Meru Networks 802.11n Solutions
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[b]Meru Networks 802.11n solutions[/b]
The Meru Networks 802.11n solution is like most of the concepts of this manufacturer, quit unique. The access points are not only [b]software upgradeable[/b] from the current draft v2 [b]to the upcoming standard[/b]; they also provide a [b]software licensing[/B] feature [b]to upgrade from 11abg to 11n[/b] without any hardware replacement! This allows people to choose today for an 11abg network with the certainty they are able to upgrade to 11n in the future. Talking about a protection of your investment! Moreover, this will lower the initial investment cost as one can also benefit from the MIMO advantage in ‘normal’ 11abg mode. One will receive an overall better signal and thus higher bandwidth. Thanks to reflections and MIMO, the coverage can be twice as large as with a normal 11abg access points resulting thus in a lower number of access points needed.
Meru’s Single Channel architecture allows for the simultaneous support of an 11bg 2.4GHz network and an 11n 2.4GHz network. The 2.4GHz bands only allows for one 40MHz 11n channel which makes it impossible for all others to deploy an 11n network in 2.4GHz except when it is covered with one AP. Moreover, the Single Channel approach combined with Channel Stacking offers an incredible throughput! All 2.4 and 5GHz channels can be used at the same time all over the network offering speeds of more than 1Gbps in every spot!
The Single Channel technology not only allows for an increased throughput and easier installation, it also delivers co-channel interference coordination effectively eliminating this interference. Within a classic 11abg network, this mainly is the evildoer behind problems as bad performance, packet loss and even connection loss. Certainly 11bg networks suffer from this. With 11n networks, even in 5GHz, these problems will even be more severe due to the irregular formed, ever changing and thus unpredictable coverage pattern of an 11n access point. Opening or closing a door can result in a completely different coverage pattern. How hard you are trying to come up with a good channel planning, unsuspected interference patterns will always hit your network resulting in less performance than aimed for. The Meru system solves this problem and offers a trouble free 11n installation. Not surprisingly they have the most 11n installations in the world (+500 at the moment) as well as the most installed access points (+30.000) with the biggest number in users (+225.000) in the same installation.
The Meru access points work perfect with 802.3af power supplies as well as with external 5V power supplies and 802.3at PoE. You do not necessary need to change your current PoE solutions.
If the gigabit capacities of an 11n system are too large for the current network, the Meru 3 Tier Distribution System (3TDS) might be the right solution for you. 3TDS allows the data stream to stay locally with the use of a Distribution Point. Only the control and management traffic is being sent to the central controller. Therefore, you should never re-cable the entire network nor foresee all new switches.
