What is the coverage area of any AP..?

Ninad Thakare · ‎01-18-2014

Hi,

I am new to the Wireless section as worked in the R&S only.

What is the average range of any AP associated with the WLC and the basic of WLC work flow.

Please help me the concepts.

Thanks in advance.

Thanks & Regards.

Ninad Thakare

+91-814-991-6196

Leo Laohoo · ‎01-18-2014

Your question is LOADED.

Let's say that you are on the surface of the moon: No other buildings around you. No wireless around you. Your AP is operating at full power and all data rates are enabled.

If this is the case, you'll get about 30 to 40 metres in a single direction. This figure is with all 802.11b data rates enabled.

A lot of inexperience people who want to deploy wireless in an enterprise level ask this question. Like I said, this is a LOADED question because there are a lot of mitigating factors which severely affect the propagation of wireless signal in, for example, an office deployment. One of the biggest mistake novice also don't consider is when they think of wireless propagation they look at 2D: Length and Width. Wireless, because of the nature of radio, is 3D: Length, Width and HEIGHT.

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Scott Fella · ‎01-18-2014

I agree with Leo here. These days you never look at how far an AP covers. Back in the days the access points data sheets had the receive sensitivity range in ft., they got rid of that info because it's really irrelevant. You need to provide coverage by understanding what the requirements are for the wireless. Attenuation and noise has an affect on your coverage and like Leo mentioned, you need to be on the moon... Don't really know about that though:). Maybe in Utah's Salt Flats.

Here is a reference from the 1242, and it's just a reference.... Doesn't mean that it's accurate for your environment.

Range (Typical)
Indoor (Distance Across Open Office Environment):
Outdoor:
802.11a:
? 85 ft (26 m) at 54 Mbps
? 150 ft (46 m) at 48 Mbps
? 210 ft (64 m) at 36 Mbps
? 230 ft (70 m) at 24 Mbps
? 260 ft (79 m) at 18 Mbps
? 280 ft (85 m) at 12 Mbps
? 310 ft (94 m) at 9 Mbps
? 330 ft (100 m) at 6 Mbps
802.11g:
? 105 ft (32 m) at 54 Mbps
? 180 ft (55 m) at 48 Mbps
? 260 ft (79 m) at 36 Mbps
? 285 ft (87 m) at 24 Mbps
? 330 ft (100 m) at 18 Mbps
? 355 ft (108 m) at 12 Mbps
? 365 ft (111 m) at 11 Mbps
? 380 ft (116 m) at 9 Mbps
? 410 ft (125 m) at 6 Mbps
? 425 ft (130 m) at 5.5 Mbps
? 445 ft (136 m) at 2 Mbps
? 460 ft (140 m) at 1 Mbps
802.11a:
? 100 ft (30 m) at 54 Mbps
? 300 ft (91 m) at 48 Mbps
? 425 ft (130 m) at 36 Mbps
? 500 ft (152 m) at 24 Mbps
? 550 ft (168 m) at 18 Mbps
? 600 ft (183 m) at 12 Mbps
? 625 ft (190 m) at 9 Mbps
? 650 ft (198 m) at 6 Mbps
802.11g:
? 120 ft (37 m) at 54 Mbps
? 350 ft (107 m) at 48 Mbps
? 550 ft (168 m) at 36 Mbps
? 650 ft (198 m) at 24 Mbps
? 750 ft (229 m) at 18 Mbps
? 800 ft (244 m) at 12 Mbps
? 820 ft (250 m) at 11 Mbps
? 875 ft (267 m) at 9 Mbps
? 900 ft (274 m) at 6 Mbps
? 910 ft (277 m) at 5.5 Mbps
? 940 ft (287 m) at 2 Mbps
? 950 ft (290 m) at 1 Mbps
Measured with 2.2-dBi dipole antenna for 2.4 GHz, and 3.5-dBi omnidirectional antenna for 5 GHz.

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps5678/ps6521/product_data_sheet0900aecd8031c844.html

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-Scott
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Ninad Thakare · ‎01-29-2014

Thanks for the info. It will help me alot.

Regads,

Ninad Thakare

Abha Jha · ‎01-30-2014

It depends on the antennae and the 802.11 protocol that you use that is 2.4 GHZ or 5 GHZ.