| I will show you Methods for WLAN extend of | | | | - Decrease power on AP until you get high and |
| radio coverage area. Range of access point | | | | consistent bandwidth |
| depends on power of its transmitter. Different | | | | You could also start from lowest possible power |
| versions of WLAN standards have different | | | | level. Then you increase power level until you get |
| ranges. | | | | maximum and consistent bandwidth. |
| Different radio signals and other wireless | | | | 3) Distribute access points optimally. You can |
| networks could interference with yours WLAN | | | | increase radio coverage area by doing proper site |
| signal. This could cause decrease in radio coverage. | | | | survey. Distribution of access points is very |
| Different obstacles especially steel reinforcing | | | | important factor of the radio coverage area. |
| could even cause complete loss of signal called | | | | You’ll be amazed, but to many access points |
| black spot. | | | | can reduce bandwidth. They can make congestion |
| Radio Coverage of one access point (BSS) is | | | | and interference. |
| often not enough for many situations. | | | | If you want to make maximum radio coverage, |
| There are available different methods for | | | | position access points to have 15 % overlap |
| extension of WLAN radio coverage: | | | | between. You can cover very large area with |
| 1) Use access point in repeater mode - wireless | | | | minimum cost, if you distribute access points with |
| distribution system. When you use wireless | | | | minimum overlap. Stations can move freely and |
| distribution system or access point in repeater | | | | make roaming between access points, if you put |
| mode, AP is not connected to backbone. Its | | | | same SSID on all access points in area. |
| connection to backbone is over root access point. | | | | Make proper planning, and right access point |
| Its Ethernet port is connected to backbone. In | | | | distribution, and you will with minimum coast have |
| repeater mode, Ethernet port on the AP does not | | | | optimal results. |
| forward traffic. | | | | 4) Use of secondary access point with |
| So you have repeater AP, connected to root AP, | | | | non-overlapping channels. Use of secondary AP in |
| and if client connects to repeater AP, range is | | | | access point mode with non-overlapping channels, |
| extended. | | | | can make your radio coverage much larger. |
| Repeater mode disadvantage is decrease in | | | | Use this method only if you can connect this |
| bandwidth - because AP needs to receive and | | | | second access point to backbone, or wired part |
| send packet on the same channel. | | | | of the network. Disadvantage of this method is |
| 2) Increase power level of access point. You can | | | | that wired network has to be reachable to |
| extend radio coverage area of access point by | | | | second access point. |
| increasing AP power level. Transmitted power of | | | | Advantage of this method is, that it is easiest to |
| access point is directly proportional to the radio | | | | implement. It doesn’t require much of |
| coverage area. So if you increase power, radio | | | | configuration. Just a basic configuration on second |
| coverage area will be larger. | | | | access point. |
| Government regulates the highest power level for | | | | Use non-overlapping channels, when you configure |
| radio devices. Maximum power level is 100 mW. | | | | this 2 access points. If you use close, overlapping |
| Usually power on access point is reduced, because | | | | channels, interference could happen. This leads to |
| of interference. If you make proper site survey, | | | | poor connectivity and lower bandwidth. |
| you can use maximum possible transmitted | | | | Make sure to have just right distance between to |
| power. | | | | access points. If they are to close, you can have |
| Here is procedure to set up optimal power level | | | | congestion, and you are also loosing radio |
| on AP: | | | | coverage area. |
| - Set maximum power on AP. | | | | |