BRKEWN 3016 Niehaus Finalone

Understanding RF Fundamentals and the Radio Design of Wireless Networks
Session ID-BRKEWN-3016
Session Abstract
This advanced session focuses on the deep-dive understanding of the often overlooked Radio Frequency part of the designing and deploying a Wireless LAN Network. It discusses 802.11 Radio, MIMO, Access Points and antenna placements, when to use a DAS system, antenna patterns It covers the main environments such as carpeted offices, campuses and conference centers, and it provides feedback based on lessons learned from challenging deployments such as outdoor/stadium/rail deployments and manufacturing areas.
Presentation_ID
2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Cisco Public
Session Agenda - Objectives

What is radio how did we get here and what is frequency?
Basic 802.11 RF terminology and radio hardware identification

802.11 Antenna Basics Single & Diversity Antennas Interpreting antenna patterns Cisco Richfield Facility Diversity, Multipath, and the technical elements of 802.11n DAS (Distributed Antenna Systems) overview how used Access Point Models and Features 802.11n design and deployment Installations above ceiling (plenum) installations that went wrong Antennas for Rugged Access Points MIMO antennas for ceilings and walls
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
What We Wont Be Covering

Mesh deployments Clean-Air (separate session for that) Interference mitigation Specific site survey utilities LBS (Location Base Services) FCC rules and regulations WLAN management 802.11n beyond RF characteristics
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
What is radio? How did we get here and what is frequency?
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
Basic understanding of Radio
AC Frequency 60 Hz or 60 CPS Cycles Per Second
Battery is DC Direct Current
Typical home is AC Alternating Current
Waves travel back and forth so fast they leave the wire
How fast the AC current goes is its frequency AC is very low frequency 60 Hz (Cycles Per Second) Radio waves are measured in kHz, MHz and GHz The lower the frequency the physically longer the radio wave Higher frequencies have much shorter waves as such, they take more power to move them greater distances. This is why 2.4 GHz goes further then 5 GHz (given same amount of RF power)
Presentation_ID 2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Popular Radio Frequencies:

AM Radio 650 kHz = WSM 650 AM Shortwave 3-30 MHz FM Radio 88-108 MHz Weather Radio 162.40 MHz Cellular Phones 800-900 MHz WiFi 802.11a 5 GHz WiFi 802.11b/g 2.4 GHz
Vintage RF Transmitter
Cisco Public
Radio Spectrum goes almost from DC to Light

You just need a radio receiver to tune them in
Each Frequency or sets of frequencies (channels) have different services such as Shortwave, FM radio, television, etc - Most of these are licensed services however some like Wi-Fi are unlicensed
DC
Presentation_ID
Rest assured your Federal Government knows these frequencies well

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public
Light
The US Radio Spectrum (3kHz-300GHz)
Uncle Sam has allocated the entire usable RF spectrum from DC to Light
Source: US Department of Commerce http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.PDF
Presentation_ID 2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Cisco Public
Wi-Fi Portion of the Radio Spectrum

The first frequencies available for Wi-Fi use was in the 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz range
As Wi-Fi popularity and usage increased the FCC allocated additional spectrum in the 5 GHz band for (unlicensed usage)
2.4 GHz
5 GHz
Wi-Fi is unlicensed so it doesnt show up in the overall spectrum allocation as a service

But it has beginnings in the ISM (industrial Scientific Medical) band where it was not desirable or profitable to license such short range devices.
Portions of the spectrum we use today is licensed by Amateur (Ham Radio) and other services such as radio location (weather radar) There is more bandwidth in 5 GHz and mechanisms are in place to co-exist with radio location (radar) services
9
A radio needs a proper antenna

As the frequency goes up the radiating element gets smaller
Cisco antennas are identified by color Blue indicates 5 GHz Black indicates 2.4 GHz
Omni-Directional antennas like the one on the left, radiate much like a raw light bulb would everywhere in all directions
Directional antennas like this Patch antenna radiate forward like placing tin foil behind the light bulb or tilting the lamp shade Note: Same RF energy is used but results in greater range as its focused at the cost of other coverage areas
Antennas are custom made and have frequency ranges and specifications
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
10
Complex Modulation Schemes

Radio technology has a lot in common with that old twisted pair phone line that started out at 300 baud and then quickly increased In order to get faster data rates, (throughput) into the radio signal, complex modulation schemes as QPSK or 64 bit QAM is used. Generally speaking, the faster the data rate the more powerful the signal needs to be (at the receiver) to be successfully decoded. Take-away here is that 802.11n is a method of using special modulation techniques and *not* specific to a frequency like 2.4 or 5 GHz
Example of 802.11n Modulation Coding Schemes
QAM or Quadrature Amplitude Modulation is one of the fastest modulation types actually sending two signals that are out of phase with each other and then somehow putting all the pieces back together for even greater throughput. This is one of the advantages of 802.11n
802.11n can be used in either band

