CiscoAironetAccessPointDeploymentGuide
CiscoSystems
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Note: Avoid using single‐band (single‐radiating element antennas) like those used with the earlier AP
3500,becausetheyarenotfullycompatiblewiththenewerAP1600/2600andAP3600.Antennasfor
theAP1260andtheAP3500aresingle‐radiating elementantennasmade foreachindividualband.
The
AP 3600, 2600, and 1600 use dual‐band, dual‐radiating el ement antennas and are branded with an
orangemarking.(SeeFigures46and47.)
Whenusing802.11nratesinareaswithhighmetal,suchasdistributionareasorairportha ngars,lower
gainantennasontheceilingmayperformbetter
becausetheytendtoradiatethesignalinalldirections
and increase the chance that multi‐path will enhance the signal. If you have a clear path, a patch
antennaattheendofanaisleatroughlythesameheightorjustabovethe(WLANclient)ispreferred.
(SeeFigure
49.)Besuretodoasitesurvey.
Figure49:ImportanceofSiteSurveyinAreaswithHighAmountsofMetal
Ahighgainantennamayhaveanullordeadspotdirectlybelowitbecausethe antennaele mentisoften
much longer and has less metal surface area
available to conduct the radio wave if you are directly
underneath it. (See Figure 50.) The further away you are from the antenna, the more surface is
available,andthebetteritperforms.