- 1 Introduction

Chapter 1 - Introduction

Site Surveys

A site survey analyzes the installation environment and provides users with recommendations for equipment and its placement. The optimum placement differs depending on the ASUS AP design and specifications.

Roaming Between ASUS APs

If there are multiple ASUS APs on the network, then a wireless mobile client may seamlessly roam from one ASUS AP to another.

EachASUSAPcreates its own wireless cell or coverage area. This is also known as a Basic Service Set (BSS). Any wireless mobile client can communicate with a particular ASUS AP if it is within the ASUS AP’s coverage area.

If the cells of multiple ASUS APs overlap, then the wireless mobile client may switch from oneASUSAPto another as it travels throughout the building. During the hand-off from oneASUSAP to another, the wireless mobile client maintains an uninterrupted connection to the network. This is known as “roaming.”

MultipleASUSAPs connected to a common Ethernet network form an Extended Service Set (ESS). All members of an Extended Service Set are configured with an ID, known as the SSID or ESSID. Wireless mobile clients must be configured with the same SSID as the ASUS APs on the network; a client can only roam between ASUS APs that share the same SSID.

Roaming Guidelines

An ASUS WLAN card can only roam between APs of the same type.

All ASUS APs must have the same SSID.

All ASUS WLAN cards must have the same SSID as theAPs that they will roam between.

If WEP encryption is enabled, then all ASUS APs and client adapters must use the same encryption level and WEP Key(s) to communicate.

ASUS APs’ cells must overlap to ensure that there are no gaps in coverage and to ensure that the roaming client will always have a connection available.

ASUS APs that use the same Channel should be installed as far away from each other as possible to reduce potential interference.

It is strongly recommended that you perform a site survey using the utility provided with the ASUS WLAN card to determine the best location for each ASUS AP in the building.

14

ASUS Wireless "WL-HDD" User’s Manual