A client had been advised to replace a number of access points because wireless performance was being blamed on ageing hardware. The proposal sounded plausible: users were complaining, roaming was inconsistent, and the estate had been in place long enough for replacement to feel like a reasonable answer.
The measurements pointed away from a hardware fault. Symptoms varied by location, time of day and client type: some users struggled while others nearby had no problem. New access points might have improved the coverage figures, but they would not have explained the inconsistent service.
A full wireless survey found channel overlap, excessive transmit power and an RF design that had become noisy as the building changed around it. The radios were capable; their configuration and placement were working against one another. New hardware would have behaved in much the same way under the old design.
We redesigned the RF environment, adjusting channels, power levels, placement and roaming behaviour against measurements taken throughout the building.
The complaints stopped. Replacing the access points had been a reasonable suggestion based on the symptoms, but the survey showed that the design needed attention first.
Engineering lessons
- A refresh should not be used as a substitute for diagnosis.
- Wireless problems often live in design, not in the access point model.
- A site survey can prevent a purchase from becoming an expensive guess.
Read the engineering principles behind this work →
Confidentiality: Engineering Notes are based on real engagements. Client identities, timelines and identifying details may be changed to protect confidentiality. The engineering decisions and lessons remain representative of the work undertaken.