Guidelines For Roaming; Ieee 802.11 Specifications - Avaya AP-7 User Manual

Guidelines for Roaming

An AP can only communicate with client devices that support its wireless standard.
•
All Access Points must have the same Network Name to support client roaming.
•
All workstations with an 802.11 client adapter installed must use either a Network Name of
•
"any" or the same Network Name as the Access Points that they will roam between. If an
AP has Closed System enabled, a client must have the same Network Name as the
Access Point to communicate (see
All Access Points and clients must have matching security settings to communicate.
•
The Access Points' cells should overlap to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage and
•
to ensure that the roaming client will always have a connection available.
The coverage area of the 802.11b/g radio is larger than the coverage area of the 802.11a
•
radio. The 802.11b/g radio operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency band; the 802.11a radio
operates in the 5 GHz band. Products that operate in the 2.4 GHz band offer greater range
than products that operate in the 5 GHz band.
An 802.11a or 802.11b/g AP operates at faster data rates than the 802.11b AP. 802.11a
•
and 802.11g products operate at speeds of up to 54 Mbits/sec; 802.11b products operate
at speeds of up to 11 Mbits/sec.
All Access Points in the same vicinity should use a unique, independent Channel. By
•
default, the AP automatically scans for available Channels during boot-up but you can also
set the Channel manually (see
Access Points that use the same Channel should be installed as far away from each other
•
as possible to reduce potential interference.

IEEE 802.11 Specifications

In 1997, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) adopted the 802.11
standard for wireless devices operating in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. This standard includes
provisions for three radio technologies: direct sequence spread spectrum, frequency hopping
spread spectrum, and infrared. Devices that comply with the 802.11 standard operate at a data
rate of either 1 or 2 Megabits per second (Mbits/sec).
In 1999, the IEEE modified the 802.11 standard to support direct sequence devices that can
operate at speeds of up to 11 Mbits/sec. The IEEE ratified this standard as 802.11b. 802.11b
devices are backwards compatible with 2.4 GHz 802.11 direct sequence devices (that operate
at 1 or 2 Mbits/sec). Available Frequency Channels vary by regulatory domain and/or country.
See 802.11b Channel Frequencies
Interfaces Tab).
Interfaces Tab for details).
for details.
IEEE 802.11 Specifications
Issue 1 September 2004 13