This article describes the wrong way physical position with FortiAP and the importance of following proper wireless site surveys.
Scope
Every FortiAP model.
Solution
The wireless networks always require a good wireless site survey, and it means that every FortiAP must be installed in the proper position, but let’s see some incorrect FortiAP installations that must be avoided if it is desired to have a good wireless experience.
Do not install FortiAPs under hallways like this, even though installing the FortiAP in the center is not recommended, your users are not always in the hallways.
Do not install the FortiAPs too close:
Verify to not have any cellphone antenna or signal booster antenna around your wireless network:
Do not place the FortiAP behind any metal object, such as pipes, rails, or behind a ceiling:
Do not install the FortiAP in a vertical position either on the ceiling or on the wall if it is an omnidirectional model.
Do not install FortiAPs next to fluorescent lights, keep at least 1 meter and a half of separation:
Avoid using the FortiAP next to the fire system:
There are some difficult environments surrounding glass, and sometimes the glass has metal, causing high wireless disconnections, a good site survey must be done considering each material detail, the exact and correct place is mandatory, even though with a corrective site survey:
Avoid using 100% percent power settings, not to avoid the hidden node issue, and lower the performance, remember a small cell is going to give better performance.
Also, it is possible to disable lower data rates, trying to avoid when it is possible 1Mbps, 2Mbps, and 5.5Mbps, medium performance can start from 6Mbps and better optimization can start from 12Mbps. Some devices cannot accept disabling data rates from 6Mbps, it is necessary to check the user capabilities:
- Keep having a line of sight from each FortiAP to the users.
- Design primarily for 5 GHz.
- Keep a proper channel overlap (20%, with -67 dBm at the edge).
- Keep working with 40 MHz and 20 MHz in some areas.
- It is possible to design dual radios in High-Density environments.
- The main goal for the wireless design is for Capacity, not for coverage.
Try to avoid killing the wireless network with so many non-Wi-Fi interferers and Wi-Fi interferers, and try to avoid as much interference as possible like:
- Microwaves.
- Fluorescent lights.
- Cordless phones.
- Wireless video/security cameras.
- Baby monitors.
- Wireless speakers.
- Bluetooth.
- Radar
- Motion sensors/perimeter sensors.
- Physical Obstacles to the Wi-Fi Signals.
- Concrete and Masonry Walls.
- Water.
- Cameras next to Access points.
- Other radios.
- Fluorescent lights.
- Zigbee – Wireless personal area network technology.
- WiMAX.
- Digital satellite.