|
Interference on the 2.4 GHz Band - Look at a 5 GHz Solution
The most common North American frequency band is the 2.4 GHz band with 11 channels. Only three of the channels are non-overlapping (1,6 and 11). Interference from other competing systems in the same area are becoming a problem due to limited channels in the 2.4 GHz band. If you plan to upgrade or install Wi-Fi, you should consider using the 5 GHz band. The 5 GHz band currently has 12 non-overlapping channels and more channels may become available in the future.
5 GHz Wi-Fi uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), which not only achieves data rates up to 54 Mbps on Cisco Aironet products but, is also immune to multi-path issues due to reflective services in buildings. The new IEEE 802.11a radios released by Cisco Aironet (AIR-RM21A and AIR-RM22A) have much greater range and better receive sensitivity than the older Cisco Aironet 5 GHz equipment. One AP 1200 using one of the new radios can cover up to 500 feet in all directions (Open Office Environment AIR-RM21A). The AIR-RM22A radio is non-captive and has several external antenna options. The new IEEE 802.11a radios also support the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). If you plan to install wireless, take a signal measurement to insure your environment is not already overrun with neighboring 2.4 GHz systems. If it is 5 GHz, Wi-Fi is the best alternative.
To learn more, contact GigaWave Technologies at 210.375.0085 or info@giga-wave.com
|
|
