Agreed. An AP per classroom is our “standard” because it usually makes sense from a cost vs. performance perspective. That said, when we’re dealing with small rooms separated by drywall partitions we sometimes cover more than one classroom with an AP. In some unusual circumstances more APs will actually hamper performance, and cost more too. A standard should not be an excuse to do something stupid.
Chuck Enfield Manager, Wireless Systems & Engineering Telecommunications & Networking Services The Pennsylvania State University 110H, USB2, UP, PA 16802 ph: 814.863.8715 fx: 814.865.3988 From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of McClintic, Thomas Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 11:59 AM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Beacon Intervals This is a great article and contains very good information. However, I follow the same belief as Jeff. This is mostly from a growth and future perspective of 802.11ac, etc. In order to take as much advantage as possible of ac (256 QAM an MU-MIMO); an AP per classroom looks more like a requirement. Turning off 2.4 every other room and ensuring your power levels/data rates help promote a healthy environment and needs to be considered. >From a cost perspective, if I can provide a consistent high throughput to each classroom; I can remove port and cabling requirements which actually help lower my overall cost to provide connectivity to them. Good discussion and no simple answer or cookie cutter solution seems to be available. From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU] On Behalf Of Samuel Clements Sent: Friday, May 27, 2016 9:26 AM To: WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU <mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU> Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Beacon Intervals Sure, but there is a great writeup on that exact topic that does a good job in my stead: http://www.wlanpros.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Why-One-AP-Per-Classroom-Approach-is-Wrong-.v3.pdf <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.wlanpros.com_wp-2Dcontent_uploads_2014_04_Why-2DOne-2DAP-2DPer-2DClassroom-2DApproach-2Dis-2DWrong-2D.v3.pdf&d=CwMFaQ&c=6vgNTiRn9_pqCD9hKx9JgXN1VapJQ8JVoF8oWH1AgfQ&r=rYfqH_8oTvcXxRxUI3x3m3Y7Nwgir7tnuoGbdZsrUM4&m=ncBtrtKYxauw_dR51VE698DYNU514ximcFqdJN_kPUg&s=VqXKIljFA578kWnmynVg8hlmnDK5pJA22Y5z74kNUk4&e=> In short, that may be a design you end up with, but assuming it's correct to begin with is a premise that should not be used. Proper WiFi design (including disabling radios or converting them to 5GHz radios if you have hardware that can do that) is of paramount importance in any environment that believes their network is of any measurable importance. Remember that disabling lower data rates & changing beacon intervals can *mitigate* poor design - but there is always a trade off (client compatibility being chiefest). I don't necessarily disagree that in some environments, one AP per classroom is what you would net, but I've seen far too many environments where they over bought and a 1.5 classroom per AP (or some other measure) would have supported the load just fine. I hate to see people waste money when it could have gone to some other area of technology to further the end goal - education. -Sam On Fri, May 27, 2016 at 9:18 AM, Jeffrey D. Sessler <j...@scrippscollege.edu <mailto:j...@scrippscollege.edu> > wrote: Sam, would you please explain your position on one AP per classroom being a mis-design? Do you have data on this you could share? In my environment, I’ve found that in order to properly deploy 5 Ghz and .11ac, it’s pretty much inevitable that we’ll get to one AP per room, especially if one desires consistent and universal coverage. Data from existing spaces clearly show gaps in 5GHz coverage when using an every-other room scheme. Now if you are talking about 2.4 GHz I may agree with you, but even there, with removal of lower data rates, and a low-power microcell design, the data suggests it’s working very well. Jeff From: "wireless-lan@listserv.educause.edu <mailto:wireless-lan@listserv.educause.edu> " <WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU <mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU> > on behalf of Samuel Clements <scleme...@gmail.com <mailto:scleme...@gmail.com> > Reply-To: "wireless-lan@listserv.educause.edu <mailto:wireless-lan@listserv.educause.edu> " <WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU <mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU> > Date: Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 6:38 PM To: "wireless-lan@listserv.educause.edu <mailto:wireless-lan@listserv.educause.edu> " <WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU <mailto:WIRELESS-LAN@LISTSERV.EDUCAUSE.EDU> > Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Beacon Intervals Remember folks, there is such a thing as too much RF and in the edu space, this occurs quite commonly due to the One AP per Classroom mis-design advice that was making the rounds some time ago... -Sam ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/ <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.educause.edu_groups_&d=CwMFaQ&c=6vgNTiRn9_pqCD9hKx9JgXN1VapJQ8JVoF8oWH1AgfQ&r=rYfqH_8oTvcXxRxUI3x3m3Y7Nwgir7tnuoGbdZsrUM4&m=ncBtrtKYxauw_dR51VE698DYNU514ximcFqdJN_kPUg&s=HPDHvoHovprTQhsiFUsw4QxwXUGUV1LDIDYkFIB8rmE&e=> . ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/ <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.educause.edu_groups_&d=CwMFaQ&c=6vgNTiRn9_pqCD9hKx9JgXN1VapJQ8JVoF8oWH1AgfQ&r=rYfqH_8oTvcXxRxUI3x3m3Y7Nwgir7tnuoGbdZsrUM4&m=ncBtrtKYxauw_dR51VE698DYNU514ximcFqdJN_kPUg&s=HPDHvoHovprTQhsiFUsw4QxwXUGUV1LDIDYkFIB8rmE&e=> . ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
