Wireless Networking

Wireless Networking has evolved. The requirement for wireless is no longer a need for ad-hoc hot desking connectivity.
Smart devices are commonplace and recent studies have identified that most wireless infrastructures are now more complexed than their wired equivalents. Modern wireless networks need proper surveying to confirm AP densities and to identify congested airwaves or troublesome areas.
Connected Business Solutions offer a range of products & services to provide a solid, reliable and secure wireless infrastructure.
We can supply and install stand alone wireless access points for basic needs or enterprise class, managed wireless controllers for more demanding enviroments. Please give us a call to discuss your requirements...

WLAN utilizes spread-spectrum or OFDM modulation technology based on radio waves to enable communication between devices in a limited area, also known as the basic service set. This gives users the mobility to move around within a broad coverage area and still be connected to the network.
The popularity of wireless LANs is a testament primarily to their convenience, cost efficiency, and ease of integration with other networks and network components. The majority of computers sold to consumers today come pre-equipped with all necessary wireless LAN technology.

BENEFITS:
•Convenience: The wireless nature of such networks allows users to access network resources from nearly any convenient location within their working environment be it the home or office.
•Mobility: With the emergence of public wireless networks, users can access the internet even outside their normal work environment. Most chain coffee shops, for example, offer their customers a wireless connection to the internet at little or no cost.
•Deployment: Initial setup of an infrastructure-based wireless network requires little more than a single access point. It's largest benefit becomes evident when used in difficult to cable buildings.
•Expandability: Wireless networks can serve a suddenly -increased number of clients with the existing equipment. In a wired network, additional clients would require additional wiring.

DISADVANTAGES:
•Security: Due to the very nature of wireless networking, intrusions to the network can be attempted by users located off site which makes a wireless network a very attractive target for hackers.
•Range: The typical range of a common 802.11g network with standard equipment is on the order of tens of meters. While sufficient for a typical home, it will be insufficient in a larger structure.
•Reliability: Like any radio frequency transmission, wireless networking signals are subject to a wide variety of interference.
•Speed: The speed on most wireless networks is typically 1-108 Mbit/s which is shared across the amount of users connected to the same wireless access point. This is drastically slower than wired and switched networks.

Free space optics systems provide line of sight infra-red, laser communications between two fixed points to distances of up to 4 kilometres, with speeds ranging from 100Mbps to 1Gbps.

As with radio wireless networks, the links can be setup relatively quickly but FSO provides a more secure solution than linking buildings using radio.


BENEFITS:
•Deployment: Long haul secure links can be rapidly deployed between two line of sight positions.
•Reliability: FSO's systems provide a much better data throughput than conventional radio wireless links with speeds of up to 1GBPS. Although it requires line of sight, it is much less susceptible than WLAN to interference.
•Cost savings: Compared to leased lines from ISP's, FSO provides significant savings over lines when linking two buildings voice and data networks together.
•Range: FSO's provide links between sites of up to four Kilometers apart, much further than radio WLAN links.

DISADVANTAGES:
•Link Only: FSO provides a point to point link as aposed to WLAN features such as WDS which offer link and access point modes.
•Price: Typically more expensive than WLAN radio links.

The William Pears Group, together with the Pears Family Trusts own properties and investments with a value in excess of £6 billion. It was formed in 1952 and is still 100% family owned and managed.
The Group owns several thousand residential properties, located in London and Southern England, and is one of the largest and most active property investors in Britain. The Group also owns several hundred commercial properties spread throughout the UK, comprising shopping parades, office buildings and light industrial premises. In 1990, the group launched Talisman Global Asset Management which now manages in excess of $1.5billion invested in public markets, funds and private equity investments.

When the Group took on more office space near to its head office in London's Hampstead, Connected Business Solutions installed high speed Free Space Optic links between the sites to provide voice and data connectivity. These include both Fast Ethernet and Gigabit FSO units. As a backup, long haul optical fibre and copper inter-building links were installed.

Connected Business Solutions have also recently completed a large scale Category 6 installation over four floors within new offices in Haskell House. This has been certified for 25-years.