11
Wi-Fi Radio Spectrum

The 2.4 GHz spectrum has only (three non-overlapping channels 1,6 and 11 (US) There are plenty of channels in the 5 GHz spectrum and they do not overlap 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz are different portions of the radio band and usually require separate antennas Most if not all 5 GHz devices also have support for 2.4 GHz
Even today many portable devices in use are limited to 2.4 GHz only including newer devices but this is changing
802.11b/g is 2.4 GHz 802.11a is 5 GHz 802.11n (can be either band) 2.4 or 5 GHz
Note: There are still many 2.4 GHz only devices today primarily because those chipsets are less costly to produce
12
Basic 802.11 RF terminology and Radio Hardware Identification
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
13
Common RF terms
Attenuation a loss in force or intensity As radio waves travel through objects or in media such as coaxial cable attenuation occurs. BER Bit Error Rate - the fraction of bits transmitted that are received incorrectly. Channel Bonding act of combining more than one channel for additional bandwidth dBd abbreviation for the gain of an antenna system relative to a dipole dBi abbreviation for the gain of an antenna system relative to an isotropic antenna dBm decibels milliwatt -- abbreviation for the power ratio in decibels (dB) of the measured power referenced to one milliwatt of transmitted RF power. Isotropic antenna theoretical ideal antenna used as a reference for expressing power in logarithmic form. MRC Maximal Ratio Combining a method that combines signals from multiple antennas taking into account factors such as signal to noise ratio to decode the signal with the best possible Bit Error Rate. Multipath refers to a reflected signal that combines with a true signal resulting in a weaker or some cases a stronger signal.
mW milliwatt a unit of power equal to one thousandth of a watt (usually converted to dBm)
Noise Floor The measure of the signal created from the sum of all the noise sources and unwanted signals appearing at the receiver. This can be adjacent signals, weak signals in the background that dont go away, electrical noise from electromechanical devices etc. Receiver Sensitivity The minimum received power needed to successfully decode a radio signal with an acceptable BER. This is usually expressed in a negative number depending on the data rate. For example the AP-1140 Access Point requires an RF strength of at least negative -91 dBm at 1 MB and an even higher strength higher RF power -79 dBm to decode 54 MB Receiver Noise Figure The internal noise present in the receiver with no antenna present (thermal noise). SNR Signal to Noise Ratio The ratio of the transmitted power from the AP to the ambient (noise floor) energy present. TxBF Transmit beam forming the ability to transmit independent and separately encoded data signals, so-called streams, from each of the multiple transmit antennas
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
14
Identifying RF connectors
RP-TNC Connector
Used on most Cisco Access Points
RP-SMA Connector
Used on some Linksys Products
N Connector
Used on the 1520 Mesh and 1400 Bridge
SMA Connector
Pig tail type cable assemblies
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
15
Identifying different cable types
LMR- 400 Foil & shield
LMR 1200
Leaky Coax shield cut away on one side

Presentation_ID
inch solid copper cable sometimes called hardline or heliax trade names (side can be milled to be leaky)
Cisco Public
16
Antenna Cables LMR Series

This is a chart depicting different types of Times Microwave LMR Series coaxial cable.
Cisco uses Times Microwave cable and has standardized on two types: Cisco Low Loss (LMR-400) and Cisco Ultra Low Loss (LMR-600).
LMR-600 is recommended when longer cable distances are required Larger cables can be used but connectors are difficult to find and install
17
Antenna Cables
LMR-400 is 3/8 inch Cisco Low Loss LMR-600 is inch Cisco Ultra Low Loss
Trivia: LMR Stands for Land Mobile Radio

18
Antenna Cables - Plenum

Plenum is the air-handling space that is found above drop ceiling tiles or below floors. Because of fire regulations this type of cable must burn with low smoke The 3 Ft white cable attached to most Cisco antennas is plenum rated. Our outdoor cable (black) is not Plenum
If the cable is ORANGE in color it is usually Plenum Rated.
Plenum cable is more expensive
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
19
802.11 Antenna basics
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
20
Antenna basics
Antenna - a device which radiates and/or receives radio signals
Antennas are usually designed to operate at a specific frequency Wide-Band antennas can support additional frequencies but its a trade-off and usually not with the same type of performance. Antenna Gain is characterized using dBd or dBi
Antenna gain can be measured in decibels against a reference antenna called a dipole and the unit of measure is dBd (d for dipole) Antenna gain can be measured in decibels against a computer modeled antenna called an isotropic dipole <ideal antenna> and the unit of measure is dBi (i for isotropic dipole) (computer modeled ideal antenna)
WiFi antennas are typically rated in dBi.

dBi is a HIGHER value (marketing folks like higher numbers) Conventional radio (Public safety) tend to use a dBd rating. To convert dBd to dBi simply add 2.14 so a 3 dBd = 5.14 dBi Again dBd is decibel dipole, dBi is decibel isotropic.
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
21
How does a Omni-directional dipole radiate?

The radio signal leaves the center wire using the ground wire (shield) as a counterpoise to radiate in a 360 degree pattern
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
22
Antenna theory (Dipole & Monopole)

Dipole Monopole
A Monopole requires a ground plane (conductive surface)
A dipole does not require a ground plane as the bottom half is the ground (counterpoise).
808 Ft Broadcast Monopole WSM 650 AM - Grand Ole Opry (erected in 1932)
Cisco Public
23
Antenna theory (dipole & monopole)
Monopoles were added to our antenna line primarily for aesthetics and require a metal surface to radiate
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
24
How does a directional antenna radiate?

Although you dont get additional RF power with a directional antenna it does concentrate the available energy into a given direction resulting in greater range - much like bringing a flashlight into focus. Also a receive benefit - by listening in a given direction, this can limit the reception of unwanted signals (interference) from other directions for better performance
A dipole called the driven element is placed in front of other elements. This motivates the signal to go forward into a given direction for gain. (inside view of the Cisco AIR-ANT1949 13.5 dBi Yagi)
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
25
Patch Antenna a look inside

Patch antennas can have multiple radiating elements that combine for gain. Sometimes a metal plate is used behind the antenna as a reflector for more gain
9.5 dBi Patch, AIR-ANT5195-R

