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Placement and Range Guidelines

Indoors, computers can connect over wireless networks at ranges of several hundred feet or more. This distance can allow for others outside your area to access your network. It is important to take appropriate steps to secure your network from unauthorized access. The Wireless AP provides highly effective security features which are covered in detail in this chapter. Deploy the security features appropriate to your needs

The operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary significantly based on the physical placement of the wireless access point. The latency, data throughput performance, and notebook power consumption of wireless adapters also vary depending on your configuration choices.

Note: Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance degradation or inability to wirelessly connect to the WG602v4.

For best results, place your wireless access point:

Near the center of the area in which your PCs will operate.
In an elevated location such as a high shelf where the wirelessly connected PCs have line-of-sight access (even if through walls).
Away from sources of interference, such as PCs, microwaves, and 2.4 GHz cordless phones.
Away from large metal surfaces.

If using multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different radio frequency Channels to reduce interference. The recommended Channel spacing between adjacent access points is 5 Channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).

The time it takes to establish a wireless connection can vary depending on both your security settings and placement.

202-10279-01, June 2007