Web Design
White Paper| WLAN Design and Site Surveys
This paper aims to introduce the user to the concept and need for WLAN design and deployment methods. It also educates the user on site surveys, the preferred method for accurate design for WLANs.
History of WLAN Design
WLAN design has come a long way in the last couple of years with fundamental changes and acceptance in terms of the setting of design requirements, goals and methodologies for successful WLAN deployments. Before there were professional and purpose-built tools like AirMagnet Survey for WLAN design and deployment, the entire WLAN design and decision making process was very rough and rudimentary. Most users responsible for WLAN deployment employed a so-called “back-of-a-napkin” technique or did not design the network at all before deployment. This led to improper deployments of the network, which in turn led to wasted time, money, effort, and most importantly, a lack of positive results for the users in terms of connectivity or optimum performance. “Back-of-a-napkin” technique In the “napkin” technique, the user responsible for WLAN design drew the floor map on a piece of paper. In most cases, this map was simply a square or a rectangleshaped box that represented the 4 walls of a building. Next, the designer would mark 4 locations at the corners of the building and 1 in the center representing locations where APs needed to be placed. This design method would then be repeated for every floor. This method has some major shortcomings that must be overcome in order to have a WLAN that provides optimum security, performance and compliance to the user. Shortcomings include: 1. No consideration into the actual capabilities of the AP (channels, media, transmit power, etc.); 2. No consideration into locations where APs could be placed dependent on availability of the power or Ethernet cable drop points; 3. No consideration into coverage bleed-over outside the corporate building, which is a major security risk; 4.
This paper aims to introduce the user to the concept and need for WLAN design and deployment methods. It also educates the user on site surveys, the preferred method for accurate design for WLANs.
History of WLAN Design
WLAN design has come a long way in the last couple of years with fundamental changes and acceptance in terms of the setting of design requirements, goals and methodologies for successful WLAN deployments. Before there were professional and purpose-built tools like AirMagnet Survey for WLAN design and deployment, the entire WLAN design and decision making process was very rough and rudimentary. Most users responsible for WLAN deployment employed a so-called “back-of-a-napkin” technique or did not design the network at all before deployment. This led to improper deployments of the network, which in turn led to wasted time, money, effort, and most importantly, a lack of positive results for the users in terms of connectivity or optimum performance. “Back-of-a-napkin” technique In the “napkin” technique, the user responsible for WLAN design drew the floor map on a piece of paper. In most cases, this map was simply a square or a rectangleshaped box that represented the 4 walls of a building. Next, the designer would mark 4 locations at the corners of the building and 1 in the center representing locations where APs needed to be placed. This design method would then be repeated for every floor. This method has some major shortcomings that must be overcome in order to have a WLAN that provides optimum security, performance and compliance to the user. Shortcomings include: 1. No consideration into the actual capabilities of the AP (channels, media, transmit power, etc.); 2. No consideration into locations where APs could be placed dependent on availability of the power or Ethernet cable drop points; 3. No consideration into coverage bleed-over outside the corporate building, which is a major security risk; 4.