The RFS4000 802.11n Integrated Services Controller is designed to provide any branch office or remote facility with high performance, comprehensive, cost-effective and secure wireless and wired networking services. No matter what the networking needs are in your branch offices, the RFS4000 delivers rich voice support including Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) now, Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC) and IP PBX in the future; rich video support including video conferencing and video surveillance; multiple locationing technologies such as Wi-Fi and RFID; plus support for multiple RF technologies, including future technologies such as Wi-MAX. The RFS4000 is the only product in its class that offers dual band access concurrent with Mesh services as well as gap free security with 24×7 Wireless Intrusion Protection System (IPS).

Customer

The customer is a leading manufacturer of equipment for the agriculture industry with facilities throughout North America. The warehouse management software (WMS) requires a constant connection to the host application, so the network must be completely reliable at all times, and in any environment.

Challenge

Design a wireless network that provides wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling coverage so that devices can connect to the internal network without the use of CAT5/CAT6 cables. The devices needing to connect to the network include the following:

• LXE MX7 – 1/4 VGA, handheld mobile computer with the Windows CE 5.0 operating system
• LXE VX6 – 1/2 VGA, truck mounted computer with Windows CE 5.0 operating system
• Misc. Laptops & Desktops – Various manufacturers with Windows XP, Vista, and Mac OSX operating systems

In addition to the variety of devices in use is the variety of environments in which the devices will be operated in. The different environments for this particular wireless network design can be categorized as follows:

• Indoor

  • Production: 170,000 square foot facility with 20′ ceilings. Area contains mostly large, metal machinery and conveyors.
  • Warehousing: 300,000 square foot facility with 40′ ceilings. Area contains densely stacked product on 30′ high racking. Product can be any number of materials.
  • Office space: 42,000 square foot office area with 9′ ceilings. Area contains mostly cubicles and a small row of offices.

• Outdoor

  • Storage: 68,000 square foot yard housing metal product. Area is subject to extreme temperaturs – cold and hot.

Solution

Design, develop, and implement a wireless network to provide wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling coverage in all areas needing coverage. The implemented hardware must be capable of withstanding harsh environments, as well as provide efficient coverage zones in the different environments.

The first step in determining the hardware required for proper coverage is to conduct an on site wireless site survey. The site survey tests different access points and different antennas in the many different environments and allows the Systems Engineer to determine the best infrastructure for each environment.

After discussing the initial requirements with the customer it was determined that the Cisco 1240 Series Access Point would meet meet the needs of the Network Admin. After performing an on site wireless site survey it was determined that a combination of antennas, each specifically chosen for the different environements, would be used.

• Cisco Dipole – 2.2 dbi gain
• Cisco Diversity – 4.5 dbi gain
• Cisco Yagi – 13.5 dbi gain
• LXE Spire – 3 dbi gain

Results

The integrated solution resulted in an efficient wireless network that provided adequate coverage in all required areas throughout the 500,000+ square foot facility. The different types of antennas minimized the required number of access points and kept the total cost of the solution well under budget.

Customer

The customer is a leading manufacturer of equipment for the agriculture industry with facilities throughout North America.  The warehouse management software (WMS) requires a constant connection to the host application, so the network must be completely reliable at all times, and in any environment.

Challenge

Design a wireless network that provides wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling coverage so that devices can connect to the internal network without the use of CAT5/CAT6 cables.  The devices needing to connect to the network include the following:

• LXE MX7 – 1/4 VGA, handheld mobile computer with the Windows CE 5.0 operating system
• LXE VX6 – 1/2 VGA, truck mounted computer with Windows CE 5.0 operating system
• Misc. Laptops & Desktops – Various manufacturers with Windows XP, Vista, and Mac OSX operating systems

In addition to the variety of devices in use is the variety of environments in which the devices will be operated in.  The different environments for this particular wireless network design can be categorized as follows:

• Indoor

  • Production: 170,000 square foot facility with 20′ ceilings.  Area contains mostly large, metal machinery and conveyors.
  • Warehousing: 300,000 square foot facility with 40′ ceilings.  Area contains densely stacked product on 30′ high racking.  Product can be any number of materials.
  • Office space: 42,000 square foot office area with 9′ ceilings.  Area contains mostly cubicles and a small row of offices.

• Outdoor

  • Storage: 68,000 square foot yard housing metal product.  Area is subject to extreme temperaturs – cold and hot.

Solution

Design, develop, and implement a wireless network to provide wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling coverage in all areas needing coverage.  The implemented hardware must be capable of withstanding harsh environments, as well as provide efficient coverage zones in the different environments.

The first step in determining the hardware required for proper coverage is to conduct an on site wireless site survey.  The site survey tests different access points and different antennas in the many different environments and allows the Systems Engineer to determine the best infrastructure for each environment.

After discussing the initial requirements with the customer it was determined that the Cisco 1240 Series Access Point would meet meet the needs of the Network Admin.  After performing an on site wireless site survey it was determined that a combination of antennas, each specifically chosen for the different environements, would be used.

• Cisco Dipole – 2.2 dbi gain
• Cisco Diversity – 4.5 dbi gain
• Cisco Yagi – 13.5 dbi gain
• LXE Spire – 3 dbi gain

Results

The integrated solution resulted in an efficient wireless network that provided adequate coverage in all required areas throughout the 500,000+ square foot facility.  The different types of antennas minimized the required number of access points and kept the total cost of the solution well under budget.