WLAN Planning and Site Surveys

• Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) provide flexible and efficient communication for various devices and are pivotal in modern connectivity.
• Planning is essential for optimal WLAN performance, reliability, and scalability.
• The key components and considerations are required when planning a WLAN.
• Site surveys, detailed inspections of the deployment site, are pivotal in deploying a wireless network.
• Site surveys help determine key decisions in deployment, such as frequency selection, mounting location, and channel assignments.
• Administrators should make software and hardware adjustments based on benchmarks after equipment installation.
• The physical environment affects deployment, so wireless admins should consider blueprints/maps, mounting locations, and construction materials.
• Spectrum analysis is important to consider for noise sources and co-channel interference, and attenuation from obstructions.
• Wireless admins should perform site surveys of the WLAN area before during, and after deployment.
• Obtain building floor plans noting objects not on the blueprints and consult when designing WLAN architecture.
• The UniFi Controller is needed to measure UAP coverage areas by uploading maps.

Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) & Wiring

• Ethernet cables supply power to wireless access points through Power over Ethernet (PoE).
• UAPs, IP cameras and other PoE-ready equipment receive power from power sourcing equipment (PSEs) like EdgeSwitch.
• It is important to specify proper voltage on each port of the UniFi Switch to avoid hardware damage.
• Ethernet cables ensure proper functioning at advertised data rates (100/1000 Mbps); otherwise bottlenecks occur.
• Outdoor-rated, shielded-twisted pair (STP) Ethernet cables like TOUGHCable should be used to protect against harsh weather.
• The two of today's PoE standards defined are 802.3af and 802.3at.
• Some UAP models are compliant with certain standards because of their requirements for more power (48V) to support advanced features like dual radios and 3x3 MIMO.
• CAT5e or later Ethernet cables are needed when pairing other UAPs with adapters and use passive PoE due to their lower power consumption (24V).
• Operators are able to run cable up to 100m+ distance to provide PoE at the end of the UAP.
• Distance is subject to decrease in situations where more power is needed (e.g., 48V, Gigabit Ethernet).
• Certain UAP models have a secondary Ethernet port for bridging network connections, acting as a simple bridge port to extend the wired LAN's reach.

Device Forecasting

• Besides estimating the minimum number of access points, forecasting the number of required network devices is important.
• The sum of the wattage used for each POE device can estimate the minimum number of UniFi Switches needed to supply POE throughout the LAN.
• The Ubiquiti UniFi Network Planner tool is used to gather information about the planned site to generate a Bill of Materials, which secures project bids.

Spectrum Analysis

• Spectrum analyzers measure energy levels across the spectrum to identify noise sources.
• Spectrum analysis data assists in choosing wireless channels and anticipating client signals, SNR, and data rates throughout the WLAN.
• Smaller channel widths (20 MHz) ensure the best possible SNR in urban areas with wireless saturation.
• Signal and speed tests are useful when performing throughout the WLAN using real-world client devices.
• Second Generation allows administrators to scan the RF environment using a built-in spectrum analyzer tool.

Client WLAN Scanning

• inSSIDer is a software useful for measuring receive signal levels and noise floor based on nearby networks.
• Client spectrum analysis software identifies RSSI, channel, SSID and MAC addresses.
• A new UAP on an adjacent or non-adjacent channel decreases co-channel interference.
• The probability of co-channel interference creates high levels and ensures performance as the WLAN scales larger
• Smaller channel bandwidths achieve better signals and greater wireless range.

Cell Overlap

• UAP cells overlap enough for the application by testing client applications and tweaking cell areas.
• Overlapping cells cause co-located networks that compete for access to the same channel may hear each other.
• Poor performance or AP-assisted roaming could results from cells that do not overlap enough.
• Overlapping cells increase the potential for collisions and co-channel interference, however their use in roaming is increased.
• Adjust neighboring AP cells to use the same channels, so that their signals do not arrive at each other's cell edges beyond what is necessary

Minimum RSSI

• Important to manage enterprise network to help client devices during roaming
• Ensures that client devices that remain connected to the appropriate UAP by using a single low-signal client which drags down performance through wasted airtime, slow data rates, and instability.
• UniFi to set minimum RSSI on individual UAPs by radio bands (2G and 5G)
• Minimum RSSI relies on de-authentication packet requests sent to the station
• Decision of whether to de-authenticate and look for another UAP belongs to that of the Client device

Mounting UAPs

• Wireless admins should consult antenna radiation diagrams of access points to create the most effective coverage area.
• UniFi APs come with mounting kits to be mounted on walls, ceilings, or poles.
• It may be necessary to place the UAP in a concealed location in open spaces where walls/ceiling are distant from the center of the room.
• Wireless administrators must be conscious of how signals propagate and undergo loss, regardless of how and where the UAP is mounted.
• Higher frequency signals attenuate more when passing through obstacles.
• Metal materials attenuate signals more than less dense materials like glass or wood.

Deployment

• It is necessary to identify UAPs in the real-world and in the Controller when in large-scale deployments.
• The UniFi Controller features a locate tool for identifying each individual UAP with an Alias tag.
• The UniFi Discovery Tool locates UniFi APs on the local network without logging into a Controller, identifies models and resets to factory defaults.
• Wireless Uplink requires one UAP establish downlinks (up to four) to nearby UAPs.
• The feature extends the range of the WLAN without cables and is comparable to mesh and WDS repeater topologies.