Implementing wireless onto an existing network, increasing the coverage in specific areas or updating the existing infrastructure has many benefits including:
Allowing mobile devices to easily connect to network resources. This is especially helpful for mobile workers, expanding companies and companies who hire private contractors for special services.
Providing necessary coverage in areas where coverage is weak and connections are often dropped.
Centralized management of jobs, devices, and job histories
Before deploying additional or replacement wireless access points, be sure to have a site survey of the existing wireless done first. Wireless site surveys generate heat maps which include the following information:
Wireless coverage
A channel map of the wireless access points
Access point coverage
Wirelss interference heat map
An access point list including the following information for each access point detected:
SSID
Access point number
Name
MAC address
Channel
Rate
Security protocol
Wireless mode (a, b, g, n, ac)
Avergage SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio)
Maximum SNR
Minimum SNR
Results include all access points picked up during the site survey. Reports can filter information to narrow down results, but having this information is key when looking at the interference map.
Example of a wireless heat map
Other important info:
Secondary Networks - creating a secondary wireless network to be used as the guest network is important to the security of the network. A guest network provides internet access to short term contractors, visitors and anyone else who need internet access, but who should not have access to the company's internal data.
Security - implementing the highest level of security protocols is important in protecting the network. If older legacy applications or devices cannot support these protocols, try creating a different wireless network to isolate this traffic which will help maintain a higher level of security.
Coverage - keep in mind more is not always better when it comes to wireless. If an area is oversaturated, users will suffer from results similar to a lack of coverage.
