Maximize Your Wireless Network
Wireless networking, for all its value and
simplicity, can sometimes be frustrating.
Stated performance is not always achieved.
Coverage gaps and connection drops can
sometimes occur for seemingly no reason. It
can be hard to determine whether a link is
secure. And sometimes adding another access
point makes things worse, not better.
It is commonly accepted that wireless
LANs rarely perform at specified rates.
There are many reasons for this, including
interference from non-network devices such
as microwaves and cordless phones, and
interference from overlapping access
points—yours as well as others. In addition,
scores of users are often competing for the
same network channel. In larger wireless LAN
installations, a best practice is to
undertake a site survey to determine the
optimal physical location of each access
point as well as channel selection. Site
surveys are expensive and time consuming, so
they do not happen as often as they should.
(Some users try to fix coverage issues by
installing more access points, which can
increase interference and compound the
problem.)
- Segmentation and
improved performance
across network
subnets
- Enhanced network
security
- Easier
administration and
support
- Advanced quality
of service (QoS)
capabilities
- Voice over IP
(VoIP)
- Power over
Ethernet (PoE)
connection for IP
phones, access
points or IP
security cameras
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