Wireless networks are referred to any computer network that is not connected by cable of any kind. A wireless local area network (WLAN) links two or more devices over a short distance using a wireless distribution method usually providing a connection through an access point for internet access

When choosing to go wireless it is important to understand what technology is available on the market today to fit your demands. Whether our clients are causal e-mail and web browsing or a heavy multimedia user (to handle gaming, video, and audio streaming). It is important that your WLAN is capable of handling the increasing demands you place on it.

Common Questions When deciding To Go Wireless
Do I needed a wireless router? What are the difference between all the various routers? What does all those technical specification mean (especially those routers advertising maximum speeds and the different protocols (the newest one being the 802.11ac)? What about all those features and what do they all do? Can I use all my devices with the wireless router? Should I go wireless or wired? What are the advantages between a wired network and a wireless network?

What every questions you may have for us and what your needs may be, whether it is consumer level device or business level class, Custom Computer Consulting we assist you in determining the appropriate wireless network class device to suit your needs.

There is similarity between consumer and business wireless setup but here is significant difference in the approach used in business wireless network. Specifically, such as their needs.

Wireless Network Prior To Implementation

When it comes to wireless networks there are many factors which goes into properly implementing a wireless network whether for a home or business. To determine the most reliable and secure connection for your local network, Custom Computer Consulting will use the following information to assess your needs.

1st – CCC - Establishes a Set of Standards to Follow

	Computability - (w/other computer and devices on the network on the network)
	Functionality - (the ease of use, what is needed to accommodate your network)
	Reliability – (Choosing the appropriate manufacture for its support, service longevity of its devices, their support, and length of warranty coverage).
	Expendability – (Future expansion w/newer technology including its firmware)
	Bandwidth Utilization - (Proper assignment of Bands based on usage, availability, to avoid band congestion)
	Cochineal Interface – (Isolation / Reassignment of frequency to avoid cochineal interfaces)
	Security – To prevent unauthorized access to your WLAN or Internet
	Location Accessibility - (Utilizing the best location for optima coverage)
	ISP Performance – To determine if ISP, Internet Service Provider is providing the appropriate service level to accommodate client’s needs.
	WLAN/LAN – Determine and recommend if Wireless or Wired or a combination of both is needed.

2nd - On Site Survey

Custom Computer Consulting (Site Survey)

Prior to installation of any Whiffy network a preliminary assessment will be performed at your site to determine what type of network is needed to accommodate your needs and to provide our client’s with the most reliable network. This evaluation will help us to determine what equipment will be needed, where to place, and how many AP access points.

An inventory of all computer system along with any other network devices (such as smart phones, tablets, Xbox, etc.) you wish to have access to your home network. This will help us determine your present bandwidth needs as well as future needs. Upon completion a network layout map, identifying the AP locations, router, switches, and other computer system location with their assigned IP addresses.

Our Site Wi-Fi Preliminary Survey Breakdown (Q&A) Session

It would be helpful to have available at the time of the survey the following information. The question below are question that Custom Computer Consulting we ask at the time of the site survey.

Structural (Building) Information

	The SQ Feet
	How Many Floors
	How Many Rooms to each Floor (Determine the layout and possible coverage areas problem)
	Ceiling height (Used to determine proper placement of Access Points)
	Do you have a floor plan or blueprints available (if not we’ll create our own floor plan.
	What material is being used for your walls (plaster, metal, wood, steel, and etc.)
	If outdoor Wi-Fi is requested, what is the coverage area needed
	Accessibility for Ethernet cable and/or electrical outlets.

Technical Information

	Will it be open or a closed system?
	Will it be isolated from a wired LAN, by placing it in a DMZ mode (not recommend as it opens both incoming and outgoing connection to the internet? Very insecure
	Do you plan on using it as a real-time communication (VOIP), engage in video concerning, use to stream multimedia application, such as audio and video streaming. Or just web surfing, file downloading or just receiving e-mail.
	What is the bandwidth needed? Since wireless is a shared bandwidth technology it important determines the amount of simultaneous user as well as the type of network traffic being transmitted.
	How many devices will be accessing it? – This will determine the amount of bandwidth needed to accommodate both now and future expansion of your network. These devices include; computer, laptop, ultra-laptop, smart phones, tablets, I-phone, I-pads, games, and multimedia devices.
	If Wi-Fi already installed does it support the necessary and have the capacity to handle the increase bandwidth demand.
	Areas of concretion where you plan on using your smart devices and/or computers?
	Minimum and Maximum Users that will be on-line at any given time?
	Will it be either indoor or Outdoor coverage or both?
	How many smart devices, laptops, and desktop (with either Wi-Fi or Ethernet or both)?
	Who is Your Internet Provider?
	What is your Internet Plan (Speed)?
	What type of Cable Modem (Internet Modem / Combination Internet & Wi-Fi Router / Internet Modem/ Wi-Fi Router/VOIP)?