26
Antennas identified by color

Blue indicates 5 GHz Black indicates 2.4 GHz
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
27
Most common 2.4 GHz antennas for Access Points (single and diversity)
Antenna Description
AIR-ANT4941
2.2 dBi Swivel-mount Dipole; most popular mounts directly to radio, low gain, indoor
AIR-ANT5959
2 dBi Diversity Ceiling-mount Omni
AIR-ANT1729
6 dBi Wall-mount Patch
AIR-ANT1728
5.2 dBi Ceiling-mount Omni
AIR-ANT3549
9 dBi Wall-mount Patch
28
Most common 5 GHz antennas for Access Points (single and diversity)
Antenna Description AIR-ANT5135D-R 3.5 dBi Omni-directional Antenna; mounts directly to radio, low gain, indoor AIR-ANT5145V-R 4.5 dBi Omni-directional Diversity Antenna; unobtrusive, ceiling mount, low gain, indoor AIR-ANT5160V-R 6 dBi Omni-directional Antenna; ceiling or mast mount, indoor/outdoor AIR-ANT5170P-R 7 dBi Patch Diversity Antenna; directional, small profile, wall mount, indoor/outdoor AIR-ANT5195-R 9.5 dBi Patch Antenna; directional, small profile, wall mount, indoor/outdoor
29
Understanding and interpreting antenna patterns A quick peek at the Cisco Richfield Facility
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
30
Understanding antenna patterns

Dipole (Omni-directional)
Low gain dipoles radiate everywhere think light bulb

31

Monopole (Omni-Directional) MIMO
When three monopoles are next to each other the radiating elements interact slightly with each other The higher gain 4 dBi also changes elevation more compared to the lower gain 2.2 dBi Dipole
32

Patch (Directional)
5 GHz Patch Antenna
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
33

Patch (Higher Gain Directional)
Four element Patch Array
Single Patch Antenna

34

Sector (Higher Gain Directional)
Elevation plane has nulls due to high gain 14 dBi
AIR-ANT2414S-R 14 dBi Sector 2.4 GHz

35

Sector (Higher Gain Directional)
Elevation plane has nulls due to high gain 14 dBi but antenna was designed with Null-Fill meaning we scaled back the overall antenna gain so as to have less nulls or low signal spots on the ground.
AIR-ANT2414S-R 14 dBi Sector 2.4 GHz

36
The Richfield Ohio (Aironet) facility A quick peek where antennas are designed...
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
37
The Richfield Ohio (Aironet) facility designs antennas and qualifies 3rd party antennas
Satimo software compatible with Stargate-64 System. Basic measurement tool is 8753ES Network Analyzer.
Presentation_ID
Cisco Anechoic chamber using an 18-inch absorber all the way around 1-6 GHz Anechoic means without echo
Cisco Public
38
FCC regulatory compliance testing is also done at the Richfield Ohio facility.
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
39
Yes we have just a few Access Points
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
40
RF Screen rooms everywhere

Copper shielding (Faraday Cage)
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
41
RF Screen rooms
Copper shielding on top metal on bottom
Cables are typically fiber and exit through well shielded holes
Doors have copper fingers and latch tight forming an RF seal
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
42
RF Screen rooms
Copper shielding (Faraday Cage)
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
43
Cisco Richfield Facility
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
44
Understanding multipath and diversity and the technical elements of 802.11n
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
45
Understanding Multipath
Multipath can change signal strength
As radio signals bounce off metal objects they often combine at the receiver
This often results in either an improvement constructive or a destructive type of interference
Note: Bluetooth type radios that hop across the entire band can reduce multipath interference by constantly changing the angles of multipath as the radio wave increases and decreases in size (as the frequency constantly changes) however throughput using these methods are very limited but multipath is less of a problem
46
Understanding Multipath
Multipath reflections can cause distortion
As the radio waves bounce they can arrive at slightly different times and angles causing signal distortion and potential signal strength fading Different modulation schemes fair better 802.11a/g/n uses a type of modulation based on symbols and is an improvement over the older modulation types used with 802.11b clients
802.11n with more receivers can use destructive interference (multipath) as a benefit. Tip: It is still best to reduce multipath conditions whenever possible Keep antennas away from metal objects
47
Antenna placement considerations

AP antennas need placements that are away from reflective surfaces for best performance Avoid metal support beams, lighting and other obstructions. When possible or practical to do so, always mount the Access Point (or remote antennas) as close to the actual users as you reasonably can Avoid the temptation to hide the Access Point in crawl spaces or areas that compromise the ability to radiate well Think of the Access Point as you would a light or sound source, would you really put a light there or a speaker there?
Never mount antennas near metal objects as it causes increased multipath and directionality
48
Understanding Diversity (SISO)

802.11a/b/g diversity has just one radio
Non-802.11n diversity Access Points use two antennas sampling each antenna choosing the one with the least multi-path distortion
Cisco 802.11a/b/g Access Points start off favoring the right (primary antenna port) then if multi-path or packet retries occur it will sample the left port and switch to that antenna port if the signal is better.
Note: Diversity Antennas should always cover the same cell area
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
49
Understanding Diversity (MIMO)

MRC Maximal Ratio Combining (three radios)
Receiver benefit as each antenna has a radio section MRC is done at Baseband using DSP techniques Multiple antennas and multiple RF sections are used in parallel The multiple copies of the received signal are corrected and combined at Baseband for maximum SNR (Signal to Noise) benefit This is a significant benefit over traditional 802.11a/b/g diversity where only one radio is used
50
Understanding 802.11 MIMO terminology

MIMO (Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output)
Some RF components of 802.11n include: MRC Maximal Ratio Combining a method that combines signals from multiple antennas taking into account factors such as signal to noise ratio to decode the signal with the best possible Bit Error Rate. TxBF Transmit beam forming The ability to transmit independent and separately encoded data signals, socalled streams from each of the multiple transmit antennas. Channel Bonding Use of more than one frequency or channel for more bandwidth. Spatial Multiplexing A technique for boosting wireless bandwidth and range by taking advantage of multiplexing which is the ability within the radio chipset to send out information over two or more transmitters known as spatial streams. Note: Cisco 802.11n Access Points utilize two transmitters and three receivers per radio module.
MIMO is pronounced My Moe not to be confused with this Moe.
2010 Cisco and/or Presentation_IDPresentation_ID Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. its affiliates. All rights reserved. 2006 Cisco Confidential
Cisco Public
51
Technical Elements of 802.11n

