Taking 802.11b/g to its Outer Limits with the Bountiful Router from Bountiful WiFi

 

Wireless Networks & 802.11b/g

Network computing has a way of moving with startling alacrity.  Less than a decade ago, most business employees would have found it impossible to imagine that one day they would have wireless access to networks, allowing them to move freely about the office.  They likely could not imagine a world without the constraining force of cables, cords and wires.  A few short years later, however, the words “wireless network” have become entrenched in the business lexicon. 

Today’s business climate demands flexibility and adaptability.  The idea of “mobility” goes hand-in-hand with these requirements, as employees of successful companies seem to be constantly on the go.  Meetings, briefings, conference calls and other happenings fill their schedules and necessitate that they move quickly and efficiently from one location to another.  As employees travel from their personal office to the conference room to co-workers’ offices and back to their own, they must often take critical data with them.  Nowadays the bulk of business data finds its home on company servers that can be accessed via the company’s network.  Employees usually utilize this data on their laptop computers or tablets that can be transferred easily from place to place.  But this kind of movement requires a network that is equally flexible and adaptable. 

Wired networks, while generally reliable, do not allow for easy mobility.  Fixed access points make it difficult to transfer data without losing the connection to the network.  Wireless LAN networks, however, can make this transition seamless, contingent upon the strength and reliability of the wireless signal.  Consequently, increasing numbers of businesses have adopted wireless networks and this trend shows no sign of slowing.

The wireless LAN industry is considered to be one of the fastest growing segments of the communications industry, spurred on by the prevalence of wireless in the workplace.  According to research firm Gartner, approximately 75 percent of businesses with 1,000 employees or less will have implemented a wireless network by the end of 2005.  Research groups and analysts have estimated that by 2006 there will be almost 17 million wireless LAN hotspot users worldwide and annual revenue from wireless LAN equipment will jump to $4.5 billion.

For the last several years, 802.11b/g has been the most commonly accepted and widely used wireless standard (802.11b preceded 802.11g).  However, the rapid spread of wireless networks has been accompanied by a proliferation of new wireless technologies that purport to go beyond current wireless offerings.  WiMAX, MIMO and 802.11n comprise just a handful of the technologies that will likely challenge 802.11b/g for dominance in the wireless market.  These technologies offer an exciting glimpse into the wireless potential of the future.

Nevertheless, no other wireless standard has yet equaled the reliability and widespread acceptance of 802.11b/g.  This standard will, for the time being, continue to dominate the wireless industry, as projections show that the worldwide market for all products based on the 802.11b/g standard will grow to $3.1 billion in annual revenue by 2006.  In light of these predictions, the pressing question vis-à-vis wireless technology becomes “How can the wireless industry take 802.11b/g to its outer limits?”  Bountiful WiFi has provided the answer.

Unmatched technology in wireless routers

Despite its consistency and reliability, wireless equipment based on the 802.11b/g standard often falls short of surmounting the most common challenge facing users of wireless networks, namely that the effective coverage area does not equal the desired coverage area.  With this problem in mind, Bountiful WiFi set out to create a product that would deliver “unmatched technology in wireless routers.”  It wanted to provide a wireless product that would, in fact, take 802.11b/g to its outer limits.

The company’s efforts resulted in the Bountiful Router, the first product in Bountiful WiFi’s line of wireless solutions.  The Bountiful Router’s innovative design makes it a first-of-its-kind wireless router with the ability to extend the coverage area and reduce contention in the network.  Based on the 802.11b/g standard, the Bountiful Router is the most powerful wireless router allowed under Federal Communications Council (FCC) regulations.  While most wireless routers provide a wireless signal of approximately 100 milliwatts, the Bountiful Router’s wireless signal reaches a level of slightly less than 1,000 milliwatts – just below the maximum allowed by the FCC.  In other measurements, the FCC certified Bountiful Router operates at just under 30 dBm while other wireless routers operate at between 15 and 17 dBm.  The power and strength of the Bountiful Router’s signal results in a wireless “footprint” two to four times larger than those offered by other solutions.  Even wireless routers specifically designed for mid-size or enterprise business environments cannot equal the Bountiful Router’s range.

The Bountiful Router’s unique design also produces a more constant and “clean” wireless signal, leading to both reduced contention in the network and a decrease in packet loss.  The enhanced Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) contained within the device acts like huge “ears,” allowing the router to “hear” or receive information even from weak clients.  The Bountiful Router provides all of these benefits without utilizing boosters, extenders, repeaters or amplifiers.  Rather, it is a turnkey solution contained in one simple unit. 

In developing the Bountiful Router, Bountiful WiFi paid close attention to security and equipped the device with a variety of rich WLAN security features, including: WEP with 64/128-bit of key, WEP plus 802.1x/RADIUS authentication, WPA with 802.1x/RADIUS authentication & key management and WPA with Pre-Shared Key (PSK) mode.

For businesses, the Bountiful Router offers a wireless solution that has clear advantages over other available technologies.  Companies of any size and all business models can benefit from the flexibility of wireless networks and the Bountiful Router provides the strongest, most reliable wireless signal available.  As an IT tool, the Bountiful Router has particular applicability in a few key vertical markets, including government, health care and hospitality segments.

