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Wireless Network Planning and Design
LEVER are Europe's leading Wi-Fi experts in Wi-Fi network Planning, Design, Installation, Support, Survey, Analysis, Optimisation, Troubleshooting - and technical Training.
No other company can offer what we do - Authority, Expertise, Vendor-neutrality, Competence.
Wi-Fi network Planning and Design probably are the two most crucial phases of any Wi-Fi network deployment - yet in most cases this is done badly, or not at all!
Here we present a 3-minute tutorial on the problems with Wi-Fi network design.
Please contact us with any questions!
Wi-Fi Network Engineering
LEVER are unique in delivering Optimised, Guaranteed Wi-Fi network Solutions.
Many organisations use LEVER to Plan and Design their Wi-Fi networks - because we produce validated designs that guarantee Wi-Fi Coverage, Capacity, Performance and Reliability; usually at lower cost than other resellers.
How can we Guarantee all of this?
Essentially, LEVER Engineer Wi-Fi networks using state-of-the-art tools and methodologies that few, if any, other companies have.
Expert Wi-Fi network engineering is essential - if your Wi-Fi network is to deliver the Coverage, Capacity, Performance and Reliability that is required; and at the best price for your chosen Wi-Fi manufacturer.
Why do some Wi-Fi Networks Fail to Deliver?
Wi-Fi network deployments often fail to deliver Reliability, Capacity and Performance - because of:
- Poor Planning
- Poor Wi-Fi RF network Design
- Incompetent RF Site Survey
- Poor Wi-Fi network implementation.
We're here to help you avoid the pitfalls and enjoy the benefits that expertly-design Wi-Fi networks can deliver.
Importance of the Physical network
Ask yourself: How well would your switched Gigabit Ethernet network perform if your physical cabling was sub-standard?
Answer: It would be Unreliable and wouldn't deliver the Data rates or Capacity you needed.
No surprise there!
The Wi-Fi RF Network
So what about Wi-Fi networks?
The physical part of a Wi-Fi installation is the RF Network.
So: How do you Design and Certify a Wi-Fi RF network?
This is crucial question - because if you can't design a fit-for-purpose RF Network, then your Wi-Fi deployment simply won't perform.
Wi-Fi RF Network Design
We have standards for physical Ethernet cabling - Cat 5e and Cat6 - but what about a Wi-Fi network?
Answer: There isn't a standard for Wi-Fi RF networks!
Question: What standard was your last Wi-Fi network designed to?
Answer: Probably none at all!
If this concerns you - and we think it should - then contact LEVER now to find out how we help major organisations throughout Europe to deploy expertly-designed Wi-Fi networks.
So How do you Design a Wi-Fi Network?
Contact us to find out how to design Optimised, Fit-for-Purpose Wi-Fi networks.
What about IEEE 802.11n? or 802.11ac?
Standards like 802.11n and 802.11ac are NOT standards for Wi-Fi RF network Design!
Wi-Fi network vendors are pushing IEEE 802.11n, and now 802.1ac, as silver bullets - offering superb performance and reliability.
But in truth - 802.11n and 802.11ac alone are simply insufficient.
Optimised Wi-Fi Networks
Ask yourself: What is an Optimised Wi-Fi network?
In LEVER's view - it is one which is expertly-designed - fit-for-purpose and deployed at least cost.
Automatic RF
"Automatic RF management" mechanisms on the WLAN controller - like Cisco's AutoRF, Aurba's ARM, and other algorithms - are no silver bullet either.
Sales spin from Wi-Fi vendors can give the impression that we don't have to worry much about Wi-Fi network Design or Configuration - because auto RF mechanisms take care of everything.
But neither 802.11n nor automatic RF management can fix a sub-standard RF network.
That would be like an Ethernet switch trying to fix your sub-standard cabling!
What makes a Wi-Fi RF Network?
A Wi-Fi RF network is the product of:
- The Number of APs deployed.
- The Location of each AP (really, it's the AP's antennas).
- The chosen Antenna types.
- Each Antenna's orientation – azimuth and elevation.
- The Transmit Power level of each AP radio.
