Questions And Answers - Cisco Aironet 1600 Deployment Manual

Cisco Aironet Access Point Deployment Guide
Questions and Answers
Q1: Which AP is best for manufacturing and warehouse areas?
A1: In general, the AP 2600e or the AP 3600e is the first choice because these external antenna models
have the highest operating temperature range ‐20 to 55°C. The AP 1600 can also be used but has a
slightly lower operating temperature ‐20 to 50°C. If temperature is not a concern, use an internal
antenna model (AP 1600i, 2600i, and 3600i).
Q2: What if I am in a country where the regulatory agency may not approve the AP to be used outdoors
because of UNII‐1 band restrictions? What if I wish to use higher gain antennas?
A2: Consider the Cisco Mesh products (1550 Series) or look for access points ending in "P" (for
professional install), such as the 3502P Series or Cisco outdoor bridging products.
Q3: Which AP is best for high‐density deployments?
A3: Both the AP 2600 and the AP 3600 have virtually identical AP density for coverage‐based design.
Capacity‐based design (smaller cells) yields a slightly higher average cell capacity with the AP 3600 when
using 3SS devices and yields an even higher density when using the optional 802.11ac module.
Q4: Cisco has a newer Power Injector (AIR‐PWR‐INJ5). How is this different from the (AIR‐PWR‐INJ4)?
A4: The newer AIR‐PWR‐INJ5 is an 802.3af (15.4W injector). It is a low cost injector for use with the AP
1600 and the AP 2600 and can also be used with the AP 3600 without the optional module. The AIR‐
PWR‐INJ4 is a more powerful injector designed to work with the AP 3600 with optional modules.
Q5: Can industrial wireless motion or smoke detectors cause WLAN interference?
A5: Yes, some products such as United Technologies DD475 and Optex MX‐50 operate in the 2.4 GHz
band as do other wireless chimes, cameras, and industrial equipment from other manufacturers.
Q6: Any other thoughts when installing wireless access points?
A6: When deploying wireless installations, keep the following guidelines in mind:

Place the AP as reasonably close to the actual users as possible.

Make sure you have coverage (to a known requirement), and compensate for nulls or dead
spots, regardless of what product you choose to deploy. Conduct a site survey.

Base the installations on lessons learned from the site survey. The better the survey, the less
likely connectivity problems will occur.

Cisco has an Advanced Services team that can perform WLAN surveys or help with the wireless
design if a Cisco partner is not available or able to do same.

When possible, use the Cisco brand antennas listed in this guide. They have orange bands.

Do not mount antennas against metal objects. Antennas work best when there are no
obstructions in the path.

The AP 1600, 2600, and 3600 are not weatherproof and have an IP rating of 40.
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