MIMO 40Mhz Channels Packet Aggregation Backward Compatibility
MIMO
40Mhz Channels
Packet Aggregation
Backward Compatibility
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
52
Aspects of 802.11n
MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output)
With Beam Forming

Transmissions Arrive in Phase, Increasing Signal Strength
Without Beam Forming

Transmissions Arrive out of Phase and signal is weaker
Performed by Transmitter (Talk Better)
Ensures Signal Received in Phase
Increases Receive Sensitivity
Works with non-MIMO and MIMO Clients
Beam Forming
Presentation_ID
Maximal Ratio Combining

Cisco Public
Spatial Multiplexing
53
Aspects of 802.11n
40Mhz Channels Packet Aggregation Backward Compatibility

Without MRC
Multiple Signals Sent; One Signal Chosen
With MRC
Multiple Signals Sent and Combined at the Receiver Increasing Fidelity
MIMO AP Performance
Performed by Receiver (Hear Better)
Combines Multiple Received Signals
Increases Receive Sensitivity
Works with non-MIMO and MIMO Clients
Beam Forming
Presentation_ID

Cisco Public
54
Aspects of 802.11n
40Mhz Channels Packet Aggregation Backward Compatibility

Information Is Split and Transmitted on Multiple Streams
stream 1
MIMO AP
stream 2
Performance
Transmitter and Receiver Participate
Concurrent Transmission on Same Channel
Increases Bandwidth
Requires MIMO Client
Beam Forming
Presentation_ID

Cisco Public
55
Aspects of 802.11n
MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) 40Mhz Channels Moving from 2 to 4 Lanes
20-MHz
Gained Space
40-MHz
20-MHz
40-MHz = 2 aggregated 20-MHz channelstakes advantage of the reserved channel space through bonding to gain more than double the data rate of two 20-MHz channels
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
56
Aspects of 802.11n
Packet Aggregation 40Mhz Channels Carpooling Is More Efficient Than Driving Alone
Without Packet Aggregation 802.11n Overhead Data Unit Packet 802.11n Overhead Data Unit Packet 802.11n Overhead Data Unit Packet
802.11n Overhead
Data Unit
Packet
Packet
Packet
With Packet Aggregation
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
57
Aspects of 802.11n
Backward Compatibility Packet Aggregation
2.4GHz 11n Operates in Both Frequencies
5GHz
802.11ABG Clients Interoperate with 11n AND Experience Performance Improvements
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
58
Understanding MCS rates and Channel Bonding

40MHz 802.11n channel
1 2 3 4 5 6
Channel Bonding: Wider channels means more bandwidth per AP
10
11
12
13
14
2.402 GHz
MCS rates 0-15 apply Regardless of channel Bonding. MCS 0-7 is one Spatial Stream When you bond a channel You have a control channel and a data (extension) Channel Legacy ABG clients use control channel for communication
Presentation_ID
20 MHz channel
2.483 GHz
Cisco Public
59
2.4 GHz, 40 MHz Bandwidths
Tip: Channel bonding in 2.4 GHz should be avoided in enterprise deployments Tip: Use 5 GHz as there are no overlapping channels to worry about
60
Example UNII-3 Channel Bonding
In 40-MHz you define the control channel this is the channel that is used for communication by Legacy .11a clients. The Extension channel is the bonded channel that High Throughput HT 802.11n clients use in addition to the control channel for higher throughput as they send data on BOTH channels
61
Channel Bonding - Subcarriers

802.11n uses both 20MHz and 40-MHz channels.
The 40-MHz channels in 802.11n are two adjacent 20-MHz channels, bonded together.
When using the 40-MHz bonded channel, 802.11n takes advantage of the fact that each 20-MHz channel has a small amount of the channel that is reserved at the top and bottom, to reduce interference in those adjacent channels. When using 40-MHz channels, the top of the lower channel and the bottom of the upper channel don't have to be reserved to avoid interference. These small parts of the channel can now be used to carry information. By using the two 20-MHz channels more efficiently in this way, 802.11n achieves slightly more than doubling the data rate when moving from 20-MHz to 40-MHz channels
62
Understanding Guard Interval

The guard interval that is part of each OFDM symbol is a period of time that is used to minimize inter-symbol interference. This type of interference is caused in multipath environments when the beginning of a new symbol arrives at the receiver before the end of the last symbol is done.
Presentation_ID
Default mode for 802.11n is 800 nanoseconds If you set a shorter interval it will go back to long in the event retries occur
Cisco Public
63
802.11n Operation
Throughput improves when all things come together
MRC TxBF Spatial Multiplexing
802.11a/g AP (non-MIMO)
54 48 36 24 Mbps
802.11a/g client (non-MIMO)
MRC TxBF Spatial Multiplexing
802.11n AP (MIMO)
54 Mbps
802.11a/g client (non-MIMO)
MRC TxBF
802.11n AP (MIMO)
300 Mbps
Channel Bonding 802.11n client (MIMO)
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
64
MCS index of 802.11n rates
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
65
Understanding DAS Antenna Systems Overview How used
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
66
Antenna Technologies DAS

Traditional DAS deployments over coaxial cable
DAS Distributed Antenna System Mostly seen in healthcare, higher education & hospitality
Major benefits of DAS include:

Carry multiple wireless signals simultaneously (cellular, paging, etc) Consolidates work above ceiling fewer cables Aggregates majority of active components in closet for easy replacement
Disadvantages
Usually one antenna per AP lack of MIMO and diversity support Cisco TAC will not support RF signal when radio is separated from the antenna on non-Cisco equipment Compromises the benefits of CUWNs advanced features including RRM, Location, VoFi, etc. Reduced technology migration paths - 802.11n can be more difficult to support Large solid copper cable once installed, is difficult to move if changes are later required (remodeling etc).
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
67
How does DAS work?

