">
Home > Ask the Networking Experts > Wireless networking Questions & Answers > Dropped connections when clients switch APs
Ask The Networking Expert: Questions & Answers
EMAIL THIS

Dropped connections when clients switch APs

Lisa Phifer EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Lisa Phifer

Pose a Question
Other Networking Categories
Meet all Networking Experts
Become an Expert for this site


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   


>
QUESTION POSED ON: 08 November 2006

We are implementing wireless 802.11g in a large medical office setting with many closed-in exam rooms (more than 50 per floor). I have installed APs using a "rule of thumb" of 1 AP per 3000 sq ft. Our clients are using Windows XP, and would like to be able to "roam" seamlessly between APs. We notice disconnection and reconnection when the clients switch APs, with complaints from users. Any suggestions?


>

802.11 stations automatically try to associate with the "best" AP with a given SSID. "Best" can be based on many factors, including signal strength, error rate, and link speed. When a station associated with one AP decides that another AP might be better, it disassociates from the old AP and associates to the new AP. This roaming process of course takes time.

If your APs are in the same subnet with no security enabled, roaming may be barely noticeable. If your APs require WPA or WPA2-Personal, PreShared Key authentication will add many milliseconds of latency. If your APs require WPA or WPA2-Enterprise, the full-blown 802.1X authentication can add seconds of latency, which users perceive as broken connections. If your APs are in different subnets, every TCP and UDP session must be restarted: the user's worst case scenario.

Read the rest of this expert response in this tip.


Digg This!    StumbleUpon Toolbar StumbleUpon    Bookmark with Delicious Del.icio.us   



RELATED CONTENT
Wireless networking
Why is my network adapter not working after a Vista Business upgrade?
How many wireless base stations can connect to 802.11g access points?
APs drop connection in WLAN configured as a wireless mesh network
How does Wi-Fi ad-hoc mode react when 802.11n and legacy peers are present?
Can wireless adapters operate as client access points to make SoftAPs?
Will using a VPN protect me against fake wireless hotspots?
WLAN QoS and SLA monitoring with 7/24 Wireless Quality Assurance costs
How can I hide my WLAN's SSID in an Aruba AP-61?
How radio frequency (RF) of microwaves alter wireless signal strength
Stolen laptop recovery using remote access and wireless network SSIDs

WLAN Standards
802.11n wireless APs bring IP video to sprawling Illinois high school
802.11n ratification will drive down wireless LAN prices
How does Wi-Fi ad-hoc mode react when 802.11n and legacy peers are present?
Wireless vs. Wi-Fi: What is the difference between Wi-Fi and WLAN?
802.11n ratification planned for Sept., draft products to interoperate
Wireless LAN performance management and security standards beefed up
802.11n wireless LAN access point market: Who's really in second place?
Will 802.11x wireless products be compatible with 802.11n?
Beamforming, RF management key to 802.11n wireless LAN success
School deploys 802.11n WLAN to support student laptop program

Wireless LAN Implementation
University tackles large-scale 802.11n wireless network management
Why is my network adapter not working after a Vista Business upgrade?
How many wireless base stations can connect to 802.11g access points?
802.11n wireless APs bring IP video to sprawling Illinois high school
No data cable? Wireless mesh networking the answer for Wi-Fi backhaul
Integrated wireless and wired LAN: Brocade-Motorola deal ups the ante
802.11n WLAN architecture strategies: The 2.4 vs. 5 GHz band debate
802.11n upgrade: College ditches legacy network for new vendor
802.11n ratification will drive down wireless LAN prices
How does Wi-Fi ad-hoc mode react when 802.11n and legacy peers are present?

RELATED GLOSSARY TERMS
Terms from Whatis.com − the technology online dictionary
802.11a  (SearchNetworking.com)
DECT  (SearchNetworking.com)
foreign agent  (SearchNetworking.com)
High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data  (SearchNetworking.com)
home address  (SearchNetworking.com)
home agent  (SearchNetworking.com)
Link Quality Source Routing  (SearchNetworking.com)
Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service  (SearchNetworking.com)
USSD  (SearchNetworking.com)
Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM)  (SearchNetworking.com)

RELATED RESOURCES
2020software.com, trial software downloads for accounting software, ERP software, CRM software and business software systems
Search Bitpipe.com for the latest white papers and business webcasts
Whatis.com, the online computer dictionary



Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
Browse our Expert Advice



Expert networking advice and tips for IT professionals
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  For Advertisers  |  For Business Partners  |  Site Index  |  RSS
SEARCH 
TechTarget provides technology professionals with the information they need to perform their jobs - from developing strategy, to making cost-effective purchase decisions and managing their organizations' technology projects - with its network of technology-specific websites, events and online magazines.

TechTarget Corporate Web Site  |  Media Kits  |  Site Map




All Rights Reserved, Copyright 2000 - 2009, TechTarget | Read our Privacy Policy
  TechTarget - The IT Media ROI Experts