Wireless Home Networking - Index of

Chapter 4: Planning a Wireless Home Network
You should attempt to keep a direct line between APs, residential gateways,
and the wireless devices on your network. A wall that is 1.5 feet thick, at a 45°
angle, appears to be almost 3 feet thick. At a 2° angle, it looks more than 42
feet thick. Try to make sure that the AP and wireless adapters are positioned
so that the signal travels straight through a wall or ceiling for better reception.
RF interference
Nowadays, many devices that once required wires are now wireless, and this
situation is becoming more prevalent all the time. Some wireless devices use
infrared technology, but many wireless devices, including your wireless network,
communicate by using radio frequency (RF) waves. As a consequence,
the network can be disrupted by RF interference from other devices sharing
the same frequencies used by your wireless network.
Among the devices most likely to interfere with 802.11g and 802.11n networks
are microwave ovens and cordless telephones that use the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
band. The best way to avoid this interference is to place APs and computers
with wireless adapters at least 6 feet away from the microwave and the base
station of any portable phone that uses either band.
Bluetooth devices also use the 2.4 GHz band, but the hop pattern of the Bluetooth
modulation protocol all but ensures that any interference is short
enough in duration to be negligible.
Because relatively few devices are trying to share the 5 GHz frequencies used
by some 802.11n devices, your network is less likely to experience RF interference
if it’s using 802.11n. If the 5 GHz frequency is the only clear band,
802.11n will work but at the cost of absolute distance.
You should also try to keep all electric motors and electrical devices that
generate RF noise through their normal operation, such as monitors, refrigerators,
electric motors, and universal power supply (UPS) units, at least 3 and
preferably 6 feet away from a wireless network device.
Signal obstacles
Wireless technologies are susceptible to physical obstacles. When deciding
where best to place your APs, look at Table 4-1, which lists obstacles that can
affect the strength of your wireless signals. The table lists common household
obstacles (although often overlooked) as well as the degree to which
the obstacle is a hindrance to your wireless network signals.
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