A Quick Look At A Few "Non-Optimal" Installations - Cisco Aironet 1700 Deployment Manual

Cisco Aironet Series 3700 Access Point
What client are you using?
The client will have a big impact on performance. First, is the client 1, 2, or 3 spatial stream? Second, what is the interface? A
USB 3.0 client will perform much better than a USB 2.0 client. Integrated radios are the best of all because they are able to
take advantage of a fast bus speed as well as the built-in antennas of the device. For this reason, we recommend devices such
as the Samsung Galaxy s4 (1x1) or the Apple MacBook Air (2x2) over USB clients. We certainly recommend USB 3.0 products
over USB 2.0 products.
What channel are you using?
If you will be doing a Rate versus Range demo, it is important to choose your channel carefully. Obviously you need to ensure
that the channel is clear, but beyond that, not all channels are created equal. Some channels have total output power restrictions.
It is for that reason we recommend UNII-3 or UNII-2, over UNII-1 when the goal is to show best performance.
How far is the client from the access point?
The next thing to consider is distance. How far is the client from the AP? 802.11ac introduces 256 QAM, and it is a more
complex modulation so that modulation is harder to maintain over distance. If you want to consistently show 256 QAM, which
equates to m8 and m9, we recommend keeping the client within 25'. Beyond 25', you will still see m8/m9, but not consistently.
Keep in mind, m7 is the same for 11n and 11ac. The difference being, 11ac allows for 80 MHz channels. Under ideal conditions
you should expect 11ac to have an almost 3x gain over 11n at m9 and a 2x gain at m7. The AP 3700 also does a better job of
linking at 11ac rates further out than the AP 3600 module.
How is the AP mounted?
AP placement needs to be considered. For close-in tests, less than 10', placement is not so important, just make sure that the
AP is not obstructed. For other tests, you should take care to mount the AP in a proper location (ceiling or high on a wall in
the right orientation).
Try to follow these best practices: avoid mounting the AP near metal, mount it horizontally on a ceiling, and so on.
What data rate is the AP transmitting to the client at?
It is often useful to monitor the data rate of the client. The data rate has a direct impact on performance. There are several ways
to monitor the data rate.
The easiest method is to check on the GUI.

A Quick Look at a Few "Non-Optimal" Installations

The figures below present examples of installations that are not recommended. It is very difficult to provide good Wi-Fi service
with a poor installation. Always try to avoid metal and clutter.
Cisco Aironet Series 1700/2700/3700 Access Point Deployment Guide
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