Links of Interest
LINKS OF INTEREST!!!
For students of the ECSE class: Often things come up during our discussions that I will document here so the we can refer back to it at any time. Things like links to survey tools, white papers, conferences, etc. that may be of interest to those wanting to learn more, and have a better understanding of WiFi, how it works, and properly design and deploy it.
This is a “Living” document that will be updated periodically as items are added/removed/changed.
CWNP (Certified Wireless Network Professional)
If you want to learn more about wifi, or pursue a career in WiFi the CWNP program is must. At the very least you should get the CWNA (Certified Wireless Network Administrator) Study Guide (by David Wescott/David Coleman) and keep it next to your copy of Microsoft Exchange for Dummies for reference.
WLPC (Wireless LAN Professionals Conference)
This is THE conference to go to if you are a Wireless LAN Professional. The conference is held every February in Phoenix, AZ, and multiple locations around the world throughout the year.
If you can't make it all the sessions are recorded and posted for FREE on the YouTubes!!
People to Follow on Twitter
Twitter is a great resource to learn from other professionals, ask questions, have conversations, and make friendly with others in the WiFi community. A very generous community. The BEST community.
Here are a few follows to get you started:
Podcasts & VLOGS
Clear To Send --- [iTunes]
HeyEddie --- [YouTube]
Mobility Field Day —- [YouTube]
WiFi for Beginners Podcast --- [iTunes] [RSS]
WiFi Ninjas! --- [iTunes] [Spotify] [Stitcher]
Wireless Pubcast --- [iTunes] [Spotify]
Wireless LAN Professionals --- [YouTube]
My YouTube WiFi Playlist --- [YouTube]
A Playlist of WiFi Video
I made a playlist of some really good Wi-Fi video on the YouTubes!🤠
Articles, Videos, White Papers, & Docs
FCC Policy on Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields
On the (non) Dangers of Wi-Fi. Right from the horses (FCC’s) mouth. This post on the non-dangers of wireless transmission won’t convince those who snooze to believe what they want despite the evidence. But, here it is anyways.
6 GHz Band
On April 23 2020, the United States FCC voted unanimously to open the 6 GHz band for use by Wi-Fi and other unlicensed broadband radio systems. This new order adds an additional 1,200 MHz for Wi-Fi!
802.11ax for Dummies
A great guide written by David Coleman. It gives a clear explanation of 802.11ax and it's new features. This book explores current Wi-Fi challenges, the vision for 802.11ax, as well as some foolish assumptions we’ll address. We’ll help you understand key 802.11ax technologies and design enhancements that you’ll want to consider. Including ten things you definitely need to know to be ready to prepare yourself for the this Wi-Fi paradigm shift. Here is a webinar David did on 802.11ax.
Bad-Fi Tool-roll
A regularly updated list of tools Wireless LAN Professionals use.
How DFS Works
Here is a great infographic on how DFS works from François Vergès.
How to use Some Airport Utility as a WiFi Scanner
Apple iOS 8 WiFi Scanning Returns! - Airheads Community
How To Measure Wall Attenuation
Made a little (long) video on Wall Attenuation measurement and why it’s important to get the best data into you WLAN designs.
I go over some basic RF math, Inverse Square Law, Free Space Path Loss, and the nerdy things here too. Enjoy!
Lessons Learned Deploying An All-Wireless Office
Learn more about how to deploy a successful and reliable wireless office. The Wireless expert, George Stefanick, shares his hands on experience and best practices, including the good, bad, ugly and hurdles that is needed to overcome for a successful and reliable process.
More Than You Ever Wanted To Know About Antennas
Here is a a great YouTube playlist by RF Elements clearly explaining antennas and how they work. Definitely worth a watch for anyone working with antennas.
Mike Albano’s Device Capabilities List
An online, regularly updated list of mobile clients and their capabilities. Find out if a device supports DFS channels or not, if they are a/n/ac, does it support 11k, etc. You can even contribute a device if it is not already on the list by following his instructions.
Options for Wireless Packet Captures in Windows
In Windows, you cannot effectively analyze wireless frames, because you are unable to put the wireless NIC in "RF Monitor Mode" - that is the mode in which the wireless NIC can see ALL 802.11 frames in the air, not just ones intended for itself.
Here are some options for doing just that in Windows.
Overview of Modulation Constellations
YouTube video by @KeithRParsons on understanding 802.11 Modulation.
Overview of Primary & Secondary Coverage
Understanding Primary and Secondary Coverage by Devin Akin
Practical Wireless Packet Analysis - WiFiShark-Fu
My presentation at WLPC 2019 on Wireshark and wireless packet captures.
Rate Limiting on WiFi and It’s Affects on Utilization
Good overview of why you shouldn’t rate limit on WLANs by @@WirelessJimP. Jim goes over how disabling rate limiting allows Denver Airport to have the best Airport WiFi on the Worlss.
Things I Have Learned About Wireless Design
Understanding Client Behavior: Apple iOS/Mac, Samsung, & Windows 10
Understanding how your clients make decisions is vital in determining design requirements.
WLAN Design for Dummies
Ekahau put out their own book under the "for Dummies" moniker of wireless design. This book gives beginners an understand of WiFi, how it works, and how to start designing for it.
WLAN Troubleshooting Guide
This guide from Aerohive Networks is actually the troubleshooting chapter from the new CWNA Study Guide. One of the authors, David Coleman, works for Aerohive and has made it available for anyone to download.
Great, practical information on troubleshooting wireless issues.
Wi-Fi Scanners, Other Stuff, & What Not…
macOS
AirTool
Easiest way to perform a packet capture on the Mac with the built-in adapter
WiFi Explorer
The King of ALL WiFi scanners. Period.
WiFi Signal
Menubar tool to get useful WLAN diagnostic information from macOS.
Windows
WinFi
The best WiFi Scanner for Windows. Period.
WLAN Monitor
Helpful tool for getting signal strength, and other WLAN diagnostics, from Windows.
Android
Ekahau Tips
Ekahau AI Keyboard Shortcuts
Updated keyboard shortcuts for AI Pro.
Ekahau iPerf Server
Ekahau only officially supports it's own custom version called "ePerf3" for active throughput measurement. Download and setup instructions here.
Intro to Ekahau Report Templates
Here is a deep dive into CUSTOM reporting for Ekahau. While the One-Click report is convenient, the custom reports are much more powerful and give you much more flexibility.
Merging Ekahau Project Files
Useful Survey Tools
Big Larry Magnetic 400 Lumen LED Worklight
Connect-a-Desk Survey Tray
Another, less expensive tray. Not purpose built like the Custom Survey Tray, but still worth a look.
Medical Protractor
I use this to help visualize the beam width of an antenna pattern.
Portable Laser Measure
Good, inexpensive laser measure to accurately measure ceiling heights and proper scale for your surveys and predictive models.
Wi-Fi Stand & Kits
An easy to use and simple way to mount access points for temporary events, or AP-On-A-Stick surveys.
The WLAN Pi
Wireless Survey Tools List
Here’s an Amazon list I made of various tools I use for surveys…
AP-On-a-Stick Rigs
Here’s a good blog post on building your own APOAS rig.
Some nice, but pricey pre-made APOAS kits.
Portable Power For Your APs
AccelTex Compact PoE+ Battery Pack
Great new PoE+ Battery Pack! - 802.3af/at/bt (Type 4 - 90W)
VenVolt v2
Fantatsic update to the original survey battery - 802.3af/at/bt (Type 4 - 90W)