WLAN Infrastructure Design Challenges

The biggest challenge of designing a wireless LAN is making sure you have enough coverage to get the results you expect while not needlessly throwing money away by going overboard.
 
Although, there is no pat answer that will satisfy every situation, the following interactive questionnaire will help point you in the right direction.

Access Point Count - Start by getting a count of how many access points (AP) you will need by first determining whether your facility is a dense environment (walls, shelves, several small offices/rooms) or a wide open space (warehouse/factory with low shelving, courtyard).

If you have a dense environment divide your total square footage by 32k to determine how many access points you will need.

If you have an open environment divide your total square footage by 96k to determine how many access points you will need.

Click on the link below that corresponds with your answer.

2 or Less | Greater than 2 | Greater than 6 | Greater than 48

---

1 - 2 Access Points

Do you need 802.11n?

YES:

 

 

NO:

 

The AP5131 is the perfect choice.  This adaptive indoor access point features a single 802.11 a/b/g or dual band 802.11a/b/g radios, external antenna support, wireless mesh connectivity, WIPS sensor, and supports up to 127 devices.

 

---

3 - 6 Access Points

Do you need 802.11n?

YES:

We recommend the RFS4000 wireless controller and the AP650 thin access point.  The RFS4000 will control up to 6 a/b/g/n access points and supports up to 200 users.  This controller also features 5 POE ports, an optional integrated 802.11a/b/g/n dual radio access point, 3G backhaul, integrated WIPS, and integrated locationing.

 

 NO:

The RFS4000 wireless controller in conjunction with the AP300 thin access point will get the job done.  The RFS4000 will control up to 6 a/b/g/n access points and supports up to 200 users.  This controller also features 5 POE ports, an optional integrated 802.11a/b/g/n dual radio access point, 3G backhaul, integrated WIPS, and integrated locationing.

 

---

7 - 48 Access Points

Do you need 802.11n?

YES:

This solution is going to require something a little more robust which is why we recommend using the RFS6000 wireless controller along with AP650 thin access points.  The RFS6000 supports 256 a/b/g/n adaptive access points, 48 a/b/g access points, 8 POE ports, up to 20,000 connected devices, and features 3G backhaul, active failover and load balancing.

 

 NO:

In this case because you have so many access points, but do not require 802.11n, we recommend the RFS6000 wireless controller and the AP300 thin access points.  The RFS6000 supports 256 a/b/g/n adaptive access points, 48 a/b/g access points, 8 POE ports, up to 20,000 connected devices, and features 3G backhaul, active failover and load balancing.

---

Greater than 48 Access Points

For more than 48 Access Points, we strongly reccomend contacting our wireless solutions architects at 800-274-0324 to schedule a wireless site survey.

---