- The RF Channel used by each radio.
Note that the "automatic RF management" schemes used in enterprise Wi-Fi products only have control over two of the parameters mentioned above:
- Power levels
- RF Channel
The rest are determined by the Wi-Fi network installer. And once it's installed - you're stuck with it!
Has Your Wi-Fi Network Really Been Designed?
A Wi-Fi Network Engineer or installer cannot truly have designed the RF network unless there is a properly-written Wi-Fi RF Network Design Specification.
Where's yours?
What RF network properties does it specify?
What about Wi-Fi network verification after installation? What is your standard for that?
Contact LEVER for details of how to write a Wi-Fi network specification.
How Defective are your Wi-Fi Networks?
You may have just realised why more than 90% of enterprise Wi-Fi network deployments are non-optimal = overly-expensive.
Or why many Wi-Fi network are failing to meet customer requirements.
Contact LEVER to learn how we can assess and evaluate your Wi-Fi networks.
Circular Wi-Fi Cells
Another other reason why Wi-Fi network fail to deliver is the fact that Wi-Fi network design doesn't work the way that many WLAN vendors suggest.
For example, take a look at the circular cells painted by the vendors in their Wi-Fi network design diagrams.
Are RF cells really circular?
No - they aren't!
So does virtually everyone draw them that way?
Four APs into Three Channels Doesn't Go!
Or, ask yourself how do you arrange cells in groups of 4 - at the corners of a square - when you only have three non-overlapping channels in the 2.4GHz band? - channels 1, 6 and 11?
What's that Cell Boundary?
Here's another question: What does the boundary of that circle represent?
- Signal Strength (dBm)?
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio (dB)?
- Associated data rate (Mbps)?
- The point where RF stops travelling?
If it isn't labelled, that circle means absolutely nothing!
Look carefully at your vendor's Wi-Fi network design guides. Be critical!
And let's not forget - there should never be any circles! Or squares. Or any other regular shape.
Contact LEVER to learn more about Wi-Fi network Design.Incompetent Wi-Fi network Design
Is this giving you the impression that most Wi-Fi network suppliers are incompetent?
We have to define "competence" in Wi-Fi network Design. So how do you do that?
Is there a qualification?
Amazingly - No! There's the Certified Wireless Design Professional (CWDP) certification - but this doesn't teach Wi-Fi RF network design!
Is there a training course?
Yes - LEVER delivers what is probably the World's only course on Wi-Fi RF network Design and Survey.
Contact LEVER to learn about our Wi-Fi network Engineering courses.
Avoid the Spin
LEVER are acknowledged World Experts in WiFi WLAN Planning, Design and Survey. We have written a series of definitive, vendor-neutral Wi-Fi RF Network Design articles, and indeed a full four-day training course on the subject.
LEVER the World's only CWNP GOLD Learning Partner and a World authority on Wi-Fi network Planning, Design, Survey, Installation, Audit, Optimisation, Troubleshooting and Support.
Contact LEVER to learn about our unique capabilities in Wi-Fi network Design and Deployment.
Why LEVER for WiFi WLAN Survey, Planning and Design?
Since 2001, LEVER have developed industry-leading skills and methodologies and our capabilities are unrivalled.
We provide a complete range of services to organisations planning to implement wireless and mobile network solutions.
LEVER perform expert wireless network planning and design, full on-site active and passive RF site survey services, virtual and remote wireless surveys and wireless network modelling using state-of-the-art tools, and much more.
Our services include:
- Wireless network Planning and Design
- Wireless Site Survey
- Wireless network Installation
- Wireless network Security Audit
- Wireless network Analysis and Troubleshooting
LEVER's wireless network planning and design services include:
- Existing Wireless Network Assessment
- Wireless Voice over IP (Wireless IP telephony, Voice over WiFi - VoWiFi)
- Vendor / Product Evaluation and Recommendations
- Wireless System Architecture Definition
- Wireless System configuration definition
- Wireless Technical Specification Development
- Wireless RFP Development and Review
Contact LEVER now for independent advice on Wireless Site Survey including WiFi Survey, Wi-Fi WLAN Planning and Design.