Installing Wireless Access Points: Errors

After you have performed your site survey, installed your access points, and configured your clientsyou will always find problems some where. Hopefully you can avoid some of the errors listed below.

1. Access Point Placement - Do not place access points in corners, by phones, large metal objects, behind posts, microwave ovens.

2. Antenna Diversity - Dont have your access pont at full transmission power if it dosent need to. The most secure wireless network is one that nobody knows about. Often A medium sized business with a couple cheap access points will be broadcastin their signal for blocks.

3. Antenna Installation - Reduce you cable length as much as possible. Also check the maxium cable length for that antenna.

4. No dynamic IP addresses - Give all your wireless access points permanent IP addresses.

5. Same channel - Change your wireless access points to the same channel but dont leave it at the default.

6. Quality vs Quantity - Spend the money on a good access points and antennas. You want as few access points in one area as possible.

7. Spend the Money on POE ( Power over ethernet)access points - With POE your not limited to where you can place your access points.

8. Firmware - Update your wireless access points firmware before you install it. You could fry your access point and have to uninstall, that sucks.