Range - Proxim Harmony User Manual

Troubleshooting
I want to install a Harmony 802.11a
network in my office that has an
existing 802.11b network. Will the
802.11a network interfere with the
802.11b network?
Is the Harmony 802.11a Access Point
compatible with 802.11a products
from other vendors?
In throughput tests, the 802.11a
CardBus Card doesn't seem to
transfer data as quickly as I'd expect.

Range

Every environment is unique with different obstacles, barriers, materials, etc., and,
therefore, it is difficult to determine the exact range that will be achieved without
testing. Radio signals may reflect off of some obstacles or be absorbed by others
depending on their construction.
The IEEE 802.11a specification supports eight data rates: 54 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps,
24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, 12 Mbps, 9 Mbps, and 6 Mbps. Harmony's 2X mode supports eight
data rates: 108 Mbps, 96 Mbps, 72 Mbps, 48 Mbps, 36 Mbps, 24 Mbps, 18 Mbps, and
12 Mbps. Operation at 6 Mbps or 12 Mbps provides greater range than operation at 54
Mbps or 108 Mbps.
By default, a Harmony 802.11a CardBus Card will automatically adjust the data rate to
maintain a usable radio connection. Therefore, a client that is close to an Access Point
may operate at 54 Mbps while a client that is on the fringe of coverage may operate at
6 Mbps.
Table 2: Troubleshooting steps
Problem Solution
No. 802.11a and 802.11b devices will not
interfere with each other since they operate at
different frequencies. 802.11a devices operate
in the 5 GHz band, and 802.11b devices operate
in the 2.4 GHz band.
Yes, the Harmony 802.11a product line is
interoperable with 802.11a-compliant products
from other vendors. However, the 2X mode
which achieves data rates up to 108 Mbps is
only compatible with Harmony 802.11a
products from Proxim.
Data rate is the raw signaling rate of a
networking device; it does not equal data
throughput. Actual data throughput is always
less than the data rate since some of the
available bandwidth is used to send control
messages and regulate activity over the
wireless medium. Also, throughput will depend
on several factors such as network overhead,
the file transfer program in use, the computer's
operating system, and the computer's
processor speed.
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