Antennae Question

briansmithw6 · ‎12-28-2010

What would be the best antennae solution for our new Aironet 1250. Our office is a clinical environment, 9' drop ceiling and needing coverage for a radius of 90'. Plenty of room above dropped ceiling, fyi.

Thanks,

Brian

Leo Laohoo · ‎12-28-2010

9' drop ceiling

Let me ask the basic question. How do you plan to install the AP? Hanging from the drop ceiling with the Cisco logo pointing downwards? If this is so, you'll need to determine that the drop ceiling is capable to support the massive weight of this AP.

needing coverage for a radius of 90'

What are the walls like? Where do you plan to install the AP? Do you have a floor plan? Distance from the AP to the area you want to cover?

What would be the best antennae solution for our new Aironet 1250.

Which protocol do you want to support? a/b/g/n?

briansmithw6 · ‎12-29-2010

Thank you for replying so quickly.

I will get some photos and post them up along with a sketch of the floor plan. I will prolly not be able to get it posted until Thursday at soonest.

We have 9 patient rooms that are sheetrock and metal studs.

Currently we have/had 3 Aironet 1200's but we are down to just one after 5 years of constant use. The one left is close to being centrally located and sits just above the false ceiling and we have no issues with reception. Speed is the issue especially when we have 3-5 providers and medical assistants all logging on to the doamin at once from thier laptops.

Thus I am looking to get at least to the G speed and being capable of at least going to the N speed at a later date if not now, as long as cost is no major issue. We will be using a web PACs viewer when we get the faster speeds with images being in size from 8-12 megs each. Internet connection is not an issue but our network is only 100mbs although I will be working on getting a gigabit switch and getting the wireless to the gigabit range.

I would like to keep the AP in the ceiling as it is now, btw.

Thank you,

Brian

Leo Laohoo · ‎12-29-2010

Deleted. Double posting.

Leo Laohoo · ‎12-29-2010

I'm in the middle of deploying a AU$5m wireless project for the public hospital.

 I would like to keep the AP in the ceiling as it is now, btw.

Inside the ceiling cavity? Which direction is the Cisco logo pointing? Cisco does not recommend this way because there are too many things hidden inside ceiling cavity that will absorb radio transmission and/or bounce "N" signals is a different shape. Besides, do be careful. The 1250 is very heavy and it's not designed to be "sitting" inside ceiling space.

The new APs (1040, 1140, 3500, 1260) now have limited lifetime hardware warranty so owning one will be alot affordable.

briansmithw6 · ‎12-29-2010

I am not opposed to mounting on the wall in the back hallway.

I will take any recommendations/suggestions as I only want to do this once.

Thanks again,

Brian

briansmithw6 · ‎12-29-2010

Here are some photos of our facility. The coverage I need is 80 foot radius in this environment.

...

I am thinking of mounting the AP btw the two sconces in this bottom pic. The radius of coverage from there would need to be 80-90 ft.

The first two pics were taken 90 degrees from the same spot. The Third pic was taken 20 foot from the second pic facing the same direction as the 3rd pic. I hope this thoroughly confuses you... lol.

Going the opposite way in that last pic is the drs offices and it is about 80 ft to the last one. Again the one Aioronet AP we have going currently seated in the false ceiling we have had no issues with connectivity what so ever. It is located in the ceiling above the bright spot of the second pic.I would like to keep it that way of course. Let me know if you need a sketch and I will do my best.

Leo Laohoo · ‎12-29-2010

Forgot to ask you one basic question: X-Ray lab/machine or MRI scanners in the facility?

Otherwise, what is the antenna are you currently using?

briansmithw6 · ‎12-30-2010

No MRI, X-Ray is behind the wall of the sconces where I am thinking of mounting AP. Generator for x-ray is 20 ft away from that spot and the wall is lead lined sheetrock on the other side of the sconce wall.

The antennae on the 1200 is the basic antennae that came stock with the AP, I'll post a pic when I go to the office later today.

Thanks,

Brian