal.
When a small number of aerials is required some intelligent access point products can be grouped together in a single wireless network i.e acting as one. Increasing the number of aerials introduces the need for a central controller for example a wireless network with 40 aerials will definitely need a central wireless controller to operate smoothly. When there are large numbers of users involved it is also important to consider other network service techniques such as proxy cache acceleration. There isn’t alot of point in installing a large wireless network if the network insfrastructure behind it cannot cope with the load.
In all cases extra CAT5 will be needed and routes for CAT5 found to position the aerials. Central wireless controllers such as the 3Com WX1200 are PoE (Power over Ethernet) and they supply power to the aerials removing the need for power cabling. Controllers like the 3Com WX2200 can control many more aerials/access points but do not have a PoE switch built in, so external PoE switches also need to be installed. The odd aerial in a remote location may alternatively need an in-line power injector if it cannot be connected to a central PoE switch.
Once wireless equipment that can meet the technical requirements has been selected the wireless network setup can be planned in more detail. The plan usually follows a milestone path of surveying, CAT5 installation, offsite wireless equipment testing and configuration, onsite installation and finally live testing. So my next posting in this series will touch on the considerations of surveying.
In the mean time if you would like more information on our wireless services then have a look at this article: Wireless networking.
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