Onion Approach to WiFi Troubleshooting Basics - Not Mobile - Cable It

[gstefanick]

Vendors are coming out of the woodwork and putting WiFi radios in everything! Devices that had a tethered cable for years are now coming in with WiFI radios. Guess what, they aren't MOBILE. They are stationary devices with no chance ever moving. 

So what is the problem ?

• Driver updates might be limited 
• Vendor support may be next to nothing 
• Another device to manage and support - Who will get the call when they have issues - YOU
• Could open up security vulnerabilities 
• Pending on application requirements might cause excessive contention 
• Might not support 5 GHz and add to problematic 2.4 environments 
• Might not support all the UNII channels 
• Might have poor receive
• Might have poor transmit power 
• While stationary, may not be placed optimally for optimal signal strength 
• Radio may not support your security 
• Radio may be a poor roamer — YES stationary devices do roam from time to time

Depending on an individual deployment or a accumulative deployment, you could add thousands of non mobile devices to your WiFi network over time. This leads to unnecessary contention.

My general rule of thumb: if it can be cabled, cable it !  Of course, you need to weigh all the options and cost. Be very carful opening that pandoras box, because if you let one in more and more will come! 

[bosborne]

We have battery powered Wi-Fi door locks that support 802.1X. They could not easily be cabled. They connect once a day. If they see an unknown badge, the connect to update their access listing.