POCKET GUIDE

Wi-Fi Design Mistakes

(and How to Avoid Them)
Why adaptable, scalable, and
affordable connectivity is mission
critical for your wireless-first organization
 With Wi-Fi, you are
ALWAYS evaluating...
As a wireless-first organization, evaluating how well your
Wi-Fi meets your connectivity demands is critical to
operational efficiency. But because Wi-Fi technology
is rapidly changing, you may end up overpaying for
options you dont need or be saddled with a product
that doesnt scale with your growth.

This pocket guide provides insight into five Wi-Fi pitfalls

that can result in higher costs, greater complexity or
burdensome inefficiencies. We also share solutions and
ideas to help you avoid these mistakes, and ultimately
create a better connected experience for your users
today and in the future.

Mistake 1 Mistake 2 Mistake 3 Mistake 4 Mistake 5 Summary


My helpdesk no longer receives calls
about Wi-Fi issues. This has given us
more time to deal with other business
critical issues and reduces our overall
stress load. Fred Brodsky, Director
of Computer Services, Ruder Finn
PREDICTIVE PLANNING
Mistake 1 Mistake 2
1
Designing for coverage
NOT capacity
The first step in planning a network is to consider the design,
and you have the choice to design primarily for coverage
or to incorporate capacity planning. In a coverage network,
access points are turned up to the maximum power, and the
network is designed so that the lowest possible data rates just
barely overlap. Networks built for capacity use more access
points that are closer together. Users are able to fill up almost
any capacity with mobile devices, and the productivity gains
from removing network constraints are significant. Access
points themselves are relatively inexpensive, especially when
compared to the productivity benefits of faster access.
SOLUTION:
Ask your vendor for a predictive planning report based on
your requirements -- how many people will connect, with what
devices, and what applications -- then follow that up with a
physical on-site survey.
Mistake 3 Mistake 4 Mistake 5 Summary
 2 YOU EXPECT the
advertised speed
Similar to Internet providers who claim high speeds that are largely
unachievable in the real world, Wi-Fi is often advertised with
unrealistically high data rates. For example, an access point will be
advertised as having 1.3 Gbps. But when you plug in the access point
and run traffic through it, you invariably find that it doesnt achieve the
speed you were expecting.

The reason for this is a blend of marketing claims and the complexities
of transmitting data across the air. Because of the overhead involved
in transmitting network data via Wi-Fi, the maximum to expect is about
60 percent of the advertised speed. Throw in a mix of client devices,
distance from the access point, co-channel interference, and other
variables, and you may find your speed to be lower still. Therefore, focus
Gbps less on the maximum available bandwidth and more on bandwidth
optimization.

SOLUTION:
Work closely with your vendor to determine your capacity requirements,
including the types of users, devices, and applications that will be
utilizing the network. Then have them perform site surveys and capacity
calculations to determine the appropriate number, type, and locations
of your access points.

Mistake 1 Mistake 2 Mistake 3 Mistake 4 Mistake 5 Summary

 Aerohive has reduced our Wi-Fi
issues by more than 75 percent,
and has fixed coverage issues in our
building. Peter Frederick, Systems
Administrator, Custom Decorators
3 DEPENDING on
DEPENDING on 2.4 GHz
2.4 GHz for capacity
Spectrum is the lifeblood of wireless networks. Although the
speed quoted for a device is a function of the size of the
radio channel, the total throughput is a combination of the
speed multiplied by the number of channels. In 802.11ac, a
20 MHz channel can deliver over 170 Mbps using two spatial
streams. In 2.4 GHz with three available channels, you could
get over 500 Mbps. With 25 available channels in the 5 GHz
band, there is eight times the capacity. Once you look at
the channel usage, it will be even more clear. The crowded
2.4 GHz spectrum has many more devices using it, interfering
with your ability to use the channel, plus the higher number of
transmitters can even reduce the maximum data rates you
can achieve.

SOLUTION:
5 GHz 5 GHz If user experience and future-proofing is important to your
organization, consider deploying a 5 GHz band.

Mistake 1 Mistake 2 Mistake 3 Mistake 4 Mistake 5 Summary

 Having Aerohive in our network
allows us to know we have a
stable and reputable product
managing our Wi-Fi. Mike Kahn,
4 Selecting the
WRONG architecture
Senior Helpdesk Technician, Sterilite
The wireless market is undergoing a transition from controller-
based architectures to distributed control and centralized
cloud management. Traditionally when purchasing a new
Wi-Fi solution, youd need to buy access points, controllers
and management. With distributed control, the need
for WLAN controller and its associated costs have been
eliminated. Through distributed control, enterprise access
points share the control plane cooperatively, rather than
relying on centralized controller. This helps to increase speed,
security, and resiliency. Data is forwarded locally, client
device access is policed at the edge, and there is no risk of
a single point of failure. Distributed control access points are
usually combined with cloud management for centralized
deployment and support, which helps to further reduce
operational cost and complexity.

SOLUTION:
Avoid deploying your new 11ac access points with a legacy
controller-based infrastructure.s

Mistake 1 Mistake 2 Mistake 3 Mistake 4 Mistake 5 Summary


The introduction of decentralized
wireless is a huge disaster recovery
relief. And the Aerohive sensor mode
and troubleshooting functions are
fantastic. Brenden Strickland,
IS Operations, Toyota New Zealand
Mistake 1 Mistake 2
5
NOT planning for growth
User, device, and application requirements are continually
changing. A wireless infrastructure must be able to grow and
adapt at the pace of technology. This means being able
to add more capacity, and more features, when required.
Deployments only scoped for day one leads to additional
cost and complexity down the road. Challenge your vendor
with multiple scenarios to understand the cost implications
over the lifetime of your deployment.
SOLUTION:
When designing your network, consider your capacity,
security, and scale requirements for today AND tomorrow to
avoid unnecessary surprises.
Mistake 3 Mistake 4 Mistake 5 Summary
 Prepare for a
successful LAUNCH
A successful Wi-Fi deployment is the result of proper
planning and preparation. During the design phase, your
vendor should work with you to assess your capacity
requirements (rather than just coverage), plan for your
future growth, and clearly articulate why they have
proposed the locations, types, and number of access
points, plus the supporting architecture and solution
components. If they do this, you are on the right path.
If they dont, then avoid the biggest mistake of working
with the wrong provider.

For more Wi-Fi tips, visit boundless.aerohive.com.

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Mistake 1 Mistake 2 Mistake 3 Mistake 4 Mistake 5 Summary