Successfully implementing 802.11ac requires more than simply buying a few new access points (APs), plugging them in and purchasing a few client-end radios. Achieving the expected coverage and improved data rates requires a clear understanding of how 802.11ac works versus a/b/g/n as well as best practices for migrating to this new technology.

Fluke Networks vice president of sales – Asia Pacific Simon Lee says, “Understanding more about the underlying technology of 802.11ac is critical when considering deployment. Despite the tremendous benefits of 802.11ac, it is still susceptible to the standard performance-killers that impact all WiFi environments such as non-WiFi interference, co-channel interference, poor signal quality, noise and channel sharing with slower legacy clients. These challenges can be successfully met only when a solid plan is in place for deploying this technology.”

Best practices for each stage of 802.11ac deployment to achieve the best capacity and signal quality

Planning and site evaluation. It is expected that new 802.11ac implementations will be done in parallel with legacy a/b/g/n systems. Since 802.11ac is backward compatible with a/n deployments that use the 5GHz band, there is no need to completely remove older APs. However, it is critical to understand which devices are already competing for RF space and how 802.11ac can complement the environment to achieve the project performance goals. The planning stage should include a pre-deployment survey to determine present device configuration, noise levels, interference sources, signal coverage and capacity, an examination of throughput needs and channel allocation.

Deployment and validation. After carefully determining the capacity needs and the coverage area, configure and deploy the 802.11ac APs according to the design plan. This does not mean simply removing the old APs and connecting the new 802.11ac APs in the same locations. There are several considerations when planning AP configuration and location including switching infrastructure, channel width and AP coverage.

Troubleshooting and optimisation. If any of the requirements in user throughput are not achieved adjustments can be made to ensure that performance goals are met. Determine what wireless factors in the environment are contributing to the reduced performance. Adjustments may include changing AP placement, installing additional APs, adjusting the channel plan, eliminating sources of interference or adjusting transmit power to affect the cell size.

Simon adds, “If careful planning, validation, and optimisation steps are not considered, the potential gains of 802.11ac will be lost due to impacts of the previous environment, excessive noise, poor channel planning or poor AP placement.”