8.7.Wireless AP Placement
Last updated
Was this helpful?
Last updated
Was this helpful?
WLANs using more than one AP (an ESS WLAN) require careful planning to prevent the APs from interfering with one another, while still servicing a desired coverage area.
An overlap of coverage between APs should exist to allow uninterrupted roaming from one WLAN cell (which is the coverage area provided by an AP) to another.
However, those overlapping coverage areas should not use overlapping frequencies.
Figure below shows how nonoverlapping channels in the 2.4-GHz band can overlap their coverage areas to provide seamless roaming between AP coverage areas.
A common WLAN design recommendation is to have a 10–15 percent overlap of coverage between adjoining cells.
If a WLAN has more than three APs, the APs can be deployed in a honeycomb fashion to allow an overlap of AP coverage areas while avoiding an overlap of identical channels.
The example shown in Figure below shows an approach to channel selection for adjoining cells in the 2.4-GHz band. Notice that cells using the same nonoverlapping channels (channels 1, 6, and 11) are separated by another cell. For example, notice that none of the cells using channel 11 overlap another cell using channel 11.
