Planning for802.11ac

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Agenda

Understanding the issues12 Planning for coverage

34

Planning for capacity

Planning for coverage and capacity

Client Considerations56 Upgrade Planning

Understanding the Issues

• 802.11ac features:• Wider channels (up to 160 MHz)• More spatial streams (up to 8)• 256-QAM modulation• MU-MIMO (Transmit Beamforming)

Understanding the Issues

• Spectrum utilization• 2.4 GHz vs. 5 GHz• 20 MHz• 40 MHz• 80 MHz• 160 MHz

• Data rates• Increase from 11a/g through 11ac

Planning for Coverage

• No discussion required for 2.4 GHz• 5 GHz provides for 25 20 MHz channels

• 22 are available for use in the US• 9 are guaranteed to be available• 195 MHz additional space very likely in 2015• Channel reference numbering changed

UNII-1 UNII-2 UNII-2-Extended UNII-3

20 MHz

40 MHz

80 MHz

DFS ChannelsNew with 11acTDWR

5.150-5.250 5.250-5.330 5.490-5.730 5.735-5.815

Planning for Capacity

• Capacity is king – coverage is assumed• Stated differently – anyone can do

coverage• Keith Parsons, “…coverage is easy.”

• Considerations related to capacity:• Applications• Users/clients• Wireless side• Wired side

• Installing more physical AP devices is not the only solution

Planning for Coverage and Capacity

• Must consider channel planning with capacity requirements in mind• Individual throughput• Aggregate throughput• Factors:

• Co-channel interference• User volume in channel• Applications• Client types

Client Considerations

• Today• Most clients on 802.11n• Few clients on 802.11ac• Few clients on 802.11bg• Fewer clients on 802.11a

• Tomorrow• Most clients on 802.11ac• Few clients on 802.11n

• DFS and Clients• Know your clients• Make DFS support a primary consideration

going forward

Upgrading

• From 802.11n• Phase 1

• Continue use of 40 MHz channels• Phase 2

• After client support: implement 80 MHz channels• From 802.11a/b/g

• Little use of 11a, but must be considered• When in place:

• Replace APs with same channel plan• If adding more APs, adjust channel plan after additional

APs are installed• Maintain existing b/g and overlay ac

• Initially, disable 2.4 GHz on ac APs• Enable 2.4 GHz as b/g devices are removed

Tools of the Trade

• Spectrum analyzer• No new investment required - technically

• Protocol analyzer• New investment required

• Site survey software• New investment required

Agenda

Understanding the issues12 Planning for coverage

34

Planning for capacity

Planning for coverage and capacity

Client Considerations56 Upgrade Planning