We've found that in order to increase capacity/throughput and reduce interference, we've had to add access points and then reduce power levels to create smaller cells rather than simply increasing power. We've been trying to isolate APs from one another so they can't hear each other as well--that is the only way to provide more capacity with the limited channel selection available. The problem with putting APs in the hallways is that they can all hear each other very well, so you can't pack them as densely using the 3 available non-overlapping 2.4 GHz channels 1,6,11 (Yes, there are more 5 GHz channels available, but even 5 GHz will be channel-limited once you start doing 40 MHz, 80 MHz or bigger channels with 802.11ac). In fact, using auto-tuning with APs in the hallways will cause them to reduce their power so much that will you have the problem that the signal won't penetrate through the usually RF-unfriendly walls into the individual dorm rooms. Increasing power will just cause APs to interfere with each other.
All of these problems have led us to the conclusion that the only sensible way forward is to move APs from hallways into the dorm rooms. We have done that with a few of our buildings, and that along with manual AP tuning (channel selection + power selection) has improved the situation greatly. We haven't had a problem with theft or vandalism and haven't worried about AP visibility. In fact, many people mistake our APs for smoke detectors to the extent that they've called in Facilities when they noticed a high-pitch wine coming from them (a common failure mode of our Trapeze/Nortel/Juniper APs for which we use our workstudy students' young ears to help find). Our students tend to understand that they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they mess with the APs. Besides, what could they do with an AP that doesn't work without connecting to an expensive WLAN controller? Finally, AP vandalism/theft is easy to deal with if it does happen--have Residential Services take it out of their damage deposit, or the whole floor's damage deposits in the case of hallway-mounted devices. I don't think we've had even a single case of this happening yet, though. We do use enclosures for some of our APs, namely exterior units or units in harsh environments (pool, gymnasium, batting cage?). We've generally settled on plastic NEMA rated L-Com boxes which can be pad-locked if desired. There are models big enough to accomodate multiple antennas if desired. To the point about hard ceilings, you can mount the APs high up on a wall or use surface-mounted raceway on the ceiling. We've had to do this in one of our dorms that has "honeycomb" style cement-cast ceilings. The electrical was done in the same way, so it is no more ugly than the existing infrastructure :-) On Wed, Oct 22, 2014 at 05:20:44PM +0000, Stewart, Joe wrote: > We recently renovated some of our dorm buildings. Prior to the renovation we > only had about approximately 4 access points per building due to legacy/lack > of infrastructure. We received tons of complaints as the demand for wireless > continued to grow each year. We have tripled the amount of access points > since I've been employed here. With this in mind we wanted to just blanket > the dorms with access points (15-20 per dorm, Cisco 3602E & 3702E). One > thing I've noticed with this deployment strategy is that the access points > are transmitting between power levels 7 and 8. We were stuck with deploying > all of our hardware above the drop ceiling in the hallway. I prefer to put > them in the rooms but we they are all hard lid and we always like to keep > them out of sight. Hallway deployments are not ideal with all the mechanical > crap in the ceilings not to mention I have to break tiles to even get to my > hardware which makes upgrades/replacements a complete headache. I'm noticing > that the access points have more overlap with hallway deployments as they > have more clear line of site with each other compared to being inside a room, > which is why the power levels aren't changing much even when I'm turning off > radios. > > We have had some students complain saying they can't maintain a stable > connection and when they leave their room and enter the hallway all is fine. > I'm in the process of evaluating things and turning access points off and > trying to line things up staggered across several floors to bump up the power > levels. In dorm rooms that haven't been renovated where students are > experiencing lack of coverage I've been installing a temp access points > inside the room mounted to the wall using a master lock and this has been > working out great. This allows me to gain statistics and proceed with a plan > moving forward. I'm also exploring the following Oberon enclosure for inside > rooms: http://oberonwireless.com/WebDocs/Model1031-00_Spec_Sheet.pdf > > Joe Stewart > Network Specialist II > Claremont McKenna College > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Osborne, Bruce W > (Network Services) > Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 4:45 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN design presentation tips? > > Re: Vandalism, just charge the room members for the damaged AP. It is more > difficult in the hallway installations. > > When we had damaged APs in hallway installations, we just assessed the damage > costs to everyone on the dorm floor until a culprit was identified. I think, > in our case, the offender was always identified. Our APs were mounted on the > hallway walls, but that is no match for ball playing in the halls. > > I agree with Philippe's points also,. > > Bruce Osborne > Network Engineer - Wireless Team > IT Network Services > > (434) 592-4229 > > LIBERTY UNIVERSITY > Training Champions for Christ since 1971 > > -----Original Message----- > From: Thomas Carter [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 3:24 PM > Subject: Re: WLAN design presentation tips? > > We're looking at revamping our "down the hall" model as well as we look to > address 802.11ac (and replacing old Juniper wireless now that they're getting > out of the wireless market). The biggest thing is the ability to pack APs > more densely without signal interference than "down the hall". We have random > spots and wireless "shadows" due to elevators, broom closets, etc. > > Unfortunately more APs means more cost, but we're weighing using a slightly > lower model to help make up the cost. > > Vandalism is just as likely in the hallways as in the rooms. I think that if > students know that is where their Internet access comes from, they're not > likely to mess with it. Add to that (at least here) there are specific people > to hold responsible for the vandalism rather than anyone walking down the > hallway. > > Thomas Carter > Network and Operations Manager > Austin College > 903-813-2564 > > > -----Original Message----- > From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kevin McCormick > Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 1:47 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] WLAN design presentation tips? > > We installed in the hallways due to cost, access for maintenance, and concern > of vandalism in room. Coverage from hallway using our design was excellent. > We designed the layout in Cisco Prime. Testing after install showed the > wireless working very well in the rooms, even on 5 Ghz. > Wireless just needs planning and design considerations for the location and > environment. > > -- > Kevin McCormick > uTech Network Services > Western Illinois University > > > On 10/21/2014 12:47 PM, Williams, Matthew wrote: > > I've just started here at Kent State and I'm facing an uphill battle > > regarding updating our WLAN design. All APs are deployed in the hallways > > and we're rolling out 802.11ac. We'd like to move the APs into the rooms, > > but the mere suggestion has been met with resistance. I was just wondering > > if any of you had any tips or suggestions for trying presenting the new > > model to upper management. Thanks for any suggestions that you might share! ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
