preface
Hello everyone, I am Mr. Lin, many friends have mentioned many times about the factory wireless coverage program, the factory projects are now more and more, many of our friends have come into contact with such projects, so today we will learn more about the factory wireless coverage program.
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Wireless local area network (WLAN) technology, as an extension of traditional wired networks, can also replace traditional wired networks in some environments. Compared with traditional wired transmission solutions, the use of WLAN wireless network for data transmission has the following significant features:
1. Simplicity:
The installation of WLAN wireless network transmission system is fast and simple, which can greatly reduce the cumbersome work such as laying pipes and wiring;
2. Flexibility:
WLAN wireless network and terminal wireless access can get rid of the shackles of network cables, which is more convenient and flexible, and has incomparable advantages over wired networks. The device can be moved flexibly, or the installation position can be easily adjusted so that the wireless network reaches the area that is not easily covered by the wired network;
3. Low comprehensive cost:
WLAN wireless network reduces the cost of wiring, in the dynamic environment that requires frequent movement and change, wireless LAN technology has irreplaceable value and advantages;
4. Strong expansion ability:
WLAN wireless network is more convenient to expand, according to the specific application needs, can freely increase wireless devices, while increasing the access and usage of wireless terminals.
First, factory wireless network coverage demand analysis
The demand for wireless network WLAN in large-scale factories can be divided into wireless equipment in the workshop production area and mobile office in the office area. In the production area, the harsh environment of the workshop should be fully considered, and the equipment should be stable and reliable. In the office area, the needs of visitors (leaders, customers, partners) to access the network should be fully considered.
Workshop environment characteristics and needs:
1. The production equipment often changes position, and the handheld terminal, forklift computer, etc. move frequently.
2. The workshop area is large, the beam frame is high, the cost of wiring network is high, and the line production is easy to damage.
3. Some areas have a harsh environment, high temperature, humidity, dust, corrosion, and network equipment and lines are easily damaged.
Now the terminal equipment is miniaturized and easy to move. Unlike front-end devices, each location goes wired to the network. Wireless local area network (WLAN) technology helps us get rid of wires. WLAN wireless network its core is WiFi coverage of the workshop, stable and high-quality wireless network is mainly to ensure the following points:
1. Strong signal full coverage, no coverage blind zone and dead angle.
2. High wireless speed, small network delay, no mutual interference between APs.
3. The wireless AP supports seamless roaming, and there will be a delay across APs to minimize cross-APs.
4. Fully consider the influence of various harsh environments in the workshop on wireless equipment and stability.
Second, factory wireless network design
According to the demand for wireless network WLAN in the factory workshop and the particularity of the workshop production environment, based on the above analysis needs and points, the scheme is designed as follows.
1. Coverage requirements: strong signal full coverage, no coverage blind areas and dead angles
1. Sector coverage:
For fully open factory floors, in order to reduce wiring and cost, sector antennas are generally used for coverage. Its installation and effect is similar to wall-mounted speakers, and wireless APs and sector antennas are installed at a height of 3-5 meters at one end of the workshop, covering the entire workshop area. The maximum coverage area can reach 100×500 meters.
Advantages of sector coverage:
Wide coverage, simple installation, only need to walk a network cable at the location of the wireless AP, the overall wiring is less, save trouble. Save a lot of wiring costs and installation man-hours, and reduce overall costs.
One AP in one workshop occupies one wireless channel, and there is no co-frequency between APs. The entire workshop and warehouse are covered by an AP, and the handheld device and mobile terminal will move at will without the problem of cross-AP switching, and the real sense of zero delay and zero switching.
Disadvantages of sector override:
Suitable for fully open workshops, there can be no horizontal walls or partitions in the middle. Not suitable for workshops with transverse walls or complex structures.
Sector antenna installation method:
If it is not a fully open workshop, there is a horizontal wall partition in the middle, or a large obstacle is occluded, one AP can be used to connect two sector antennas, and the two open areas can be covered by turning around the obstacle or passing through the horizontal wall through the feeder.
As shown in the figure, the left and right workshops, respectively installed with a sector antenna, connected by a 10-20 meter feeder, can cover two workshops, and the channel part of about 10 meters in the middle of the two workshops is covered by diffraction, and there is also a WiFi signal. In this way, the two workshops belong to one AP and one channel, and personnel holding mobile devices and forklifts, carts, etc. with terminals can move at will without cross-AP switching problems, or jump to connect to other APs to cause delay and instability, which is also from the initial wireless network coverage scheme design, the lowest layer of wireless stable connection guarantee.