Why do we ask these questions? It helps us determine the overall coverage area and the necessary bandwidth that will be needed to handle your wireless needs. It will also help us to determine the appropriate type of of internment package that will be needed to handle the traffic load. Once the final bandwidth is calculated will then increase the requirement in increments (i.e. 25%/50%/75%.) This will depended on other factors such as as financial consideration, future expansion needs, and the difficult in implementing it.

CCC - Criteria in choosing a wireless device

	Maximum Associated Users
	Coverage Area
	Total Radios
	Maximum Wi-Fi Bandwidth
	RF Power
	Radius Support
	Number of Integrated Antennas
	Ethernet Uplink Ports
	Wireless Protocols
	Price Criteria (set by client)
	POE Power Over Ethernet

This information we will obtain from our preliminary site survey will help us determine the appropriate device to accommodate our client’s needs. Other factors do contribute but these are the primary technical consideration Custom Computer Consulting uses.

3rd - Determine Protocol and Assigning Proper Band Usage

Compare wireless standards
It is important to fully understand the behavior of radio frequency (RF) signal through the facility before choosing which spectrum to use. This will allow the user to get maximum performance from their wireless device. They include 802.11a/b/g/n, and now IEEE 802.3/3u/3ab (w/speeds up to 450+1300Mbps. What will best fit your present and future needs?

Proper Bandwidth Usage Assignment
Network Bandwidth, represents the overall capacity of the connection. It is measure in bit per second. which is the amount of
data that passes thought he connection over time.

It is important to setup the appropriate band to get maximum usage of the wireless device as you are limited to the WIFI limitations. If a wireless devices support up to 600mbps on the 2.4ghz band and IP to 1300mhz on the 5.0ghz band these are your wireless device limits. Other factors such as legacy, which is lag time of the signal returns effects the overall bandwidth usage. Latency can refer other area network or the internet itself.

Bandwidth Assignment in both the Computer and Devices

	Assign to each computer and/or device the appropriate network protocol based on the intended purpose so as to allow most efficient usage of the bandwidth.
	Determine the outer limitation of coverage to and whether or not it is sufficient coverage and within a acceptable range.

An example could be for general web surfing, E-mail receiving, and file downloading, the 2.4GHz band while for movie watching, music listing, and on line gaming would be reserved for the 5Ghz using the N protocol w/dual band receivers. If possible external antennas with flexible extensions and mounts are the best as they are outside the computer chassis and can be oriented for maximum performance. Also, you can designate separate bands to different networks or make one public and the other private.

Signal Characteristic
5.0Ghz band offers better performance as it provides a large bandwidth of 40Mhz compared to 2.4Ghz which only as 20Mhz of bandwidth. However, the signal characteristic can be affected by the construction of the facility making 2.4Ghz more effective. 5.0Ghz band cannot travel as far and are attenuated more than 2.4Ghz signals when passing through walls. 2.4Ghz band tends to experience more RF interference from cordless phones, microwaves, and other existing wireless LANS. This will degrade your performance. If unresolved the 5.0Ghz band is preferred.

	Distance between the device and other Wi-Fi communication end points..
	Radio Interference in path of the Wi-Fi
	Physical obstructions in the path of the Wi-Fi signal.
	The Power of the device’s Wi-Fi radio transmitters/receive

4th - Type of Device To Be Deployed

The appropriate network devices needed to achieve optima network performance. They may include the following:

