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R E V I E W

Navigating the Shifting 802.11 Sands

February 6, 2003
By Jesse Lindeman & Julio Caraballo

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How We Tested

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	In this article
	Introduction
	Cisco Systems Aironet 1200 Series Dual AP
	Other Products Reviewed
	Executive Summary
	How We Tested
	802.11g Adds to the Mix
	Report Card

We conducted feature, functionality, range and performance tests with each product in our Syracuse University Real-World Labs®. For throughput tests we used NetIQ's Chariot 4.3 network-performance application, using 1.2-GHz Toshiba Satellite notebook computers with 256 MB of RAM running Microsoft Windows XP as our mobile clients. For our base throughput tests, the laptops were located 5 feet from the AP, and the AP was connected to an isolated 100-Mbps Cisco switch in our lab. We used 100 iterations of 1-MB, TCP-based, unidirectional long-file receive transfers, our standard throughput test for wireless LANs.

We began by testing each mode, 11a and 11b, with one and two clients connected to the AP, and then both modes working concurrently with one client each. In each case we tested with and without 128-bit WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) enabled. Although testing with a limited number of stations does tend to provide best-case performance, it has the advantage of allowing comparisons to previous lab tests.

Chart

click to enlarge

For our range tests, the APs were placed in a typical ceiling-level location in a large walled classroom/office building constructed in the mid-1980s (most walls are Sheetrock over metal studs, and most doors are metal). We ran a continuous ping from the laptops to the static IP address set up on the APs to measure range based on packet loss from various locations. Since we did not have physical access to all offices, our maps do not show all areas of coverage, but they do provide an accurate representation of product differences and maximum range that would be achieved in a typical building.