High Performance WLAN Bridge

Cabling is the most common method used for the networking of computers and peripheral devices—but frequently it is not the cheapest one and definitely not the most flexible one either. This is especially true if your offices spread over several buildings or if you have an external warehouse. In this case, the operation of wired networks is very time-consuming and therefore not reasonable from an economic viewpoint.

WLAN technology permits the cost-effective and simple implementation of point-to-point connections. Using the well-known technology 802.11abg, a maximum gross throughput of 54 Mbps can be achieved at the bridge links.

The new 802.11n technology makes the advantages of higher data transmission rates or distances also available for bridge links. This is achieved by the transmission of two separate data streams. Besides the n access point, a dual polarization antenna is used in order to transmit two separate partial streams from one location to another. Compared to the previously applied technology, the gross data rates are nearly increased by a factor of 6, now achieving up to 300 Mbps.

The advantages supplied by the 802.11n technology are particularly relevant at distances of up to 5 km. In a practical application example, it was possible to achieve a net throughput rate (TCP/IP) of 75 Mbps at a distance of 900 m. As a supplementary function, the Funkwerk access points permit the encryption of the transmitted data via IPSec. The accelerator chip is a standard component of the device and permits data transmission rates of up to 90 Mbps. Thanks to the implemented routing functions, the device is able to identify directly whether the data is addressed to the opposite side or not. Compared to mere bridge solutions of other vendors, higher data rates can be achieved for the actual payload in this way.