Wireless deploying questions

[M. W.]

Greeting to all,

I am setting a Wireless 802.11b network in a two level lab. 2nd floor is
an open area and much smaller than the first floor, but more wireless
clients,
for the 2nd floor I used an access point Orinoco AP-1000 and antennas and
the
coverage was excellent.
Now, on the first floor, I only receive reception from the Ap-1000 in a very
limited area
as there are a lot of brick wall partitions and metal ducts

These are the issues I am mixed up with.

1- What is the advantage/disadvantage of using an amplifier with one of the
omnidirection antennas
of the AP-100 on the 2nd floor to increase the range and cover the 1st
floor,
against having independent access points dedicated to the first floor?
I can get 1 Watt of power from the amplifier versus 150 mwatt from an AP.

2- If I end up using about 4 APs for the whole building, what are the
channel frequencies they will use?
I read that to avoid interference from adjacent channels, every active
channel has to be separated by 3 channels
apart, so 1,6,11 will work fine without interference, what about if I use
more than 3 APs?

3- With such a brief description, is there an alternative solution for full
coverage?

Thanks
M. Wahab

[Scotty]

On Thu, 03 Oct 2002 02:05:04 GMT, "M. W." <wah...@osu.edu> wrote:

>Greeting to all,
>
> I am setting a Wireless 802.11b network in a two level lab. 2nd floor is
>an open area and much smaller than the first floor, but more wireless
>clients,
>for the 2nd floor I used an access point Orinoco AP-1000 and antennas and
>the
>coverage was excellent.
>Now, on the first floor, I only receive reception from the Ap-1000 in a very
>limited area
>as there are a lot of brick wall partitions and metal ducts
>
>These are the issues I am mixed up with.
>
>1- What is the advantage/disadvantage of using an amplifier with one of the
>omnidirection antennas
>of the AP-100 on the 2nd floor to increase the range and cover the 1st
>floor,
>against having independent access points dedicated to the first floor?
>I can get 1 Watt of power from the amplifier versus 150 mwatt from an AP.

Well the advantage would be better coverage, but how many wireless
users are connecting to the AP? If you believe that that one AP can
suffice and bandwidth is not an issue then maybe the amplifier is your
best bet... I don't know what the regulations are with boosting the
Watts.

>
>2- If I end up using about 4 APs for the whole building, what are the
>channel frequencies they will use?
>I read that to avoid interference from adjacent channels, every active
>channel has to be separated by 3 channels
>apart, so 1,6,11 will work fine without interference, what about if I use
>more than 3 APs?

You will use 1, 6, 11... maybe set it up like this:

AP1-Channel 6 AP2-Channel 1 2nd floor
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AP3-Channel 11 AP4-Channel 6 1st floor

You will have some overlap on channel 6, but not enough to ruin your
WLAN

>
>3- With such a brief description, is there an alternative solution for full
>coverage?
>

Full coverage requires more tha 1 AP usually, especially in a
building. Having 1 AP with an omni and amplifier, might still have
dead spots in your building. This is just my though.... I would like
to see what others suggest.

>Thanks
>M. Wahab
>
>
>
>

[Don Widders]

"Scotty" <scott...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:3d9bac60...@netnews.attbi.com...

"More power, Scotty!" Ooops, sorry -- I couldn't resist.

You're right. Power amps would do nothing to help the client signal reach
the AP and a one way connection is not a connection at all, so amps would be
a waste of money.

In many (if not most) cases, a power amplifier costs more than an access
point. Additional access points is the better way to extend wireless access
to the wired network.

Don W.

[Daniel Carwile]

You may get by with one AP on the first floor. I found in my house the
signal is mostly on a flat plane, meaning it doesn't go up or down much. It
will go out about 25 yards. I don't know how large the first floor is, but
if you have to you can use two AP's on the first floor separated by 25
yards. This should take care of anyone in between and about 25 yards in
each direction. This distance is an estimate from my experience with a
Linksys BEFW11S4. It will vary according to obstructions. I don't have any
experience with the AP-1000. It may be better or worse.

Good Luck,
Danny

"M. W." <wah...@osu.edu> wrote in message
news:kBNm9.32292$kF.38...@twister.columbus.rr.com...

[Michael Erskine]

First amplifiers are illegal (in the USA).

Second, price one and that will clench the decision.

Go with the second AP or try a deep dish parabolic reflector template.

-m-

[Scotty]

Well there is your answer!

On 3 Oct 2002 16:07:47 -0700, osi...@deltaville.net (Michael Erskine)
wrote:

[M. W.]

Scotty, Don, Daniel, and Michael, thanks a lot for your
informative answers, now I know what I should do.

Very grateful.
M. Wahab

"M. W." <wah...@osu.edu> wrote in message
news:kBNm9.32292$kF.38...@twister.columbus.rr.com...