WGB in opposite direction

[gzsoldog]

Dear Aironet specialists, I want to deploy the following scenario:

Wired LAN --- AP -+- WGB --- AP -+- Clients

(Links: --- wired Ethernet, -+- radio)

Is this structure workable? What happens if there are more than 8 Clients, can they roam btw. the 2 APs if the radiated areas overlap?

[derwin]

Ok first off, you can not have more that 8 MAC address behind the WGB, This will be one for your AP leaving you only 7 for clients.

Now what is the distance between these devices ? Do you have any wired devices on the remote end that need to access this network ? How many clients do you expect ?

If you have only wireless devices then you could leave the WGB out and configure the 2nd AP as a repeater (ethernet port will be disabled for traffic), but just remember a repeater will affect your throughput.

If you have wired devices on the remote end then you would be much better off with a pair of bridges (BR350's) and configure the remote one as non root with clients.

[gzsoldog]

Thanks for the valuable answer.

The distance is about 250 m, the 2 APs are in the opposit corner of a rectangular area (a yacht jetty on a lake). There are no wired clients, so the repeater is a good idea. WL client number can be somewhere between 5 to 20 altogether. Thanks.

[gzsoldog]

Some more questions about repeater APs:

The 2 APs obviously must use the same channels. How will then work roaming btw. the 2 APs? (same area).

The near end AP (connected to LAN) use a 12dB omni mast antenna. For the remote AP which acts as repeater and access point for clients, I designed 1 directional antenna for the other AP and another (omni) for the clients (with splitter). Can I use one 12dB omni mast antenna on the remote AP also???

Thanks.

[derwin]

250 M outdoors.

I would strongly advise you do a site survey as you may find that there is enough coverage from on AP

The Data sheet specs will give you around 244M@11mbs With the 2.2dbi dipole antenna. Real world can be plus or minus this as there are many factors that affect range.

I would recommend that you try 1 AP in a site survery with a higher gain see what the coverage is like then if need be add the repeater.

The 2 antenna ports need to have the same type of antenna connected as they are diversity antennas not 2 seperate RF ports.

As to your roaming question. A Cisco client if it has a choice of associating to an AP and a Repeater will always pick the AP, it will only use the repeater if there is no AP to associate to due to the reduced throughput.

[gzsoldog]

We had done the site survey already, with the 12dBi Omni mast antenna. Unfortunately in Europe ETSI allowes only 100mW EIRP, that is, with 12 dBi antenna I can use only 5 mW output. With this, at the end of the pier, we have abut 12 - 27% level, 45 - 65% quality. This level will not be enough in the summer, when there will be some dozen of mast of yachts, I suppose. On the other hand, on the lighting pinnacle at the entrance of the harbour a directed antenna can be placed with high gain toward the other (near-end) AP, moreover at about 6 meter high.

I thougt the 2 antennas of the remote AP to be used with a splitter.

Thanks.

[derwin]

Yes I would not recommend 12 -17% sig strength there is not much fade margin there.

I strongly recommend that you do not place a splitter between the antenna and AP. You are introducing more loss into an already low power system. You will also then be responsible for certification as per local requirements, the certification on the AP is with standard coax and antenna if you change this in anyway then it is no longer valid, please check local regulations

The 2 antenna ports are diversity ports only. We will transmitt out of with ever port is selected in the configuration. If diversity is configured then we will monitor both antennas and use the highest signal strength one. This is to mitigate the effects on multipathing

See this link for more details on this

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps469/products_data_sheet09186a008008883b.html

In most outdoor applications there is no need for diverse anteanna as there is less to bouce the signal of, compared to an office with nice flat walls and cubical work stations.

The best option here would be 2 AP's one of which is a repeater.

An even better option if you could run an ethernet cable out to a mid point of the marina would be a 2 cell design and simply allow clients to roam between the 2 AP's, remember the AP's use inline power so this could help with getting power out to the other AP, just remember to stay within the CAT 5 specs for cable length

[gzsoldog]

OK, so I can use the remote AP as repeater, with one 12 dBi Omni mast antenna (there is no way to run out a cable to the pier).

Thanks a lot.