[SOLVED] Is Cisco 3802 AP compatible with Mesh?

[Dashimkob]

I am looking for direct replacement for Previous version (3702)
On the project i want to use the 2 3802 AP as Mesh access point (MAP) connected wirelessly to a Root access point(RAP)
Usually MAP communicates with RAP using mesh technology and 5ghz radio.

 

[bill001g]

So what do you think mesh actually is. Many implementations are just fancy repeaters. You do not want to use repeaters when you have ethernet cables and can use them as AP.

Network of AP is nothing new it has been used by enterprise almost since wifi has been invented but they want to call this mesh also even though it is nothing new.

Also don't be foolish enough to think there is something like seamless roaming. First why do you actually need that feature. You can stop and start the wifi client and it will connect to the strongest AP.

The end client not the AP/router is in full control over what device they connect to. Some of these mesh systems try to force a disconnect and then hope the end device correctly selects the proper AP.

The cisco AP will work fine with your other equipment. If you want mesh you can just make your own MESH sticker and put it on the cisco boxes and it will work just as good.

You would only use mesh when you do not have ethernet cables and have to use repeater functions. These are only slightly better than older generations of repeaters.

 

[Dashimkob]

So what do you think mesh actually is. Many implementations are just fancy repeaters. You do not want to use repeaters when you have ethernet cables and can use them as AP.

Network of AP is nothing new it has been used by enterprise almost since wifi has been invented but they want to call this mesh also even though it is nothing new.

Also don't be foolish enough to think there is something like seamless roaming. First why do you actually need that feature. You can stop and start the wifi client and it will connect to the strongest AP.

The end client not the AP/router is in full control over what device they connect to. Some of these mesh systems try to force a disconnect and then hope the end device correctly selects the proper AP.

The cisco AP will work fine with your other equipment. If you want mesh you can just make your own MESH sticker and put it on the cisco boxes and it will work just as good.

You would only use mesh when you do not have ethernet cables and have to use repeater functions. These are only slightly better than older generations of repeaters.

Thanks Bill.

It is for outdoor deployment, not possible to connect a physical wire from the router to each AP.
Deployment is for tracking/RTLS app, Algorithms for location estimation based on RSSI received from each AP listening.(Calculations done by method of triangulation, repeaters wont work)
Looks like 3800 is not supported, aware that it supports ME but thought if you convert to CAPWAP it can be added as mesh AP to the mesh network.

MESH sticker idea sound ace though

By the way, I think mesh is just extension of existing wired network by providing a wireless bridge to connect Ethernet LAN segments.

 

[bill001g]

The 3800 are AP and not repeaters.

This is problem with the marketing guys. They want to make up new fancy words like extender or mesh rather than use ones that have very clear definitions.

Repeaters tend to be the very worst possible option. You use them when you have exhausted all other options.

Even the word term repeater has changed when they tried to sell low priced crap into the consumer market. They use the same radio to receive the signal and then retransmit it.

Your best option to do this is to use point to point bridges to connect between the main router and the remote location. You would then hook the AP to the ptp bridge connection. This way you have dedicated radios for each function and if you make a effort to avoid the same radio channels it would help. You can get all this type of equipment from companies like ubiquiti. Your cisco AP would likely work as the AP unless you need some extra function.

There are very small number of so called mesh units that have extra radios for the connection back to the router. You have to study the specs very carefully this extra radio will increase the costs so it is not common.

This is the problem with them calling everything mesh because it is the trendy things to do. Just like they used to put the word turbo on everything.