Okay, planning a wireless network for a new building is a multifaceted task. Here's a breakdown of a good reference guide based on the various factors you need to consider, and how to approach the planning process

I. Foundational Knowledge & Reference Guides:
CWNP (Certified Wireless Network Professional) Resources

This is generally considered the gold standard for wireless networking.

CWNA Study Guide

The Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) study guide provides a comprehensive overview of wireless technologies, standards (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be), RF principles, security, and best practices. It's a great foundation even if you don't pursue the certification. Focus on understanding RF behavior, site surveying, and WLAN design principles.

CWDP Study Guide

The Certified Wireless Design Professional (CWDP) guide focuses specifically on WLAN design. It delves into capacity planning, coverage optimization, and advanced features.

CWAP Study Guide

The Certified Wireless Analysis Professional (CWAP) guide will help you understand how to troubleshoot wifi networks.

Wi-Fi Alliance Documentation

Explore the Wi-Fi Alliance website (wi-fi.org). They publish standards updates, technology briefs, and case studies that can be helpful.

Vendor Documentation (Aruba, Cisco, Ubiquiti, etc.)

Each vendor has their own design guides, best practices documents, and tools. Crucially, once you narrow down your vendor choices, thoroughly review their documentation. They will often have specific advice for their hardware and software.

II. Key Factors to Consider & Planning Steps


Gather Requirements (The MOST Important Step)



Building Blueprints

Obtain accurate floor plans, including wall materials, ceiling heights, and any significant obstructions (metal structures, thick concrete).

Intended Use

What primary activities will the Wi-Fi support? (e.g., general web browsing, video conferencing, point-of-sale systems, streaming video, IoT devices, guest access). Which applications are critical? This informs your QoS (Quality of Service) design.

User Density

How many concurrent users are expected in different areas? (e.g., offices, conference rooms, common areas, cafeteria). Estimate peak usage. Underestimating user density is a common mistake.

Device Types

What types of devices will be used? (e.g., laptops, smartphones, tablets, IoT sensors, barcode scanners). Different devices have different Wi-Fi capabilities.

Coverage Requirements

Where is Wi-Fi coverage needed? (Indoor, outdoor, specific areas, all areas). Are there any areas where Wi-Fi is not desired?



Performance Requirements

What data rates are required for different applications? (e.g., video conferencing needs higher bandwidth than email). What latency requirements exist? (e.g., VoIP is sensitive to latency).

Security Requirements

What level of security is required? (e.g., WPA3, guest network isolation, access control). Is there a need for authentication with user accounts? (Radius, Active Directory) Do any devices require a dedicated VLAN?2.

Conduct a Predictive Wireless Site Survey (Using Software)



Purpose

To estimate the number of access points needed and their optimal placement before installation. This is critical for larger deployments.

Software



Ekahau Pro

Industry-leading, feature-rich (paid).

AirMagnet Survey Pro

Another professional option (paid).

iBwave Wi-Fi Mobile

More focused on mobile network design but can be used for indoor Wi-Fi (paid).

TamoGraph Site Survey

Offers a free trial and is a more affordable option than Ekahau or AirMagnet.

NetSpot

Good for basic surveys and heatmaps, more affordable (free and paid versions).

Process

Import building blueprints into the software. Define wall materials and attenuation characteristics (the software usually has pre-defined materials, but you might need to adjust them). Place virtual access points on the map. Simulate Wi-Fi coverage based on AP placement, power levels, and building materials. Adjust AP placement and power levels to optimize coverage and minimize interference. Pay attention to channel overlap. The software will generate heatmaps showing signal strength, data rates, and potential problem areas. Iterate until you meet your coverage and performance requirements.3.

Access Point Selection



Wi-Fi Standard

Choose APs that support the latest Wi-Fi standard (currently Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7) to ensure future-proofing and performance.

Number of Radios

Select APs with multiple radios (e.g., 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) for better performance and channel management. Consider tri-band APs (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz).

Antenna Type



Internal Antennas

Easier to deploy, but may have limited range and coverage.

External Antennas

Provide more flexibility in shaping the coverage area, but require more planning and installation. Choose the right antenna pattern for your needs (e.g., omnidirectional, directional).

PoE (Power over Ethernet)

Virtually all modern enterprise APs support PoE. This simplifies installation by providing power and data over a single cable. Ensure your switches support the appropriate PoE standard (e.g., 802.3at PoE+, 802.3bt PoE++).

Management Features

Choose APs that offer centralized management, monitoring, and reporting. Cloud-based management is common.

Vendor Reputation and Support

Select a reputable vendor with good support.4.