DAS works by placing multiple radio services on a common cable or antenna system using selective filters and/or a low gain multiband antenna.
Two methods are typically used Leaky coax and discrete wideband antennas or sometimes a combination of both.
Tip: Avoid daisy-chaining antennas as this breaks key features like location/voice based services use only discrete wideband antennas (one antenna per AP) with this type of DAS
Leaky radiating coaxial cable
Bad for location based applications

Wide-Band antenna
68
Leaky coax DAS
Cable has shielding removed on one side center radiates

Leaky coaxial systems are sometimes used in mining applications and assembly lines (think above assembly work benches) For leaky coax to be effective, it needs to be installed in very close proximity to the actual WLAN users (distances are short typically 5-20 Ft) and will not work reliably at higher 5 GHz frequencies. Limited to single channel - high potential for co-interference issues Note: Leaky coax should be used for only the most basic Wi-Fi scenarios, i.e. light connectivity for low bandwidth apps. Not recommended for features such as voice or location
69
Traditional coaxial DAS solutions
Depending on the type of wide band antenna DAS system used, signals leave the Access Points antenna port and go through RF filters (passive) and/or bi-directional amplifiers (active) circuitry While better then a leaky coaxial system, it is not a simple installation and requires professional installers with experience cutting and terminating the expensive (solid copper shielded) cable. Connector termination can be a point of failure and cable moves can be expensive Note: Unused antenna ports should be terminated to avoid interference to Access Points that are co-located
RP-TNC Terminator
70
New approach In-building cellular CAT 5e/6/6a

Cisco has a Solutions Plus Resell partnership with Mobile Access Whereas Cisco resells the MA branded and supported product
Mobile Access active indoor cellular over same UTP cable that can be shared with Cisco Access Points
71
New approach In-building cellular CAT 5e/6/6a

Mobile Access Pod using one UTP cable from the cellular controller can filter the cellular signals from the cable and pass GigE PoE to the Cisco Access Point
Eliminates the need for expensive solid copper cabling and the complexities of same Enables quicker and cost effective deployment with common UTP cabling Allows MA solution & Wi-Fi to co-exist on one single UTP cable No modifications or wide band antennas, no terminators are required on the AP Note: Cisco Access Points with integrated antennas can also be used with this solution.
72
Cellular and Wi-Fi sharing CAT-5e/6/6a
Switch
Cellular Controller
2 Cellular Bands or 1 MIMO Service POE Alt B
Access Pod
WLAN AP
New / Existing Cat-5/6 Ethernet GigE POE Alt A
BDA, BTS, Pico, Femto
Cellular Cell, PCS

MobileAccessVE Shifts Carrier to Intermediate Frequencies Frequencies Starting at 140 MHz and Above
WLAN 802.11n
Ethernet-LAN Traffic Passes Over 0 to ~100 MHz
Shared Structured Cabling System is Passive to WLAN and Cellular
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
73
Co-existence of Wi-Fi and Cellular Antenna

Wi-Fi over Traditional DAS
Shared Coax cabling APs in closet
Overlay
Cellular over CAT5
No Wi-Fi limitations
No Wi-Fi limitations Cheap UTP cables
No Cisco RF Support Likely no MIMO, MRC or ClientLink, RRM, Poor roaming, Location
Expensive cabling Duplicate cabling
RF signals limited by UTP cabling two for CAT5 more with CAT6a
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
74
Access Point Models and Features
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
75
Introduction of new Access Points

11abg Ruggedized
1240
11n
1250 1260
11n + CleanAir
3500e
1130
1140
3500i
Carpeted
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
76
Aironet Indoor Access Point Comparison

AP 1130
AP 1140
AP 3500i
AP 1240
AP 1250
1260
3500e
Integrated CleanAir Data Uplink (Mbps) Power Requirement Installation Temp Range Antennas Wi-Fi standards DRAM Flash
No 10/100 802.3af Carpeted
No 10/100/1000 802.3af Carpeted 0 to +40C
Yes 10/100/1000 802.3af Carpeted
No 10/100 802.3af Rugged
No 10/100/1000 E-PoE 802.3af* Rugged
No 10/100/1000 802.3af Rugged
Yes 10/100/1000 802.3af Rugged
0 to +40C
0 to +40C
-20 to +55C
-20 to +55C
-20 to +55C
-20 to +55C
Internal
Internal
Internal
External
External
External
External
a/b/g
a/b/g/n
a/b/g/n
a/b/g
a/b/g/n
a/b/g/n
a/b/g/n
32 MB
128 MB
128 MB
32 MB
64 MB
128 MB
128 MB
16 MB
32 MB
32 MB
16 MB
32 MB
32 MB
32 MB
802.3af fully powers single radio AP1250 or provides 1x3 performance on a dual radio 1250
77
Integrated antenna? External antenna?

Carpeted areas Rugged areas
Integrated antenna versions are designed for mounting on a ceiling (carpeted areas) where aesthetics is a primary concern
Use for industrial applications where external or directional antennas are desired and or applications requiring higher temperature ranges
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
78
When to use integrated antennas

When there is no requirement for directional antennas and the unit will be ceiling mounted
Areas such as enterprise carpeted office environments where aesthetics are important
When the temperature range will not exceed 0 to +40C
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
79
When to use external antennas

Reasons to consider deploying a rugged AP When directional focused coverage is desired or greater range is needed The environment requires a more industrial strength AP with a higher temperature rating of -20 to +55 C (carpeted is 0 to +40 C) The device is going to be placed in a NEMA enclosure and the antennas need to be extended
You have a desire to extend coverage in two different areas with each radio servicing an independent area - for example 2.4 GHz in the parking lot and 5 GHz indoors
Requirement for outdoor or greater range Bridging application (aIOS version) Requirement for WGB or mobility application where the device is in the vehicle but antennas need to be mounted external
Rugged AP in ceiling enclosure
Cisco Public
80
When to use AP-1240 and AP-1250

