January 18 , 2005
Very densely populated areas become a challenge for
Wireless Mesh. Not that the coverage is affective but the amount
of bandwidth becomes paramount. If you need to put in bandwidth in
a given area running multi channels, what could help is Super Aggregation.
However, Super Aggregation is still theoretical. There is a practical
solution today that one could use off the shelf called Wi-Fi Multiplexer
As Wi-Fi and devices that support Wi-Fi installations
matures new and supporting technology immerges. One of those
technology has recently been added to that triple Mesh capacity by phasing three channels onto one
antenna. This Multiplexer is not a wireless Mesh solution but more a
solution of Wi-Fi.
A Wi-Fi Multiplexer is a device that Injects Bandwidth into a area on 3 different channels,
1 , 6. and 11. They used the same antenna and have a noise
filtering system that illuminates any additional wireless overlap that
may occur. In essence, it would be adding 3 additional channels.
With the Open Source solution finding practical
solution with off the shelf components like this can provide solution
that proprietary systems could not. In this scenario one could add 3
MeshAP Gateway nodes and inject in a single high gain antenna.
Assuming the person is using 802.11b or greater the amount of bandwidth
would triple.
Cost saving of the antenna and cable would be
significant but not really something that you would want to but a Return
on Investment calculation on. The ability to put more bandwidth
from the same source is the objective. For example if you were
injecting 11 mbps into a initial channel and then added a second and
third channel you would be providing over 33 mbps; however, not in an
aggregate solution but as 3 -11 mbps pipes.
With Super Aggregation a number of test have shown
interference between channels with the off the shelve Wi-Fi multiplexer
the problem of channel overlap and the noise problem is eliminated.
This gives the Mesh 3 channels to choose from in a very small
area.
Population density in a Urban environment can
overwhelm mesh technology. Bandwidth solution like a Multiplexer
way be a solution for wireless Mesh.
