If additional RAPs are deployed to primarily provide additional capacity, then the additional RAPs should be
deployed on a different channel than its neighboring RAP to minimize the interference on the backhaul
channels.
Adding a second RAP on a different channel also reduces the collision domain through channel planning or
through RAP cell splitting. Channel planning allocates different nonoverlapping channels to mesh nodes in
the same collision domain to minimize the collision probability. RAP cell splitting is a simple, yet effective,
way to reduce the collision domain. Instead of deploying one RAP with omnidirectional antennas in a mesh
network, two or more RAPs with directional antennas can be deployed. These RAPs collocate with each other
and operate on different frequency channels. This process divides a large collision domain into several smaller
ones that operate independently.
If the mesh access point bridging features are being used with multiple RAPs, these RAPs should all be on
the same subnet to ensure that a consistent subnet is provided for bridge clients.
If you build your mesh with multiple RAPs on different subnets, MAP convergence times increase if a MAP
has to fail over to another RAP on a different subnet. One way to limit this process from happening is to use
different BGNs for segments in your network that are separated by subnet boundaries.
Indoor Mesh Interoperability with Outdoor Mesh
Complete interoperability of indoor mesh access points with the outdoor ones is supported. It helps to bring
coverage from outdoors to indoors. We recommend indoor mesh access points for indoor use only, and these
access points should be deployed outdoors only under limited circumstances as described below.
The indoor access points in a third-party outdoor enclosure can be deployed for limited outdoor
deployments, such as a simple short haul extension from an indoor WLAN to a hop in a parking lot. The
1240, 1250, 1260, 3500e, and 3600 access points in an outdoor enclosure is recommended because of its
robust environmental and temperature specifications. Additionally, the indoor access points have connectors
to support articulated antennas when the AP is within an outdoor enclosure. Exercise caution with the
SNR values as they may not scale and long-term fades may take away the links for these APs when
compared to a more optimized outdoor 1500 series access point.
Caution
Mobility groups can be shared between outdoor mesh networks and indoor WLAN networks. It is also possible
for a single controller to control indoor and outdoor mesh access points simultaneously. The same WLANs
are broadcast out of both indoor and outdoor mesh access points.
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Site Preparation and Planning
Indoor Mesh Interoperability with Outdoor Mesh