	What is the coverage area? Do you need multiple access point to provide Wi-Fi access points throughout the residence or business? An on-site assessment will be needed to determine where the access points and repeaters that may be needed to provide maximum coverage. Or even the use high gain antennas to boost the signals. Whether to use internal or external antennas dual band or single band systems. Access Points include the following methods:
	Wi-Fi Repeater – Used to increase the strength or range of your wireless network. It listens to any Wi-Fi broadcasts from existing Wi-Fi routers or wireless network devices such as laptops and tablets and rebroadcast them. It is place within the outer edge of a wireless routers range make available signals beyond the original routers range. Effectively double the networks wireless range. They are also called, Wi-Fi extenders, Wi-Fi Range extender as well.
	Wi-Fi Bridge-Repeater - It is a combination of both a Wi-Fi Repeater with a Bridge. A bridge is a device that connects two segments of a network. In large network it is used to divide large network into segments and thus reducing the number of computers with a specific network. In home environment it is used to bridge links to the non-Wi-Fi equipment via a cable, and to the wireless network via a radio transmitter. This eliminates the problem of the router’s signal being repeater back to it as the bridge dos not automatically repeat all signals it receives..
	Wi-Fi Mash layout – It is where multiple access points are connected to different nodes of a wired network. Where laptop become a access point to its normal role as only a client. Microsoft is working on what it calls “self-organizing neighborhood wireless mesh networks called Mesh Connectivity Layer (MCL). This driver tricks the computer into thinking it is directly connected to an internet connection. The software creates a virtual network adapter that the computer interprets as a regular network connection and uses an Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) protocol called Link Quality Source Routing (LQSR) to route data among the computers in the neighborhood.

5th - Wi-Fi Security Measures

CCC - Recommends
It is up to the individual homeowner or business in whether or not any security measure will be implemented. Some feel there is no harm in sharing Wi-Fi with others. The client can give limited or complete access to either or both your own local network or the internet. In theory it can make your network more vulnerable to hackers, access your valuable information as well as virus. This can decrease the threat by implement the minimum about of security while still retaining an open and FREE access to your system. By limiting access to your network devices and secure those devices that you wish to share among local users. We can assist in the appropriate security measures you may need to secure yourself from outside hackers. In most case it will depend on the equipment already installed and the level of security needs. If new equipment is installed we can then accommodate the necessary security level.

We recommend the highest possible security level available on your equipment. We use Wi-Fi Protection Access 2 (WPA2) and install only those types of routers. We further assigned MAC ID filtering along with dynamic IP addressing. They include: (WEP(less secure/outdated in 2003) by WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) or the current standard of encryption WPA2 (which encrypts the network with a 256 bit key). We prefer to use the maximum security and only use that equipment that supports the latest and maximum protection.

If stronger security is needed the use of two-factor authentication via smart cards and tokens can be used. These are normally used in business environments.

CCC - Industry Security Protocols

Final Note on Security Measures
Even with the best security measure methods such as Injecting traffic (inserting forged encrypted message into the network), Decrypting Traffic, (using tools such as WireShack< Prismdupm for traffic gathering) then using other tools such as WEPcrack, Airsmort, AirCrack, and WEpLabe for gathering the key to gain access.

Sniffer programs are commonly used programs to gather information. These programs can read your e-mail and see what websites you visit. They do not have access to your files unless file sharing has been enabled. They also cannot see any messages or web pages sent over the secure server connection. If using VPN, to access your network, via a hot spots, your data can be encrypted, shielding yourself from packet sniffers.

6th - Prior to Final Installment
Before any final installation is performed, measurements will be taken at different locations of facility, such as rooms, corridors, and open areas to determine the signal quality. If necessary adjustment, such as realignment of equipment, locations changes, or power levels will be done to assure maximum signal quality.

Custom Computer Consulting will test every device connected to the network will be tested to determine the maximum connection speed possible. In some cases depending on the device we may recommend updating your wireless device to obtain the maximum speed. In many cases it will be depend on the intended use you have for that particular device. Whether, If it will be used to gather e-mail receiving, web browsing, file download or for Movie, Music or online game. We will discuss with you those options

CCC - Recommendations
In today's environment we suggest using a combination of both wired and wireless network as they reduce the reliance on a specific network. Desktops, laptops, printers, and network devices should be reserve for wired network while smart devices, tablets, and other portable device can be dedicated to a wireless network. This only a general rule and it will depend on our clients specific needs and what they are willing to except. .

CCC - Manufactures Installed
We primarily install Cisco, Enginue, Xirrus, Asus, or Linksys devices. However, if our client’s specifically requested we can install other brands as well.

CCC - Service Time
Network Installation can vary depending on the type of service. The Preliminary Wi-Fi survey can take between 1 to 3 hours to conduct an on-site. During this time there is a question and answer session to determine what desires, habits, and purpose you intend to use the network for. Afterwards, all information will be evaluated and recommendations will be forthcoming to the client to determine how far he wishes to carry out the recommendations. Once we are aware of the directions the client wishes to take we will begin the process of obtaining price quotes of equipment needed and cost of installing the network. Once final approval is given to order the equipment will begin to order it and schedule to install the network will be scheduled.

CCC - To Schedule a Service (Select the appropriate ICON from the sidebar)

Last Update: 09/17/2015 18:03