3com 3CRWE51196 - OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Supplementary Manual

Brand: 3com

Model: 3CRWE51196 - OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway

Type: Supplementary Manual

Extending your Small Business Wireless Network

Introduction

A wireless network can be more than just one access point or gateway. A

number of wireless access points can be used to create one large wireless

network or a number of smaller individual networks. Expanding your wireless

network need not be a complex procedure.

This document will detail what is needed to expand your wireless network

from one wireless access point or gateway to incorporate multiple access

points. And steps on how to expand your wireless network from an

OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway to include a 3Com Access Point

2000.

For general information on wireless networking for the small business please

refer to Wireless Networking for Small and Home Offices. For information on

wireless security please refer to Improving Your Wireless Security. Both white

papers are available from www.3com.com.

Components Needed To Expand A Wireless Network

Once the basis of a wireless network has been installed it is easy to expand

the network to cover a wider range or to implement a separate wireless

network alongside the existing one. All that is required is another Wi-Fi

certified wireless access point (such as the 3Com Access Point 2000), and

Ethernet access to the wired network. If the network is being expanded from a

wireless gateway then this can be achieved by connecting the new access

point into the built-in switch incorporated into the gateway. If the network is

being expanded from an access point then this can be achieved by

connecting the new access point into the existing network, or by purchasing a

switch or hub to connect the access points.

This is all the networking equipment that is required. Wireless NICs will be

needed if there are new clients that are being added to the wireless network.

Expanding Your Wireless Network

Figure 1: Extended Wireless Network using 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL

Gateway and 3Com Access Point 2000

A wireless network can be extended simply by adding another access point to

your LAN and by configuring the new access point with the same ESSID or

Service Area Name, and WEP security settings as the first access point or

gateway. The access points should be placed so that the wireless ranges are

just overlapping – allowing roaming between the two This will enable wireless

users to roam between the two access points with no break in connection.

To calculate where to position the new access point it is necessary to know

the range of the both access points and therefore where the overlap occurs.

This is not as complicated as it sounds and it accomplished by performing a

wireless site survey, which is covered in detail later in this document.

In a multiple access point wireless network, to maximise the bandwidth of the

wireless network, each access point should have a different channel to

access points next to it. This will maximise the speed of the connection to

each access point. For example, if the original access point was on channel 1,

by selecting channel 6 for the second access point the communications are

easily kept separate by the two access points.

Roaming on a wireless LAN can be seen as analogous to roaming between

cells with a mobile or cell phone. The phone will associate itself with a cell,

and once the signal from that cell becomes weak, the phone will search for a

new cell and associate itself with that cell instead. Therefore roaming between

the two cells with no break in connection. This is demonstrated in the wireless

network diagram below.

Channels on access

oints differ b

at least 5

Figure 2: Multiple access points in extended wireless network showing different channels

needed for maximum bandwidth on each access point

Site Survey

This is a method of carrying out a simple, rudimentary Site Survey using the

3Com WLAN Utility software that is shipped with 3Com Wireless NICs.

Look at your site floor plan and make a list of work areas where clients are

likely to be positioned. For example, list the office cubicles and conference

rooms where users will be logging on to the 3Com Wireless LAN. Then select

several trial locations for the access point and make a list of these locations.

For example, you may wish to test the access point mounted on the ceiling,

on a desk, and on a wall. Look for locations in the center of the room and

away from potential transmission barriers.

Ensure that only one access point is operational and using a laptop PC

connect to that access point. Launch the utility software that will monitor the

strength and speed of the wireless signal.

Move away from the access point until the signal is weak but the connection is

still present. This connection might be 2Mbps or 1Mbps, depending on the

number of wireless clients attaching to the access point and the bandwidth

needed on the network. Make a note of where this point is and continue to

move around the access point, in effect, marking the edge of the range of the

access point.

Power down that wireless access point and power up the new wireless access

point. Position the new access point so that there is a signal present in the

same positions as tested before. This will ensure that one of the access points

is reachable from all points between the two.

This should be enough to get your expanded wireless network up and

running.

Steps to expand an OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway wireless

network with a 3Com Access Point 2000

Assuming you have an OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway installed

and operational

1. Purchase a 3Com Access Point 2000 wireless access point

2. Connect the Access Point 2000 to the OfficeConnect Wireless

Cable/DSL Gateway with an RJ-45 Ethernet cable

3. Position it so that the wireless ranges of the multiple access points

slightly overlap. This can be done by following the Site Survey

instructions above

4. Configure the new access point with the same ESSID and WEP

security configuration as the Gateway

5. Configure the new access point with a different wireless channel to

surrounding access points to maximise the available bandwidth.

3Com Corporation, Corporate Headquarters, 5400 Bayfront Plaza, Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145

To learn more about 3Com solutions, visit www.3com.com. 3Com Corporation is publicly traded on

Nasdaq under the symbol COMS. The information contained in this document represents the current

view of 3Com Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date of publication. Because 3Com must

respond to changing market conditions, this paper should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the

part of 3Com, and 3Com cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information presented after the date of

publication. This document is for informational purposes only; 3Com makes no warranties, express or

implied, in this document.

3Com logo is a trademark of 3Com Corporation.

3com 3CRWE51196 - OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Supplementary Manual

3com 3CRWE51196 - OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Supplementary Manual

3com 3CRWE51196 - OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway Supplementary Manual

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