Reasons to consider the AP-1240 or AP-1250 The AP-1240 and AP-1250 support higher gain antennas - a benefit only if a high gain antenna already exists or is required Higher gain (up to 10 dBi) can improve WGB and outdoor Bridging distances Recommend the AP-1240 if the infrastructure is older 10/100 ports and there is no interest in upgrading to 11n AP-1240 will work with older Cisco PoE switches (Cisco proprietary power) AP-1240 draws less power so better for solar applications AP-1240 supports Cisco Fiber injectors Tip: Higher than 10 dBi antenna gains are supported with the 1300 Series Bridge/AP
81
802.11n Design and Deployment
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
82
Phases of 802.11n deployment

Design Considerations Which AP to choose 1:1 Replacement Strategy for Capacity 5 GHz Strategy 11n Clients Planning WCS Planning Tool Infrastructure Considerations Deployment Site Survey Operation Configuration (40 MHz RRM, Data Rates, Security, etc.) Tracking and augmenting controller capacity
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
83
Which 802.11n Access Point is right?
AP-3500i and AP-3500e have the very latest Cisco features such as Clean Air Ciscos spectrum intelligence AP-1140 and AP-1260 are of similar design less Cisco Clean Air features and can also run autonomous code (aIOS) for stand alone or Workgroup Bridge applications.
Note: 3500 Series does not support the older aIOS autonomous mode
All the Access Points were designed to have similar coverage for ease of deployment
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
84
Coverage Comparison 5GHz

AP1140 AP1250
AP3500i
AP3500e
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
85
1130 Access Point

Placement
1130 Access Point Placement

1 per 5,000 sq feet for data only 1 per 3,000 sq feet for voice, location
Radio Resource Management

Adaptive channel / power coverage
Operational simplicity
Web Email
Several Supported Apps
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
86
1140, 3500i Access Point

Placement
1 for 1 replacement
AP1140, 3500i reuses existing AP1130 T-Rail Clip
ABG ABG
Improved coverage at higher data rates

ERP Backup Video Voice Web Email
ABG ABG
More Applications Supported at Any Given Location

87
Access Points (Internal Antenna Models)

Designed Primarily for ceiling (carpeted) Installations
Access Point has six integrated 802.11n MIMO antennas 4 dBi @ 2.4 GHz 3 dBi @ 5 GHz
Antenna element
Note: Metal chassis and inverted F antenna elements were designed to benefit ceiling installations as the signal propagates downward in a 360 degree pattern for best performance
88
Antenna Patterns
Azimuth and Elevation Patterns for 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz
2.4 GHz Azimuth
5 GHz Azimuth
2.4 GHz Elevation
5 GHz Elevation
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
89
AP Placement Wall Mounting
AP-1140 and AP-3500i
AP-1260 and AP-3500e
Wall mounting is acceptable for small deployments such as hotspots, kiosks, etc but radiation is better on ceiling
Presentation_ID
Best for enterprise deployments as coverage is more uniform especially for advanced features such as voice and location
Cisco Public
90
What about mounting options?

Different mounting options for ceiling APs
Cisco has options to mount to most ceiling rails and directly into the tile for a more elegant look
Presentation_ID
Locking enclosures and different color plastic skins available from third party sources such as www.oberonwireless.com www.terrawave.com
Cisco Public
91
AP PlacementEvaluate Problem Areas
Object in Signal Path Plasterboard wall Glass wall with metal frame Cinder block wall Office window Metal door Metal door in brick wall
Signal Attenuation
3 dB 6 dB 4 dB 3 dB 6 dB 12 dB
Phone and Head position
6 dB
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
92
Clips adapt Rail to T bracket.

Attaching to fine line ceiling rails
If the ceiling rail is not wide enough or too recessed for the T rail this can be resolved using the optional clips
Part number for ceiling clips is AIR-ACC-CLIP-20= This item is packaged in 20 pieces for 10 Access Points
93
Effective Frequency Use5GHz and 2.4GHz

Create a 5GHz Strategy 5GHz Recommended for 802.11n
More available spectrumgreater number of channels Reduced interference (no Bluetooth, Microwave Ovens, etc.) Maximum throughput in a 40MHz channel Many 11n devices only support 40MHz in 5GHz
2.4GHz still benefits from MIMO and packet aggregation
2.4GHz 20MHz Channels
5GHz 40MHz Channels
1 6
Presentation_ID
2 11 1 3
4 5
6 7
8 9
10 11
94
Cisco Public
11n
Client Adapters Make sure adapter is 11n Draft 2.0 or better certified by WiFi Alliance - http://www.wi-fi.org 802.11n adapters have a major influence on performance levels that can be achieved Built-in 11n adapters out perform add-on
USB and PCMCIA 11n adapters have less than optimal antenna placement as those form factors have less then ideal antenna spacing
Not realistic to upgrade most older laptops with internal 11n adapters
Need three antennas connectors
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
95
11n Client Adapter

Recommendations Update 802.11n client drivers to the latest revision
Cisco-Intel relationship means that the Intel 11n adapter with Ciscos APs have had the most test time
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
96
WCS Planner
1140 and 11n Support
Set AP type Select Enable 11n support Select protocol 802.11a/n, b/g/n Select optimize for HT Select Voice & location if desired
Calculate/Apply/Add APs to Map

97
WCS Planner
Data Rate Heat Map
Add APs to map Set Heat Map type to Data Rates Set Cutoff to desired minimum data rates
98
WCS Planner
Proposal
Generate proposal Use proposal for budgetary estimates
Use proposal with survey to create final install AP count and placement design
Recommend survey to validate and calibrate proposal results
99
Third Party Survey Tools

