Wireless Access

I have an Aruba 304 and I was wondering what the difference in operation is between "inside" and "outside"?

Is there any disadvantage to switching to "outside" for an inside deployment where the signal seems a little weak.

By default, all AP models initially ship with an indoor or outdoor installation mode. This means that APs with an indoor installation mode are normally placed in enclosed, protected environments and those with an outdoor installation mode are used in outdoor environments and exposed to harsh elements.

In most countries, there are different channels and power that are allowed for indoor and outdoor operation. You may want to change an AP’s installation mode from indoor to outdoor or vice versa.

If the AP is provisioned in its 'default mode' it will use the default mode of the AP (e.g if an Indoor AP, it will be deployed using the allowed indoor powers and channels for the regulatory domain).

For example, you can see the difference in allow channels for an AP225 in the UK based on its deployment mode.

(Aruba7030) *[mynode] #show ap allowed-channels ap-name AP225

Allowed Channels for AP "AP225" Country Code "GB" Country "United Kingdom"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PHY Type                 Allowed Channels
--------                 ----------------
802.11g (indoor)         1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
802.11a (indoor)         36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 149 153 157 161 165
802.11g (outdoor)        1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
802.11a (outdoor)        100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140 149 153 157 161 165
802.11g 40MHz (indoor)   1-5 2-6 3-7 4-8 5-9 6-10 7-11 8-12 9-13
802.11a 40MHz (indoor)   36-40 44-48 52-56 60-64 100-104 108-112 116-120 124-128 132-136 149-153 157-161
802.11g 40MHz (outdoor)  1-5 2-6 3-7 4-8 5-9 6-10 7-11 8-12 9-13
802.11a 40MHz (outdoor)  100-104 108-112 116-120 124-128 132-136 149-153 157-161
802.11a 80MHz (indoor)   36-48 52-64 100-112 116-128 149-161
802.11a 80MHz (outdoor)  100-112 116-128 149-161
802.11a (DFS)            52 56 60 64 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140

Thanks for your reply, that does help my understanding. As you say, outdoor operation would use different channels to indoor operation - would those channels also operate at a higher transmit power? - I guess what I really want to know is, will switching to "outdoor" operation in the UK improve bandwidth and/or range in a typical indoor scenario?

If so, would some sort of ofcom license be required?

 It all depends on the channel and the regulated power level for that frequency. If you run the below commands, they will give you the allowed channels and power levels for the AP model you have.

#show ap allowed-max-EIRP ap-name [AP NAME]
#show ap allowed-channels ap-name [AP NAME]

Without having any information on your environment, changing an AP to use a higher power level could potential degrade the performance of the RF environment.

"Without having any information on your environment, changing an AP to use a higher power level could potential degrade the performance of the RF environment."

OK! What information about the environment would you need to be able to evaluate that? Or is it simply a case of needing to determine experimentally?

In order to be compliant with your local regulations, you should select indoor for APs that are deployed indoor and outdoor for those that are deployed outdoor. As well you are supposed to put in the correct information for your antenna gain.

You can theoretical 'fool the system' by entering false information, but in the end, you are responsible for the use of the wireless spectrum according to your local legislation. It may get you into trouble with your local regulatory authorities when they show up in your office if you are transmitting on unauthorized channels or with too high power.