Fundamentals of Optimising Your Wifi Network in Warehouse Environments.
In recent months we have seen an increase in organisations with warehouses or in the warehouse industry reaching out to…
Surprisingly, We’ve recently spoken to a number of other resellers who do not carry out onsite wireless surveys.. This is asking for trouble!
All too often we speak to end users who are experiencing issues with their wireless network, the mojority of the time when we investigate the route cause it stems back to the very beginning of the planning stages, where an IT reseller did not conduct a wireless survey onsite.
Site surveys determine signal coverage, throughput requirements, interfering sources, dead spots, potential roaming behavior, etc. and helps determine:
Without site surveys it is difficult to determine the capital investment needed to deploy the wireless network in a timely and cost efficient manner.
Site surveys are performed using professional grade tool kits such as AirMagnet Survey Pro. Without the use of a professional site survey tool, it is virtually impossible to plan and implement a robust and reliable wireless system that extends beyond two or three AP’s in a small single floor area. The purpose of these surveys in regards to channel planning should be to ensure adequate coverage without causing additional channel utilization or interference.
Some other considerations when surveying the network:
There are 14 channels designated on the 2.4 GHz spectrum which are 20 MHz wide. The channel centers are separated by 5 MHz, and the entire spectrum is only 100 MHz wide total. This means that the channels have to squeeze into the 100 MHz available, and in the end, overlap.
However, there are three channels that don’t overlap: 1, 6 and 11, as you can see in the image below. Co-channel interference is where devices take turns talking, so the more devices on one channel, the longer it takes for a device to talk since it has to wait for its turn.
Using overlapping channels causes errors, which results in packet re-transmissions and significantly decreased network performance.
The same problem exists when using more than one access point on the same channel in the same physical area. This is called co-channel interference. Co-channel interference should be avoided as it can have a dramatic effect on network performance
Co-Channel interference isn’t a major problem until there are too many WiFi devices on the same channel. Adjacent-Channel interference on the other hand is where you run into problems and channel selection becomes critical. Luckily, these channel related interference’s can be reduced or eliminated by selecting the proper WiFi channel for your network.
Using a spectrum analyzer like AirMagnet Spectrum XT will allow you to see this wireless environment, so you can either select the right channel or mitigate WiFi interference. Ultimately, improving your WLAN network performance.
RF signals are very unpredictable. If an access point is placed in an open environment without obstacles, the signals usually maintain an omni-directional pattern. However, when obstacles and walls are introduced, the RF signals are disrupted and access point coverage varies based on location.
It is important not to generalise every wireless deployment in terms of requirements. For example, in an office environment where file and print services and Internet access are the primary needs, a few dead spots may be tolerable. But in a healthcare environment where medical personnel require unrestricted wireless access to patient information this is unacceptable.
Without a wireless survey it would be virtually impossible to determine if the technical requirements of the business can be supported!
Gather requirements — An initial planning session will be held to review preliminary design requirements, confirm your objectives and goals for assessment. We will also identify and confirm the in-scope and out-of-scope areas for design, in-scope areas that have AP mounting restrictions and review floor plans to bring attention to any potential trouble areas
Perform the survey — Indoor & outdoor surveys, active surveys enabling real-world measurements, spectrum analysis and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoFi) surveys if needed
Deliver the results — Comprehensive and easy-to-understand report with a bill of materials for complete installation
What does the site assessment include?
The site assessment includes:
New installations — Determine capital investment and obtain the number and preferred location of access points for the best coverage before the initial deployment
Existing installations — Verify the number of access points required versus the number actually deployed and validate their location to ensure optimal performance for all end users
Ongoing optimisation — Ensure optimal performance by conducting periodic site surveys in order to account for changes in the WLAN environment
Iris Networks site assessment service uses software and industry best practices to locate and map authorised and unauthorised wireless access points, review any corporate access point deployment, analyze the environment for interference and design and plan a WLAN network.
If you are a reseller, distributor or a systems integrator that needs an experienced partner to deliver wireless projects on your behalf, whether it be for small or large scale customers contact us to discuss your requirements.