There are many and I believe they are all good
Airmagnet
EDX Ekahau Helium Networks Wireless Valley and many others
Tip: Survey and use Cisco antennas If you contract this out, some companies use their own antennas and then lock you into them saying thats what we surveyed with if in doubt use Cisco Advanced Services as they also perform site surveys
100
Site Survey
Site Survey Recommendations
Use Active Survey tools

Example - AirMagnet 6.0 uses Iperf to send traffic when surveying to measure actual data link speeds
Survey for lowest common client

Once for 11a/g clients Once for 11n clients (optional)
Survey at intended AP power levels
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
101
11n Deployment Expectations

Data Services
Range
10-15% increase in maximum range versus a non-N AP Recommended 1:1 replacement of an 802.11a/g deployment
Coverage
10-20% increase in 802.11a/g high data rate coverage
More uniform coverage and consistent coverage (MIMO)
Capacity
Largest gain for 802.11n capable clients
Maximum data rates of 144Mbps in 2.4GHz

Maximum data rates of 300Mbps in 5GHz
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
102
Improved 802.11g Coverage

1130 vs. 114011G Active Survey
1130 11G Survey
1140 11G Survey 48 Mbps Coverage
48 Mbps Coverage
86 Feet
102 Feet
Note the more uniform coverage of high (green) data rates 18% Increase in 802.11g Coverage
103
5GHz - Maximum Range

AP1130 5GHz
AP1140 5GHz
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
104
802.11n Deployment
Designing Around 5GHz 40MHz Channels
One AP Data Rate vs. RSSI
Full Deployment Contiguous 5GHz Coverage
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
105
5 GHz Dynamic Frequency Selection

When Radar Is Present
APs Shift Channels Results in Lower Available Channels and Loss of UNI 2 and UNI 2e Bands
Available 40MHz Channels
No DFS Support 4 DFS Support 11
Radar
5 GHz Frequency
UNI 1 UNI 2 UNI 2 Ext. UNI 3
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
106
DFS and Available Bandwidth

Full DFS support is required for complete use of channels in 5GHz
Available Bandwidth in 5GHz for 11n
1350 1200 1050 900 750 600 450 300 150 0
Meru/Aruba
1350Mbps
1350Mbps
Limited DFS support directly impacts available bandwidth

Limited bandwidth restricts application support and negates investment in 11n
Available Channels per Region
600Mbps 300Mbps
US
Europe
US
Europe
Meru/Aruba Cisco Cisco
* 40 MHz Channels in 5GHz
Theoretical
Cisco
Meru/Aruba
United States
11n 5GHz 20MHz 11n 5GHz 40MHz 11n 5GHz 20MHz 11n 5GHz 40MHz
24 11
21 9
8 4
19
9
Cisco Public
19
9
4
2
107
Europe
Presentation_ID
Tuning RRM 5GHz Channel Selection

UNII-2 Extended Channel Considerations
Wireless ->802.11a/n -> DCA

Some older clients cannot utilize UNII-2 Extended Channels The 5GHz radio could be invisible to the client If your clients do not support these channels they can be disabled see below
Uncheck channels 100-140

(UNII2-Extended)
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
108
Utilizing 11n Wide Channels

20MHz vs. 40MHz Considerations
The 40MHz mode of 802.11n provides the highest throughput with data rates of 300Mbps
Should not be utilized in the 2.4GHz band Not enough channels for 40 MHz mode
The 5GHz band has enough spectrum to make 40MHz feasible

Use 20MHz for 802.11a voice deployments Use 40MHz for maximum data throughput with 802.11n clients
Use RRM for 40MHz
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
109
Mixed Mode
Performance
Mixed mode experiences slight performance impact due to ABG clients
WLAN Controller
11n clients still transmit at full performance PHY and MAC for 11n provides coexistence and protection for ABG clients
11n
54 Mb
300 Mb
Move 11n clients to 5GHz, keep legacy clients at 2.4GHz
11g
11n
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
110
Improving Mixed Mode Performance

Disabling Unnecessary Data Rates
Benefit: Beacons and Broadcast traffic utilize less airtime For 802.11b/g deployments Disable: 1, 2, 5.5, 6 and 9Mbps For 802.11g-only deployments Disable: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9 and 11Mbps For 802.11a deployments Disable: 6 and 9 Mbps Higher rates can also be disabled (ex. 12, 18Mbps) dependant on deployment
Tuned 802.11b/g Data Rates:
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
111
Installations Above Ceiling (Plenum) When they must be invisible
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
112
AP Placement in Plenum Areas

When placing the Access Point above the ceiling tiles (Plenum area) Cisco recommends using rugged Access Points with antennas mounted below the Plenum area whenever possible Cisco antenna have cables that are plenum rated so the antenna can be placed below the Plenum with cable extending into the plenum
If there is a hard requirement to mount carpeted or rugged Access Points using dipoles above the ceiling This can be done however uniform RF coverage becomes more challenging especially if there are metal obstructions in the ceiling
Tip: Try to use rugged Access Points and locate the antennas below the ceiling whenever possible
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
113
Installation above the ceiling tiles

An optional rail above the tiles may be used
Note: The AP should be as close to the tile as practical

AP bracket supports this optional T-bar box hanger item 2 (not supplied) Such as the Erico Caddy 512 or B-Line BA12.
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
114
Installation above the ceiling tiles

Mount AP close to the tiles and away from objects
Installing Access Points above the ceiling tiles should be done only when mounting below the ceiling is not an option. Such mounting methods can be problematic for advanced RF features such as voice and location as they depend on uniform coverage
Try to find open ceiling areas away from metal obstructions (use common sense)
Tip: Mount antennas either below ceiling tile or the AP as close to the inside of the tile as possible
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
115
Plenum installs that went wrong

