Solving the problems of Wi-Fi

Meru Networks has re-engineered Wi-Fi, whilst remaining entirely compliant with 802.11a,b,g and n standards.

The re-engineering manifests itself in three headline, mould-breaking features;

• Single Channel
• All Access Points deploy on the same channel eliminating the need for channel planning and removing channel interference.
• Air Traffic Control (ATC)
• Provides more efficient contention enabling more users per access point
• Ensures fair distribution of airtime amongst all clients
• Provides over the air QoS with both uplink and downlink control.
• Zero Delay Roaming
• Client roaming between APs is Controller initiated, the client does not know it has roamed.
• Roaming occurs with zero packet loss

These features have a dramatic effect on the ease of installation, user experience, and management workload in a number of vertical markets and give even more pronounced benefits for the deployment of 802.11n.

Solving the Problems of Wi-Fi for Education

1. High density of classrooms

Schools have many classrooms, close together, in three dimensions. Traditionally, access points must be placed far apart to avoid channel conflict, and close together to provide high bandwidth. The must be installed according to a channel plan based around three non-overlapping channels.

Meru’s single channel architecture enables an access point to be deployed in every classroom without fear of interference and without need for planning, even with 802.11n.

Click here to see how Meru benefited the Blackfen School for Girls.

Click to see how Meru benefited Sir James Smith's Community School.

2. High density of students

Each classroom must support many students (30+) all logging in at the same time, all working at the same time. Larger shared areas like cafeteria and lecture theatres may have hundreds of users in a confined space. Traditional access points unacceptable performance due to grossly inefficient contention and airtime congestion.

Meru Network's air Traffic Control provides more bandwidth for more users, and distributes the bandwidth evenly. Student log-in time for a classroom of thirty has been shown to decrease from thirty minutes to four by deploying Meru!

Click here to see how Meru benefited Warren Park Primary School.

3. Multi-media Teaching Applications

Real time applications such as video demand sufficient, constant bandwidth. Meru ‘fair airtime’ guarantees acceptable bandwidth, and acceptable application performance.

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Solving the Problems of Wi-Fi for Logistics and Warehousing

1. Warehouses are constantly changing environments.

As stock types and levels change and as containers, lorries and forklifts move, the Radio Frequency map is also constantly changing, giving interference and blind spots.

This problem is solved by Meru's Single Channel architecture which does not need to change to support a changing environment.

2. Users are constantly moving

Wireless users move around the warehouse – roaming from access point to access point. For some applications, such as voice, the roaming delay is significant.

Meru’s Zero delay roaming allows devices to roam between access points without packet loss, meaning no loss of session, no loss of voice connection, indeed no noticeable trace of roaming for “voice” or data users.

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Solving the Problems of Wi-Fi for Hospitality

1. Rapid deployment requirements leave little time for Radio Frequency channel planning, leaving potential for interference and blind spots.

Solved by Meru’s single Channel Architecture.

2. High density of users as event attendees tend to cluster in certain areas, giving unacceptable performance.

Solved by Meru's Air Traffic Control.

Of course all the advantages of the mould breaking Meru Networks solutions also apply to regular Enterprise, Government and Office deployments.

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Solving The Problems Of 802.11n Deployment

802.11n deployment brings a new level of challenge for "traditional" Wi-Fi.

1. Channel planning

To get the full benefit of 802.11n, (and a 300Mb/s clock speed) each channel requires 40MHz of frequency width (against 20MHz for b and g) This means one non overlapping channel in the 2.4GHz spectrum (or 150Mb/s clock).

Meru single channel architecture allows adjacent 802.11n access points to be deployed on the same channel in the 2.4 GHz spectrum.

The alternative is to use the 5GHz spectrum, where there are virtually no ‘n’ devices and which does not propagate well through walls.

2. Backwards compatibility

Whilst 802.11n allows for backwards compatibility, b and g devices will slow the n network. Meru’s single channel architecture enables the co-location of separate b/g and n networks enabling both networks to operate at the highest speed.

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Meru Networks Controllers and Access Points

MC Series Controllers
Siracom, Meru Distributor Price: £poa

At the center of the Meru Wireless LAN System is the Controller.

The Controller Family provides coordination of Meru Access Points to deliver industry leading scalability, reliability and security for large scale Wireless LANs.

The Controller is the central engine that enforces all Wireless LAN policies including security, plug-and-play deployment, RF resource management, mobility, contention management, and Quality of Service.

The Controller Family allows the Wireless LAN to grow with the Enterprise.

3000 Data Sheet (PDF)
(Note: Data sheet includes 500 and 1000 controllers. These variants are no longer offered by Siracom Ltd.)

4100 Data Sheet (PDF)

5000 Data Sheet (PDF)

MC1500 Controller

The Meru MC1500 Series Controller provides a performance optimized, cost effective solution for branch office and small to medium size enterprise wireless network deployments. MC1500 controller enables customers that start with a small deployment, 5 access points (APs) to grow their wireless network to support up to 30 APs using the same controller.

MC1500 Data Sheet (PDF)

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Access Point AP150
Siracom, Meru Distributor Price: £poa / €poa

• Dual radio 802.11a/b/g low cost Access Point
• Ideally suited for deployments with low density data and voice requirements
• Mesh capable

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Access Point AP200
Siracom, Meru Distributor Price: £poa / €poa

• Single (AP201) and Dual radio (AP208) Access points with 802.11a/b/
• Ideal for large scale data or voice deployments
• Mesh capable

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Access Point AP300
Siracom, Meru Distributor Price: £poa / €poa

• Single and Dual radio a/b/g/n Access Point enable simultaneous support of 802.11n, 802.11a and 802.11b/g clients
• deal for high density and large scale deployments needing 802.11 n support.

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Access Point OAP180
Siracom, Meru Distributor Price: £poa / €poa

• Dual radios enable simultaneous support of 802.11a and 802.11b/g clients
• Compact, rugged enclosure designed for use outdoors or in harsh indoor environments with exposure to extreme heat, cold, and/or rain
• Enables cost-effective, scalable deployment of secure outdoor wireless LANs using Mesh technology
• Mesh capable

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Access Point
RS4000
Siracom, Meru Distributor Price: £poa / €poa

• Quad radio a/b/g Access Point
• Built to support large scale and density for both data and voice clients
• Mesh capable

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