Infrastructure (Wired Network)



Switch Capacity

Ensure your switches have sufficient bandwidth and PoE power to support all access points. Consider the total number of ports needed, backplane capacity, and PoE budget. Over-provision your switch capacity.

Cabling

Use Cat5e or Cat6 cabling for optimal performance. Test all cabling after installation.

Service Entrance

Internet Connection: The size of your internet connection is crucial. Base it on the expected bandwidth usage of your users and applications. Consider a redundant internet connection for reliability. Firewall: A robust firewall is essential for security. Choose a firewall that can handle the expected traffic load and offer advanced security features like intrusion detection/prevention.

DHCP Server

A DHCP server is needed to assign IP addresses to devices. This can be a dedicated server or a feature of your router or firewall.

DNS Server

A DNS server is needed to translate domain names to IP addresses. You can use an external DNS server like Google DNS (8.8.
8.8) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.
1.1), or host your own internal DNS server.5.

Security Considerations



WPA3

Use WPA3 encryption for the strongest security. If you have older devices that don't support WPA3, consider a separate SSID with WPA2.

Guest Network

Create a separate guest network with internet access only and limited access to internal resources.

VLANs

Use VLANs to segment your network and isolate different types of traffic (e.g., guest traffic, IoT devices, corporate devices).

Firewall Rules

Configure firewall rules to control traffic between VLANs and the internet.

Access Control Lists (ACLs)

Use ACLs to restrict access to specific resources based on IP address or MAC address.

RADIUS Authentication

Use RADIUS authentication for secure access to the network with user accounts and passwords. This can be integrated with Active Directory.6.

Channel Planning and RF Optimization



Channel Selection

Avoid overlapping channels to minimize interference. Use a Wi-Fi analyzer to identify the least congested channels. In the 2.4 GHz band, channels 1, 6, and 11 are non-overlapping in North America. The 5 GHz and 6 GHz bands offer more channels, but channel selection is still important.

Transmit Power

Adjust transmit power levels to optimize coverage and minimize interference. Lower power is often better, especially in dense environments. The goal is to provide sufficient coverage without causing excessive interference to neighboring APs.

Band Steering

Enable band steering to encourage devices to connect to the 5 GHz or 6 GHz band, which offers better performance and less interference.

Airtime Fairness

Enable airtime fairness to prevent older devices from monopolizing the Wi-Fi spectrum.

Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)

DFS allows APs to use channels in the 5 GHz band that are typically reserved for radar. However, APs must monitor for radar signals and switch channels if radar is detected.7.

Testing and Validation



Post-Installation Survey

After installing the access points, conduct a post-installation site survey to verify coverage and performance. Use the same software you used for the predictive survey.

Throughput Testing

Test the throughput of the Wi-Fi network using tools like iPerf.

Latency Testing

Test the latency of the Wi-Fi network using ping or traceroute.

User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

Involve users in testing the Wi-Fi network to ensure it meets their needs.8.

Documentation

Create detailed documentation of the Wi-Fi network, including: Network diagrams Access point placement Channel plan Security configuration Contact information Passwords

III. Addressing Your Specific Questions



How Many WAPs Are Needed? The predictive site survey will determine this. It's entirely dependent on the building size, materials, user density, and performance requirements. There's no magic formula.

How to Space Them Out? Again, the site survey will dictate this. The goal is to achieve adequate signal strength and coverage throughout the desired areas, while minimizing interference. Consider the antenna patterns. Dense deployments (more APs) are often better than sparse deployments for high-density environments.

Type of Service Entrance Data Devices Needed?

Router/Firewall

A robust router/firewall is essential for managing network traffic and security. Choose a device that can handle the expected bandwidth and user load.

Switch(es)

The number and type of switches will depend on the number of APs and other devices on the network. Use managed switches for VLANs, QoS, and other advanced features.

Internet Connection

The size of the internet connection will depend on the expected bandwidth usage. Consider a dedicated fiber connection for optimal performance.

IV. Vendor Specific ToolsMany vendors have tools to help.

Aruba

Provides a suite of tools for network design, deployment, and management, including Aruba Central for cloud-based management and AirWave for on-premises management.

Cisco

Offers a wide range of resources for network design and optimization, including Cisco DNA Center for network automation and assurance.

Ubiquiti

Provides the UniFi Network Controller for centralized management of UniFi devices, along with community forums and support resources.

In summary: Start with understanding the requirements. Invest in predictive site survey software and learn how to use it properly. Choose your hardware carefully, document everything, and test, test, test. Good luck! Flag for review