Proven Benefits & Performance

The Bountiful Router’s usefulness in the hospitality segment has already been proven, as Bountiful WiFi has implemented its wireless solution in the North Salt Lake City Comfort Inn & Suites.  The hotel is 40,000 square-feet and includes 78 rooms spread out over three floors.  Each year the hotel accommodates travelers of all kinds with various needs and requirements for their stay.  Not surprisingly, many travelers share the need for Internet access and consequently the hotel’s management sought a cost-effective solution that would allow them to deliver a strong, reliable Internet connection to every room.  The prohibitive costs of wiring the entire building to support a wired network made a wireless network the most economical and feasible solution.

The Comfort Inn & Suites decided to install two Bountiful Routers from Bountiful WiFi.  The first of the two routers is placed in the ceiling of the hotel’s first floor on the west end.  There is also a router in the ceiling of the second floor on the east end.  From that position, they are able to deliver a strong, constant wireless signal to every room in the hotel.  Rooms on the third floor in the farthest corners from the routers still enjoy the benefit of a wireless signal running at 54 MBS and generally showing full or excellent strength.  The same holds true for rooms located next to the elevators or directly above the pool.  Such locations would usually disrupt a wireless signal and make it less effective, but this is not the case with the Bountiful Router.  Rather, the two routers provide a wireless signal that pervades the entire hotel and is both constant and abundant.

According to Steve Oldaker, current general manager of the Comfort Inn & Suites in North Salt Lake, “The three key benefits of the Bountiful Router are its strength, coverage and dependability.  I have talked with several hotels that are using other wireless solutions in order to gauge the performance of our wireless network versus theirs.  The Bountiful Router consistently outperforms other products, despite the fact that I have only two routers in my hotel compared to at least eight in other buildings.”

            When installed in other structures, such as 20-30,000 square-foot office buildings, the Bountiful Router delivers a similarly impressive performance.  A single unit provides a pervasive, consistent wireless signal for the entire building and oftentimes reaches far beyond the building’s walls.  In one instance, the Bountiful Router’s signal extended to a fast-food restaurant nearly 800 feet away from the office building.  According to IT managers, the Bountiful Router also responds quickly to network requests, usually equaling the level of performance delivered by a wired network. 

IT Advantages

            Due to the fact that its coverage area far exceeds that of other wireless solutions, businesses need fewer devices to provide pervasive wireless coverage to their employees.  Most business organizations need at least twice as many wireless routers to provide the desired coverage area as they would if they implemented the Bountiful Router.  In the case of the Comfort Inn & Suites, for example, two Bountiful Routers do a job that normally requires eight wireless routers.  This reduction in the number of necessary units provides three primary benefits to any organization.

            First, the reduced number of units makes implementing a wireless network more affordable for companies.  The Bountiful Router already sells at a very competitive price, particularly when compared to other mid-size to enterprise-level wireless devices.  More importantly, companies require fewer Bountiful Routers and therefore spend less on purchasing wireless LAN equipment.  In short, the Bountiful Router provides a more cost-effective solution for businesses.

            Second, the 802.11b/g standard offers a limited number of channels that can carry the wireless signal.  Of the 11 available channels, only a handful of these actually function well in this context.  It becomes complicated for IT managers to keep numerous wireless devices from interfering with each other when they are forced to operate on the same channel.  A reduction in the number of devices decreases the likelihood that there will be such interference.

            Third, the reduced number of units means a reduction in the amount of administration required of the IT department to maintain the wireless network.  IT managers and their staff have a tremendous amount of responsibility and their time is both limited and precious.  By decreasing the number of wireless devices that they must trouble-shoot and manage, it allows these valuable employees to focus their efforts on other important IT areas.

            As most businesses still employ 802.11b/g, IT mangers and administrators appreciate the fact that Bountiful WiFi’s solution provides a way to take this reliable technology to its outer limits.  Rather than implementing an entirely new technology, such as WiMax or 802.11n, the IT staff can quickly and easily implement the Bountiful Router and still see greatly enhanced wireless access, such as they might with an up-and-coming technology.

Progressing with the wireless world

            In an article titled “What to know now about Wi-Fi's hot new standard,” Christopher Elliot, a columnist for Microsoft.com, writes, “One of the most common mistakes small businesses make is embracing an emerging technology in "me first!" fashion.”  Elliot quotes Jay Krauser, general manager for NEC Unified Solutions, as saying, "You should generally avoid being an early adopter of new technology prior to any standards-body, such as IEEE or IETF, ratifying it.”

            Bountiful WiFi offers an alternative to those businesses that want the performance of emerging wireless technologies but still wish to retain the reliability and security of 802.11b/g.  Its innovative Bountiful Router provides the range, consistency and strength without the concerns associated with a technology that does not have approved and ratified standards.  For businesses seeking a wireless solution that takes the most accepted and most relied upon technology, namely 802.11b/g, and pushes it to its limits, the Bountiful Router provides a clear solution.

            As new technologies adopt standards and become increasingly accepted by wireless users, Bountiful WiFi fully intends to take its innovative designs and apply them to these emerging spaces.  The future of Bountiful WiFi undoubtedly extends into the largely uncharted waters of WiMax, MIMO or 802.11n.  As the world of wireless moves and progresses, Bountiful WiFi will certainly shift accordingly.  The underlying technology may change, but the company will still provide unmatched wireless LAN equipment that takes any technology to its outer limits. 

 

 

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