Yes it happens and when it does its bad
When a dipole is mounted against a metal object you lose all Omni-directional properties.
It is now essentially a directional patch suffering from acute multipath distortion problems. Add to that the metal pipes and it is a wonder it works at all.
Dipole antennas up against a metal box create a patch like antenna - that plus metal pipes create unwanted Multipath Destructive Interference
Tip: Try to get Access Points close to the actual users This antenna is radiating forward high in the ceiling where there are no users - try to avoid these types of installs
116
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
Plenum installs that went wrong

Huh?? You mean it gets worse?
Antennas cannot radiate well with all this mess someone went to a lot of trouble to mount this -- just to encounter even more connectivity trouble.
117
Installations that went wrong
Ceiling mount AP up against pipe not good Antennas are obstructed
Metal duct blocking antenna causing Multipath interference
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
118
Patch antenna - Shooting across a metal fence Put it on a cross arm away from fence or find a better location
Mount the box lid down with the antennas pointing downward Tip: Antennas do not work well against metal
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
119

Sure glad this particular model runs a bit on the warm side --- Chirp Chirp
I guess most dry wall guys are not radio engineers Exactly how did this happen?
120
Minimize the Impact of Multipath

Temptation is to mount on beams or ceiling rails This reflects transmitted as well as received packets Dramatic reduction in SNR due to high-strength, multipath signals
Minimize Reflections When Choosing Locations

121
Antennas for Rugged Access Points 802.11n options for ceilings and walls
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
122
Guide to Antenna part numbers
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
123
MIMO Ceiling Antenna 2.4 GHz

AIR-ANT2430V-R (3 dBi ceiling mount Omni)
Antenna has three monopole elements
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
124
MIMO Ceiling Antenna 5 GHz

AIR-ANT5140V-R (4 dBi ceiling mount Omni)
Antenna has three monopole elements
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
125
AIR-ANT2451NV-R
2.4 GHz (2.5 dBi) & 5 GHz (3.5 dBi) dual band ceiling omni
Six leads - 5 GHz antennas have blue markings (shrink wrap)
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
126
AIR-ANT2460NP-R
2.4 GHz 6 dBi Three Element Patch
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
127
AIR-ANT5160NP-R
5 GHz 6 dBi Three Element Patch
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
128
AIR-ANT2450NV-R= & AIR-ANT5140NR-R

MIMO Multi-mount Omni 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
New 3 in 1 Antenna for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Gain should be 4 dBi for each antenna but may be higher depending on how much gain we can achieve.
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
129
New Cisco Antenna part numbers
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
130
Outdoor weatherproofing
Coax-Seal can be used with or without electrical tape. Taping first with a quality electrical tape like Scotch 33+ vinyl allows the connection to be taken apart easier. Many people tape then use Coax-Seal then tape again this allows easy removal with a razor blade. Note: Always tape from the bottom up so water runs over the folds in the tape. Avoid using RTV or other caustic material.
Cisco Public
www.coaxseal.com
131
Links
Cisco Antenna Reference Guide http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps7183/ps469/product_d ata_sheet09186a008008883b.html
Antenna Product portfolio http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps7183/ps469/at_a_glan ce_c45-513837.pdf

New 3500 datasheets http://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps5678/ps10981/data_sh eet_c78-594630.html
Antenna Patterns and their meanings https://www.cisco.com/en/US/prod/collateral/wireless/ps7183/ps469/prod_whit e_paper0900aecd806a1a3e.html
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
132
Q and A
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
133
Complete Your Online Session Evaluation

Give us your feedback and you could win fabulous prizes. Winners announced daily. Receive 20 Passport points for each session evaluation you complete. Complete your session evaluation online now (open a browser through our wireless network to access our portal) or visit one of the Internet stations throughout the Convention Center.
Dont forget to activate your Cisco Live Virtual account for access to all session material, communities, and on-demand and live activities throughout the year. Activate your account at the Cisco booth in the World of Solutions or visit www.ciscolive.com.
Cisco Public
Presentation_ID
134
Presentation_ID
Cisco Public
135

BRKEWN 3016 Niehaus Finalone

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

BRKEWN 3016 Niehaus Finalone

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Understanding RF Fundamentals and the Radio Design of Wireless Networks

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Session Agenda - Objectives

Basic 802.11 RF terminology and radio hardware identification

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

What We Wont Be Covering

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

What is radio? How did we get here and what is frequency?

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Basic understanding of Radio

AC Frequency 60 Hz or 60 CPS Cycles Per Second

Battery is DC Direct Current

Typical home is AC Alternating Current

Popular Radio Frequencies:

Radio Spectrum goes almost from DC to Light

Rest assured your Federal Government knows these frequencies well

The US Radio Spectrum (3kHz-300GHz)

Wi-Fi Portion of the Radio Spectrum

Wi-Fi is unlicensed so it doesnt show up in the overall spectrum allocation as a service

A radio needs a proper antenna

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Complex Modulation Schemes

Example of 802.11n Modulation Coding Schemes

802.11n can be used in either band

Wi-Fi Radio Spectrum

Basic 802.11 RF terminology and Radio Hardware Identification

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Identifying different cable types

LMR- 400 Foil & shield

Leaky Coax shield cut away on one side

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Antenna Cables LMR Series

Trivia: LMR Stands for Land Mobile Radio

Antenna Cables - Plenum

If the cable is ORANGE in color it is usually Plenum Rated.

Plenum cable is more expensive

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

802.11 Antenna basics

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

WiFi antennas are typically rated in dBi.

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

How does a Omni-directional dipole radiate?

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Antenna theory (Dipole & Monopole)

A Monopole requires a ground plane (conductive surface)

Antenna theory (dipole & monopole)

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

How does a directional antenna radiate?

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Patch Antenna a look inside

9.5 dBi Patch, AIR-ANT5195-R

Antennas identified by color

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Understanding antenna patterns

Low gain dipoles radiate everywhere think light bulb

Understanding antenna patterns

Understanding antenna patterns

5 GHz Patch Antenna

2010 Cisco and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

Understanding antenna patterns