HIGH DENSITY WIRELESS NETWORK

TODAY’S SPEAKERS

Daran Hermans Senior Product Manager, Zebra Technologies, Inc. Angela Becker Network Manager, Kenosha Unified School District Kris Keckler Executive Director of Information and Accountability, Kenosha Unified School District

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1 2.5 5 10 20

40

80

160

High Density Defined

High Density is defined by the number of clients in a given area; and the data throughput required for each client

One fan in every seat Approximate class size; K-12

Approximations to show relative client density and throughput Some use cases can exceed what is shown

Warehouse / Logistics ~ 1Mbps per device

Enterprise / Retail ~ 2 to 10Mbps per device Education

~ 2 to 10Mbps per device

Events / Stadiums / Airplanes ~ 0.250 to 2Mbps per device

Off

the

scal

e IO

T, U

ltra-

Hig

h D

ensi

ty

Mob

ile d

evic

es Approx Bandwidth Per Client

Number of Clients per 1000 sqft 10 Mbps

8 Mbps

6 Mbps

4 Mbps

2 Mbps

1 Mbps

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More Streams, Wider Channels

20 MHz 40 MHz 20 MHz 40 MHz 80 MHz 75 150 87 200 433

150 300 173 400 867

225 450 289 600 1,300

300 600 348 800 1732

One Stream Samsung s5, etc

RF datarate - Mbps

802.11n 802.11ac

MU-MIMO

Two Stream iPhone 6, Samsung s6 Intel laptops

Three Stream Macbook pro

Four Stream 1733

867

200

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802.11n to 802.11ac Access Point Technology Evolution

2 bonded channels Same band “width” as 11n

3 spatial streams Same as 11n

New modulation schemes QAM256 is 33% faster than 11n

AirTime Fairness Faster for 11n legacy clients

Explicit Beamforming Standards based Client aware signal isolation

Multi-user MIMO Multiple concurrent clients

8 bonded channels 4x more band “width”

4 spatial streams 33% faster than 11n

8 spatial streams

802.11ac Wave 1

802.11ac Wave 2

versus 802.11n…

TBD

Wav2 11AC Wireless Capacity Multiplier • 33% faster using QAM 256

• Up to 4x faster using MU-MIMO

• Up to 4x faster using 160MHz

• 33% faster using 4 streams vs 3 streams

Note: with 11AC, some of the multipliers are mutually exclusive. For example, you could not use 4x4 with MU-MIMO clients at the same time. See the next slide for more details. Overall, 11AC provides more ways to multiply wireless speed and capacity

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802.11AC Key Feature: 256QAM

Design Requirement Advantages

-50dBm RSSI (256QAM requires 35-40dB SNR)

33% faster speed than 11n Works with all 11AC clients (i.e. Samsung S5 was an early 11AC client)

Signal-to-Noise Ratio 1 dB 3 dB 5 dB ---------- 35 dB

802.11b None 1 Mbps 5.5 Mbps ---------- 11 Mbps

802.11ag None 6 Mbps 6 Mbps ---------- 54 Mbps

802.11ac, 20MHz None None 14.4 Mbps ---------- 173 Mbps

802.11ac, 40MHz None None None ---------- 400 Mbps

256QAM with 35dB SNR

The desired range for High Density is defined by the target -50 dBm RSSI

Gotchas: since the AP is capable of sending packets at lower data rates; such as 802.11b and g; the AP can be “seen” a great distance from the target area. This is the “advertisement range” and must be controlled. Disable 11b entirely, and prune out 11g rates below 24Mbps

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802.11AC Key Feature: Channel Bonding

Design Requirement Advantages

Use 40MHz wide channels 2x faster than 11n at the same MCS rate Faster speeds means more clients can share the same network

40Mhz is the most common client capability

Use 40MHz channels on the 5GHz band for the primary data network where High Density is desired

Gotchas: In the US, there are 11 sets of 40Mhz channels – assuming that DFS channels are available in your area. If DFS channels are not available due to proximity with radar, you may have to use 20MHz channels. Other situations may also occur that dictate a 20MHz channel is required.

20 MHz 40 MHz 20 MHz 40 MHz 80 MHz 150 300 173 400 867

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802.11AC Key Feature: Increased Spatial Streams

Design Requirement Advantages

Primarily applies to indoor APs Easy 2x speed multiplier

Two spatial streams is common for most laptops and high end smart phones

Gotchas: requires MIMO for effective spatial stream combining. Outdoor networks require polar diversity antennas

Best combination of client capabilities 2SS (2 spatial streams) 40MHz channels 256 QAM

20 MHz 40 MHz 80 MHz

1SS 87 200 433

2SS 173 400 867

3SS 289 600 1,300

4SS 348 800 1732

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802.11AC Key Feature: DL Multi-User MIMO

