Cisco 1230AG Dual Antenna

[edw]

Hi,

I have a small building which has two levels. I have a 1230 on the top floor and about 10 people. Below that floor is another office with 10 people. They don't all use wireless, infact its only used for guests and smartphones, tablets of which there aren't many.

I was wondering instead of sticking another unit in the downstairs office, Can I either use two anntenna's, one on each floor connected to the one controller or is there a good antenna which will do both floors?

The floor is concrete, I have one antenna attached to the right hand connector of the 1230 and can get 2 or 3 bars in the lower office. Thou as its a flat antenna this doesn't cover the part of the office directly beneath it....

Many Thanks

Ed

[Leo Laohoo]

I've seen someone do that and I'll tell you that IT WON'T WORK.

The longer the antenna cable the higher the signal loss.

[edw]

Okay - is there a different antenna I could use ??

[Leo Laohoo]

Okay - is there a different antenna I could use ??

You need to rethink what you are doing.  The 1230 will only do 802.11b/g.  Don't expect this single unit to fully cover two floors through concrete floors because you will only get patches of signals where the WAP is NOT located.  That's not how wireless is meant to be.

[edw]

Hi,

I know its a g based unit. Unfortantly we are a educational/charity so purchase new kit is hard sometimes. I have a spare 1230 g unit, but was trying to get away from using it if there was another way of using a high gain antenna for instance??? But your saying this wont work and that I should use two units ?

Thanks Again

Ed

[Leo Laohoo]

But your saying this wont work and that I should use two units ?

Get a wireless site survey.

Here's the situation you are going to face:  You have a 1230 which has an 802.11b/g wireless network.  Have you ever tried "sniffing" if can see other people's wireless network in the areas you want to use? 

[edw]

Hi,

Yes I can see other people's network in the area. Not many but some. If I do a site survey, how does that help me? Should I go for two units or is it possible to use a high gain antenna ?

Thanks

Ed

[Leo Laohoo]

Yes I can see other people's network in the area. Not many but some.

How strong are their signals?  What channels are they broadcasting?

If I do a site survey, how does that help me?

A site survey will tell you WHERE to put your APs, HOW MANY APs required.  And in special cases like yours, WHAT CHANNEL your APs should be using.

Should I go for two units or is it possible to use a high gain antenna ?

Wouldn't make any difference because with a high gain antenna, the client can hear you but the WAPs can't hear the client because the client(s) are NOT using high gain antenna.