Wireless N (1260 Series) Migration

[Tim Butters]

Morning Everyone,

I am looking to slowly migrate some of our wireless devices (Aironet 1231 and 1232's) to the Wireless N spec - 1260's.

I currently have four AP locations that I want to upgrade first before anywhere else. At the minute, these four AP's work on the 2.4Ghz G band.

I need help understanding how the new 1260's will work in the mixed environment. I believe I will need to purchase the 1262 (which is the dual band version) so that I can operate the AP in both the 2.4Ghz G band range and the 5Ghz N range at the same time, is this correct?

If I was to purchase the 1261 (which is the single band version), will I only be able to operate in either th 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz, but not at the same time?

For the mixed environment, would you suggest the dual band version? Can I place the same SSID on multiple Radios if this is the case? Following example:

Say I have the SSID called 'Company' - this at the minute is operating on the G band 2.4Ghz range. If I was to purcahse the dual band 1262, could I put this SSID on both the G radio and the N radio? Would clients with an N adapter automatically connect to the 5Ghz range (N Radio) and legacy G and B adapters automatically connect to the 2.4Ghz (G Radio)?

Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate these are simple questions but I just want to make sure before putting this investment proposal forward.

Thanks

Tim

[Richard Hamby · Accepted solution]

Hi Tim,

Iif you want to run 2.4GHz and 5Ghz in the same environment, you'd need AP's with both radios.  Either a dual-radio AP like the 1262, or add a 5GHz 1261 in addition to the existing 2.4's.  Usually there's no desire to run double drops, etc., so 1262 dual-radio would go right in place of the 1260's.  And you can run the same SSID on both radios - the 2.4GHz can run b,g,n and the 5GHz can run A or N simultaneously. 

Client prioritization behavior varies on the device and the wirless client driver it runs. The documentation will be your best source to know how it will behave in a dual-band environment. 

[Leo Laohoo · Accepted solution]

I am looking to slowly migrate some of our wireless devices (Aironet 1231 and 1232's) to the Wireless N spec - 1260's.

Hi Tim,

Out of curiosity, why 1260?  Do you need to deploy external antenna?  Do you need WLC?

If I was to purchase the 1261 (which is the single band version), will I only be able to operate in either th 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz, but not at the same time?

1261 only has 2.4Ghz radio.

I need help understanding how the new 1260's will work in the mixed environment. I believe I will need to purchase the 1262 (which is the dual band version) so that I can operate the AP in both the 2.4Ghz G band range and the 5Ghz N range at the same time, is this correct?

In a prevalent environment where every man-and-his-dog has wireless, I'm not a big fan of using 802.11b in an work-related environment due to the number of channels 802.11b can use, which is only 3, as compared to the number of channels you can use with 802.11a.

Say I have the SSID called 'Company' - this at the minute is operating on the G band 2.4Ghz range. If I was to purcahse the dual band 1262, could I put this SSID on both the G radio and the N radio? Would clients with an N adapter automatically connect to the 5Ghz range (N Radio) and legacy G and B adapters automatically connect to the 2.4Ghz (G Radio)?

This is achievable with autonomous IOS operation and LWAP/CAPWAP or controller-based operation of the AP.

[Tim Butters]

Thank you both for your answers - you pretty much confirmed what I thought.

Out of curiosity, why 1260?  Do you need to deploy external antenna?  Do you need WLC? 

I am going to be deploying a 5508 WLC next month. We currently have 19 1232's and 1242's in deployment all running autonomously. This is a nightmare to configure but I have made do in the past, however we are starting to see roaming issues with iPad devices that we have rolled out and are starting to budget in VoIP Wireless Handsets so a controller is the way forward - would you agree?

Many thanks again.

[Leo Laohoo]

You never mentioned the type of environment the APs are going to be deployed in.

[Tim Butters]

Well to beging with, management were still 'umming' and 'arrring' about a Controller - stating it was too expensive.

However, as they have now deployed many iPads without fully testing that the signal and roaming works flawlessly in the current deployment they are quickly looking at ways to solve it.