Wireless Bridging
Designed to connect two or more networks, typically located in different buildings, wireless bridges deliver high data rates and superior throughput for data-intensive line-of-sight applications. Bridges connect hard-to-wire sites, noncontiguous floors, satellite offices, school or corporate campus settings, temporary networks, and warehouses. They can be configured for point-to-point or point-to-multipoint applications.
The high speed links between the wireless bridges deliver throughput many times faster than traditional dial-on-demand and leased lines for a fraction of the cost. Because bridges have no recurring costs, savings on line costs quickly pay for the initial hardware investment.
Wireless bridges connect discrete sites into a single LAN, even when they are separated by obstacles such as roads, railways and bodies of water; they are practically insurmountable for copper and fibre-optic cable.
Wireless LAN
In the simplest of terms, a WLAN does exactly what its name implies: It provides all the features and benefits of traditional LAN technologies such as Ethernet, but without the limitations of wires and cables. Thus, WLAN’s redefine how the industry defines LANs. Connectivity no longer implies attachment. An infrastructure need not be buried in the ground or hidden behind walls. An infrastructure can move and change with the organisation.
WLAN technology can either take the place of a traditional wired network or extend its reach and capabilities. Much like its wired counterparts, in-building WLAN equipment consists of client adaptors and Access Points that perform functions similar to wired networking hubs.
Applying WLAN technology to desktop systems gives an organisation flexibility that is impossible to attain with a traditional wired LAN. Desktop client systems can be located in places where running cables is impractical or impossible. Desktop PCs can be redeployed anywhere within a facility as frequently as needed.
Extending the wired network using wireless technologies can provide flexibility for mobile users, with additional guest access to either your corporate network resources or limited access as necessary.
Wireless Survey
As with all networking implementations, planning is essential to ensure optimum performance. As such a wireless survey is a critical part of any WLAN or Wireless Bridge solution.
A properly selected and installed wireless solution can provide a dramatic increase in productivity at the individual level, which relates to the bottom line for the company or organisation.
However selecting the wrong components or architecture, or installing the WLAN using improper guidelines can cause you to just as easily end up with a system the users hate because of arcane access, or you will have a system that causes the network to become unbearably slow, insecure or extremely unstable.
