Configuring the RoamAbout Access Point 4-7
Wireless Parameters
Station Name
The Station Name is displayed when clients run the Client Utility. Select a name that
will help identify the location of the AP.
AP Density
The AP Density changes the sensitivity of the roaming client. When APs are placed
close together, you can change the AP Density to Medium or High to force clients to
roam sooner to a closer AP. The default value is Low. Clients shou ld be set to the same
value as the AP.
Transmit (Tx) Rate
The transmit rate identifi es the pref erred d ata tr ansmis sio n speed of the A P. The ac tual
data transmission speed is subject to t he type of PC Cards at both ends of the wireless
link and the communications quality of the link.
By default, the PC Card automatically switches to a lower rate when data transmissio ns
fail more than once. Transmissions at lower rates are usually more reliable.
Transmissions at higher rates do not cover the same distances as the lower data rates.
Shortly after completing the transmission, the PC Card returns to transmitting data at
the selected rate. Thi s is called the auto-ra te select feature.
Use a lower rate in networks where range is more important than speed, or network
response times are affected by numerous retransmissions. For example, set the
transmit rate to a low rate when the communic at ions qua li ty is l ow due to a l ow s ignal
level. Setting the transmit rate to a lower rate prevents the PC Card from slowing
network response times by transmitting data unsuccessfully at a higher rate then
retransmitting at a lower rate.
Use a fixed rate when performance slows down as a result of many retransmissions,
even though the devices show an excellent radio connection. This situation can occur
when, for example, microwave ovens interfere with communication. A fixed rate
prevents the PC Card from slowing network response time by retransmitting at a
slower rate. In this environment, transmitting at 1 Mbit/s is not more useful than
transmitting at 2 Mbit/s.
The transmit rate you select does not affect the rece ive rate. For example, you can set
the transmit rate to 1 Mbit/s and still receive 2 Mbit/s data.