Knowledge in one place.
By Guilherme Salvadori - Product Engineer
On times that the internet has become a necessity item for most people, it is not enough just to hire a good link with a provider, the Wi-Fi signal should also arrive with stability to all possible places in the client environment. With the advent of Wi-Fi 5, it was possible to greatly increase the performance of wireless networks (read the DM955 - efficient connectivity with Wi-Fi AC1200), but even so some factors can impair system performance.
Wi-Fi networks are delicate, signal cover can be compromised according to the division of environments and objects that are in it. Some items that can influence network performance are: places with many walls, other equipment in the same range of frequency, glass, mirrors, metal objects, among others. As we can see in the figure below, the example of a two-storey residence with only one router, which is installed downstairs. The further from the point of light, the lower the signal and the band available for the devices.
One of the possible solutions is to add more routers or repeaters in places where the signal does not arrive or is weak. This alternative solves a part of the problem that is to enlarge the coverage, but causes others such as Link Performance Loss, Latency Increase and Multiple SSIDs without automatic roaming. This last cause a great discomfort for the user, since the Wi-Fi device is alternating between the SSIDs to the mode that the user moves through the environments and knocks down the connection to each exchange. Imagine if you are on an Internet call? It's great the chance to fall.
The most effective solution for this scenario is the creation of a network in mesh (mesh). Mesh networks aims to expand the network coverage, providing a single network with quality signal in places that were before shadow zones. Among the main advantages of using the mesh solution in relation to repeaters and extenders are:
A mesh network is composed of two types of equipment:
• Controller: This device manages synchronization between the devices and the entire configuration that must be replicated for each network participant.
• Agents: These are the devices used to enlarge the signal in low quality locations. The router when configured in this mode connects to the controller or can also connect to another agent, in this case, forming an online topology.
Datacom has in its current three portfolio (3) devices that support the EasyMesh pattern, are them: ONU DM986-414 and Wi-Fi routers DM955 and DM955M. This portfolio will be incremented in the coming months with new UN models and Routers with Wi-Fi 5 and 6.
The ONU DM986-414 is a ONU GPON that has 4 LAN 10/100 / 1000BASE-T interfaces, an FXS voice interface and supports Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 B / G / N / AC 2.4GHz and 5GHz with MIMO 2x2 and BeamForming. It also supports remote management through the TR-069 protocol. Can be used as Mesh Network Controller.
The Wi-Fi DM955 router supports Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b / g / n / AC 2.4GHz and 5GHz with rates up to 1200mbps: 300mbps at 2.4GHz - 867Mbps in 5GHz, with 4 5dBi external antennas.
It has 1 electric wan 10/100/1000 port and 4 10/100/1000 electric ports.
Key Features:
The Wi-Fi DM955M router also supports Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 B / G / N / AC 2.4GHz and 5GHz with rates of up to 1200mbps: 300mbps at 2.4GHz - 867Mbps in 5GHz, with 4 5dBi external antennas.
Key Features:
Below we will show some possible scenarios using the cited equipment.
Internet link delivery through GPON with ONU DM986-414, which will be the mesh network controller, and the use of the DM955 or DM955M router as agents in a star topology:
It is the same GPON link delivery situation with DM986-414 as Controller and the use of the DM955 or DM955M router as agents, but now with an online topology:
Scenario 3 is a composition of up to 3 DM955 or DM955M equipment, one being the controller and the other two are agents connected to the controller in a star topology. The Internet link can come from any other CPE, requiring only connect to the LAN or DM955 / DM955M WAN ports.
This scenario is the same scenario 3 scenario, but now with an online topology:
The connection between mesh devices can be done through Wi-Fi (5GHz Backhaul) or with UTP cable connected to the LAN ports. The combination of equipment may be in the following ways:
* In free interference environments and obstacles
Note: It is not possible to have DM955 and DM955M on the same Mesh network.
Throughput test
The WiFi Interface Throughput Test aims to check the maximum data rate that the CPE can forward. In order to reach an environment with fewer interference, the CPEs were configured with the following parameters:
The rate achieved is always informed in Mbps [Mega bits per second] and always in the sense of download.
Equipment tests were performed DM986-414, DM955 and DM955M individually and in the Mesh solution, using the above-mentioned combinations.
a) Wi-Fi Standalone Test
The topology used in the test was as follows:
Download results can be viewed on the chart below:
b) Wi-Fi Test Mesh
The topology used in the Wi-Fi Mesh solution test was as follows:
The chart below shows the download results using the 4 possible combinations of equipment, with the Wi-Fi backhaul:
The chart below shows the download results using the 4 possible combinations of equipment, with the LAN backhaul (with UTP cable):
In a comparative with the main equipment of the market, we can verify that the performance of Datacom's equipment is equivalent or rather than that of the main competitors:
For device configuration questions, you can contact Datacom's technical support team through our DmSupport self-service portal or through the Call Center (+55) 51 3933 3122.
In addition to the Wi-Fi solutions presented, Datacom has a large portfolio of Switches Ethernet, GPON, Roteadores, Servidores, Gerência de Redes, among others.
If you have questions about applications, please feel free to contact our support suporte.prevendas@datacom.com.br. We are available to assist you in choosing the product most appropriate to your need.
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