capacity of our wireless

broow · ‎12-12-2008

we have 300 AP's in our site. 225 1230's b/g and 75 1220 b. Do the devices connecting at b only slow down all devices that connect to an AP? Also, is there a way to check if you are reaching the capacity of your WLAN?

andrew.brazier · ‎12-17-2008

B clients connecting to a G AP will degrade the performance of connected G clients on the same AP.

WLAN capacity is a bit more tricky, if it's all performing well then there's no problem! Do yuo have any form of WLAN management on your network?

srosenthal · ‎12-22-2008

Once a B device connects to your network, then it effects all of your AP's at this site. The reason for that is as follows - When a B client associates to the AP that AP then tells broadcasts that protection must be used. This is then picked up by the AP's in reach of this AP. Those AP's then believe they have to go into protection mode and this is then picked up by AP's within reach of those AP's. This just continues on througout the network.

This has been proven. A B client was turned on in a multi-story building on the first floor. It was only on long enough to associate to one AP then turned off. However, it was noticed that the AP's went into protection mode and that happened to all the AP's going up the building. It took over 24 hours after the B client was shut down for all AP's to clear from protection mode.