Design Requirement Advantages

Requires high SNR and supported clients 2.5x capacity multiplier by transmitting to multiple clients at the same time

Increase network capacity by ~ 2.5x using DownLink Multi-User MIMO

Gotchas: works best with stationary clients. Few clients support it today, but will in the future

AP

Theoretically, MU-MIMO will transmit up to 200Mbps (40MHz, 1SS) to each of four wireless clients at the same time. Or; Transmit up to 400Mbps (40MHz, 2SS) to each of two wireless clients Backward compatible with legacy 11n and other 11AC clients

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Automatic selection of best transmission clients to maximize aggregate throughput

Single User (SU) Used for management frames, 11n and 11ac clients

Multi User (MU): 4 * 1x1 Multi User (MU): 2 * 2x2

Upstream packets from the client to the AP are Single User mode. Failures in the algorithm, or protocols or environment will reduce effective MU-MIMO throughput For each transmit opportunity, the access point can do one of three things; 1. Transmit multiple streams to multiple clients 2. Transmit single user (SU) management packets 3. Transmit single user mode for 802.11AC wave 1 clients or 11n clients

AP AP AP

802.11AC MU-MIMO: Multiply Capacity for High Density

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DownLink MU-MIMO – basically how it works

1. Uses Transmit Beamforming (part of 802.11ac standard)

2. Each client sends Channel State Information (CSI) to the AP – CSI is the signal and noise level of each sub-carrier

3. The AP builds a steering matrix to decide which clients can be grouped

4. For each transmission; the AP transmits either – Multiple coded streams to clients that support MU-MIMO – Single stream to all other clients

5. Limitations – Downstream ONLY – Only applies to some data packets; all management packets are Single Stream

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Pros and Cons

PRO • Can increase the total aggregate speed from 50% to 250% • Works well for clients not in motion – e.g. a school classroom

CON • Downstream is MU; Upstream is still SU • Time to calculate the steering matrix too long for mobile clients e.g. a Trade Show

• As the client moves, the CSI changes, so the steering matrix has to be re-calculated

• In very high density, the location of the clients are too close to determine a steering matrix e.g. clients on an airplane 10cm apart; 10m from the AP

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Enterprise AP Chipsets

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

Client Chipsets

Wave1, 3x3:3 First with 11ac req features

Most released 2H-2013

Wave1.5, 4x4:3 First MU-MIMO

released summer 2015

Wave2, 4x4:4 First to support Wav2 features

Wav2 releases in 1H-2016

1 stream wav1 Samsung, HTC

2 stream wav1 iPhone 6 (but only uses 1 stream)

4 concurrent clients 160Mhz / Dynamic BW

Full IEEE spec 8x8:8

Unknown avail

1 stream MU-MIMO Xiamei

GAP

4 stream Access Point

2 stream Clients

2 stream MU-MIMO Nexus 5x/6/Samsung g7

3 concurrent clients 80Mhz 80Mhz, 256QAM

802.11AC Chipset Evolution

wav1 Wav1.5 wav2

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Access Point Matrix

802.11AC wave 2

802.11AC wave 1

Special Features

Classroom/Lecture Hall Yes High density + online learning is the primary use. Application QoS and Location Services can enhance the experience

Skills training / ROTC / music Maybe Yes Wave 1 is adequately fast in areas where online learning is not primary

Dorm Room Yes Wall mount AP to get signal closer to students, Multiple Ethernet ports

Outdoor zones / campus Yes Polar diversity antennas provide some MIMO benefit and better signal integrity

Stadium Yes Yes High Density + high temperature requires unique access points

No one size fits all – choose the right access point for the desired outcome

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BT2.0 / BLE

Dual Band Sensor WIPS / Location

Spectrum Analysis Dual Band

2.5 GE

GE

Dedicated Sensors

5G:4x4:4 MU-MIMO

2.4G: 3x3:3 Data Only

Data Only

Example High End 802.11AC Wave 2

Ideal for High Density network with PCI-DSS requirements Dynamic RF Environment that changes daily Granular location tracking with dedicated Sensor Overlay BLE engagement

Specs Quad Radios; 2 * Data, 1 * Sensor, 1 * BT/BLE Triple Sensor: 802.11, BTLE, RF Spectrum 802.11AC wave 2. 4X4:4, 160MHz* 4 Concurrent MU-MIMO clients Dedicated DB Network Sensor for LBS & WIPs Integrated BT & BLE transceiver for Engagement, Sensing 1 x GE; 1 x 2.5GbE (optional SKU)

Optional SKU for 2.5GE

* 160MHz mode restricted by lack of FCC test plan

AP 8533

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GE+ POE out

Borrow Radio 1

Unlocked Radio For

Fulltime Network Sensor

USB

High End 11AC Wave 2 with IOT extensions

Ideal for Very high density Networking with PCI-DSS and/or IOT applications Dynamic RF Environment that changes daily Overlay BLE engagement PoE-out to extend 3rd party IOT network

