Cisco Aironet 1600 Deployment Manual page 38

External Antenna Deployments
The best antenna placement is the one where the antenna is physically closest to the actual users. If you
are mounting multiple, single package, dual-band antennas externally, such as dipoles, spacing is not
critical. Try to space the antennas as far apart as practical (with A and B the furthest apart), but no further
than 10' apart, since antennas should be in same RF coverage area. (See Figure 48.)
Figure 48 Antenna Placement
Avoid using single-band (single-radiating element antennas) like those used with the earlier AP 3500,
Note
because they are not fully compatible with the newer AP 1600/2600 and AP 3600. Antennas for the AP
1260 and the AP 3500 are single-radiating element antennas made for each individual band. The AP
3600, 2600, and 1600 use dual-band, dual-radiating element antennas and are branded with an orange
marking. (See Figure 46 and Figure 47.)
When using 802.11n rates in areas with high metal, such as distribution areas or airport hangars, lower
gain antennas on the ceiling may perform better because they tend to radiate the signal in all directions
and increase the chance that multi-path will enhance the signal. If you have a clear path, a patch antenna
at the end of an aisle at roughly the same height or just above the (WLAN client) is preferred. (See
Figure 49.) Be sure to do a site survey.
Cisco Aironet 1600/2600/3600 Series Access Point Deployment Guide
38