User`s guide

Aironet Wireless Client xxi

Radio Ranges

The following section provides general guidelines on factors that

inﬂuence infrastructure performance.

Site Survey

Because of differences in component conﬁguration, placement, and

physical environment, every infrastructure application is a unique instal-

lation. Before installing the system, users should perform a site survey

in order to determine the optimum utilization of networking components

and to maximize range, coverage, and infrastructure performance.

Here are some operating and environmental conditions that need to be

considered:

n Data Rates. Sensitivity and range are inversely proportional to data

bit rates. The maximum radio range is achieved at the lowest work-

able data rate. There will be a decrease in receiver threshold as the

radio data rate increases.

n Antenna Type and Placement. Proper antenna conﬁguration is a

critical factor in maximizing radio range. As a general guide, range

increases in proportion to antenna height. The 3500 Series allows

connection to two antennas at the same time. This can be conﬁgured

either as two separate remote antennas or as the single unit diversity

antenna supplied by Aironet. Two antennas allow the 3500 Series to

detect and use the strongest signal coming from either of the anten-

nas.

For a detailed explanation of antenna types and conﬁgurations along

with guidelines on selecting antennas for speciﬁc environments, see the

Aironet Antenna Guide, document number 710-003725.

UCE.BK Page xxi Wednesday, February 10, 1999 12:10 PM