Specs Triple Sensor: 802.11, BTLE, RF Spectrum 802.11AC wave 2. 4X4:4, 160MHz* 4 Concurrent MU-MIMO clients Integrated BT & BLE transceiver for Engagement, Sensing 2 x GE; one port with PoE-out USB 2.0, 5w

* 160MHz mode restricted by lack of FCC test plan

BT2.0 / BLE

Dual Band Sensor WIPS / Location

Spectrum Analysis Dual Band

5G:4x4:4 MU-MIMO

2.4G: 3x3:3

GE

AP 8432

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PoE Out • Connect IOT devices or other AP to PoE-Out port

• Removes additional cable cost

• Easily expand services over existing infrastructure

802.3at PoE Switch

2.4

5

2.4Ghz radio: 3x3, 11n

5Ghz radio: 4x4, 11n.AC, WAVE 2

BLE; Beacon, Management

RF spectrum Analysis

Fulltime Sensor: WIPs, Network Assurance

802.3at In

802.3af Out

5

5 2

5 2

802.3at In

802.3af Out

IP Camera

IOT gateway (Another AP, Shelf Label, Temp sensors, etc)

Borrow Radio 1, use as Fulltime Sensor

Page 18 Micro-cell 11AC for dormitory housing

90mm x 95mm

Ideal for Micro-cell WiFi in hospitality or dormitory housing Provides 30 – 40dB SNR in each room; or up to 3 rooms Sized for NA/SA, Asia, European telecom wall plates

Specs 802.11AC wave 1. 2X2:2, 80MHz 1 x GE + 3 x FE; 1 with PoE out

1 x GE uplink port on backside • GE port accepts 802.3af or 802.3at input power

1 x passthrough port • Pass secondary signals from back side to front side of AP

12VDC power 1 x FE port with PSE 2 x FE L2 / L3 ports 1 x pass-thru RJ45

AP 7502

Kenosha Unified School District: Designing High

Density 802.11ac Wave 2

Angela Becker & Kris Keckler

KUSD Enrollment & Locations Third Largest district in Wisconsin, serving just under 22,000 students.

Enrollment 4K - 5th: 10,380 6th - 8th: 4,536 9th - 12th: 7,016 TOTAL: 21,932 students

40 Sites (Schools and Support Centers) 21 elementary schools 5 middle schools 3 high schools 4 instrumentality charter schools 3 choice schools 1 specialty school 1 Head Start child development center Rec and Senior Centers

Network Upgrades

Current network environment: • 700+ network

switches ( 500+ managed)

• 1,000+ APs (all supported through one VX9000)

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000Bandwidth (Mb)

Wireless History • Prior to 2010, had multiple vendors, wireless in only 5% of the buildings -

all managed with individual controllers • Installed 756 APs throughout the district - main focus was coverage • Most APs placed in hallways - typically one AP would cover 4 adjacent

classrooms • Installed 249 APs over the last 3+ years • Recommendations for cost and network efficiency with additional AP

purchases • Increase in mobile devices (now approx. 19,000) • Hopeful expansion of current E-Rate application (1,200+ APs)

The Progression of Wi-Fi Standards

• Moving towards ac technology will allow broad operation with backwards compatibility

• Higher data rates • With hopeful E-Rate approvals, moving forward with mGig

technology which allows for maximum speeds per device • Data can be delivered to multiple users simultaneously

Getting the Most Value From Our Purchases

• Proactively seek end user feedback • Quality monitoring of device usage, frequency • Building educational awareness of planned distribution/sharing

environments • Regular collaboration and update meetings between the Information

Services Department and the Instructional Technology staff (part of Teaching & Learning)

• Provide a solid, stable environment • Prior to integrating Zebra products, past inconsistency created an

undesirable attitude toward technology integration with curriculum

How Multi-user MIMO Represents Significant Technology Advancements for Districts

• Potential to support BYOD • Student devices – (phones)- would be better supported on the AP 8432

with its capabilities to run MU-MIMO

• Noticeable differences: • amount of devices that the AP 8432 can efficiently support • No latency with logins (GAFE, online assessments)

• Serve more users, more efficiently • Due to expanded compatibility, we hope to extend useful

lifespan of equipment

Achieved Improvements and Future Expectations

• Major stadium renovations at 2 large high schools • Broadcasting and streaming through local radio stations – no delay or

buffering with game media

• District hosts many large events (potential to support 1000 + concurrent users) • Google Summit (June 2016) • Regional PD offerings • School site collaboration meetings • Implementing Google Classroom and Google hangouts throughout the

district

Q & A

Resources

Why Deploy 802.11ac NOW

Technical Brief: Designing High Density WLAN

Zebra 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2 Access Points