Outdoor wireless mesh deployment for major events

[DaveLimKK]

I am interested to hear if anyone here has any experience in setting up a large scale wireless mesh deployment that covers an area that are a few blocks.

1. How do you deal with 2.4ghz interference as 2.4ghz and 5ghz band are unregulated. I'm not able to use 5ghz as the end devices are smartphones that do not support 5ghz.

2. How do you deal with the backhaul capacity as each hop for Cisco Wireless Mesh would result in a 50% drop in network throughput.

3. How do you deal with installation of the wireless mesh APs in public areas. Do you install this on a mast and leverage on the lamp post to provide power? Or do you talk to building owners to install the APs on the top of buildings? What are the challenges you face in installing wireless mesh APs in a public area.

[George Stefanick]

Hi David,

Its really no different from out regular outdoor deployment. Bu this I mean its still the same medium, just how the traffic flow is different.

1. A spectrum sweep is important. Sometimes regular sweeps. If you purschase the 1550 it has a built in spectrum card.

2. I never try an go past 3 hops.

3. This all depends of course on what you are doing and who you are doing it with. Places that have power that you can tap into is important.

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"Satisfaction does not come from knowing the solution, it comes from knowing why." - Rosalind Franklin

[DaveLimKK]

Hi George,

Yeah, it's not pretty much different but I'm more concerned with the challenges of deploying such an outdoor wireless projects. i.e. Building management approval for installing APs on the top of buildings, tapping power of lamp post, installation etc.

Do you know of any design guide or whitepaper that highlights the challenges of deploying a outdoor wireless network with the APs installed on poles, mast or lamp posts and the local regulatorly procedures they have to undergo?

Also, I am thinking along the lines of performance or coverage issues due to installations that could affect wireless coverage.

[George Stefanick]

Hi David,

Here is some info that might help.

Mesh 7.0 design guide

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/technology/mesh/7.0/design/guide/MeshAP_70.html

Enterprise Mobility

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/solutions/Enterprise/Mobility/emob41dg/ch8_MESH.html

1500 Design Guide

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/technology/mesh/design/guide/MeshAP.pdf

1550

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/access_point/1550/quick/guide/ap1550qsg.html#wp57699

1500 install guide

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/access_point/1500/installation/guide/1500_ch2.html

__________________________________________________________________________________________
"Satisfaction does not come from knowing the solution, it comes from knowing why." - Rosalind Franklin