2. Antenna feeder coverage
Sector coverage is very effective for fully open workshops, warehouses, for workshops with many horizontal walls and partitions, you can use antenna feeder for coverage, an AP is connected to 4-8 ceiling antennas, connected by feeders, feeders can flexibly turn and penetrate the wall, send WiFi signals to different partition areas of the workshop, to achieve full coverage of the entire workshop.
As shown in the figure, for larger spaces and areas, install 1-2 antennas with antenna intervals of 15-30 meters, and for smaller rooms and areas, ceiling antennas are bent or perforated and installed in the house or at the door.
Advantages of antenna feeder coverage:
Wide coverage, strong adaptability to the site environment, flexible installation and deployment, easy to expand. Suitable for workshops with complex structures or partition walls, the feeder can be turned and penetrated through the wall to reach the area to be covered.
One AP in one workshop occupies one wireless channel, and there is no co-frequency between APs. The entire workshop and warehouse are covered by an AP, and the handheld device and mobile terminal will move at will without the problem of cross-AP switching, and the real sense of zero delay and zero switching.
Disadvantages of antenna overlay:
Feeder wiring is relatively cumbersome and slightly more expensive to install. For workshops with high roofs, stick to walls or run along bridges.
In the design and installation, the effect and input, as well as the actual construction and post-maintenance operation, are comprehensively considered, and the required workshop is fully covered. However, there are also key and secondary areas, key areas must ensure that coverage is in place, and the coverage of secondary areas can be relatively reduced;
Third, the requirements of the factory wireless AP
1. Factory floor wireless AP requirements:
a. An industrial-grade wireless AP with an all-aluminum shell should be selected, which adopts external heat dissipation mode, good heat dissipation and stable work.
b. AP of household plastic shell, dust is easy to enter the heat sink, covering the internal components and blocking the heat sink.
c. Special industries also need to pay attention to waterproof, explosion-proof, dust-proof, anti-corrosion, and industrial-grade wireless AP is preferred.
In addition, the deployment mode of AP+AC should be selected, the wireless AP is only responsible for the access of wireless signals and wireless terminals, and the advanced network functions and management functions such as seamless roaming, load balancing, WiFi password setting, wireless channel setting, guest wireless network, wireless authentication, etc., are all moved to the AC management server for centralized management. Put routing and DHCP functionality in the hands of enterprise-class routers.
The advantage of this is that the wireless network deployment is faster, the maintenance is less, the centralized management through AC is more convenient, the WiFi password is changed, once changed, all APs take effect. In addition, it is recommended to use APs with AC support for dynamic power adjustment and dynamic frequency allocation, so that in complex wireless environments, APs are allowed to negotiate and set the appropriate power and frequency points through algorithms to reduce the workload of wireless planning and maintenance.
2. AC Management Server:
AC is the wireless AP access controller, which is responsible for controlling and managing all APs in the LAN, realizing unified and centralized management, and setting up is simple and fast. In addition, it should also support advanced functions such as multiple SSIDs, guest wireless, and wireless authentication, and it is necessary to pay attention to the selection of products and solutions to avoid finding imperfect functions after wireless deployment.
a. Support multiple SSIDs
Specifically, when factory enterprise customers visit, they also need to use wireless WiFi Internet access. After ordinary WiFi access, the company's internal computers and servers can be accessed through online neighbors, which may cause security risks such as financial and data leakage. If a separate network is made for customers to use, it will obviously increase investment in duplicate construction and cause waste of resources.
Ideally, the wireless AP and AC control server support multiple SSID and guest wireless networks, and the wireless AP sends out wireless WiFi signals of multiple SSIDs at the same time, which are assigned to visiting customers, internal employees and leaders respectively, while each SSID has different permissions and access scope.
b. Guest wireless network
In addition, come out to support multiple SSID functions, but also support guest wireless network function, that is, wireless WiFi for visiting customers, generally use guest wireless network, through guest wireless access users, can only access the Internet, can not access the internal network. Eliminate the security risk of customers accessing internal computers through their online neighborhoods or spreading viruses. In addition, customers are also isolated from each other, and at the same time, it also ensures the safety of customers online.
3. Enterprise portal and wireless certification
Wireless authentication function, when the user connects to wireless WiFi, a corporate portal web page will pop up, this enterprise portal web page is saved in AC, the enterprise portal web page can be customized according to the needs of the enterprise, introduce the enterprise products to the customer through the mobile phone, retain the customer contact information, give guidance to the customer, and enhance the corporate image.
a. Visits
Through AC management server, the formation of enterprise network management platform realizes wired and wireless integrated management, and provides unified management of WEB-based configuration, maintenance, performance monitoring, network security, user accounts, etc.