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Troubleshooting
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. Skyline'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 Skyline 802.11a Access Point will automatically adjust the data rate to
maintain a usable radio connection with its clients. 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. Note that if you specify a single data rate for the Access Point,
you may reduce the effective range of the Skyline 802.11a products.
The Skyline 802.11a Access Point includes two integral antennas to support antenna
diversity, which can improve system reliability. Due to the characteristics of radio
waves, it is possible that one antenna may provide better performance than a second
antenna installed a short distance away. Only one antenna is used at a time; they
cannot be used simultaneously to increase the Access Point's coverage area.
Proper antenna placement can help improve range. Here are some guidelines:
•
For best results, position the Access Point's antennas so that one antenna is ver-
tical and one is horizontal.
•
Place the Access Point as high as possible. In an office environment, try to place
it above cubicle walls.
•
Do not place a sheet of metal (like a filing cabinet) between two 802.11a devices.
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