802.11 and 802.11b running together

[scoraymo]

I have an area that has 3 Cisco Aironet 350s. I have set them up on channels 1, 6, and 11 so the frequencies do not overlap. I have a request to install a Symbol access point that's running 802.11, 2.4 GHz, Frequency Hopping 2 Mbps at 500 mW in the same area for some wireless barcode readers. Since the Cisco's I have in place cover the full spectrum of 2.4 to 2.5 GHz, will the new equipment interfere or cause any problems?

[MoleStrangler]

What power are the Aironet APs? If they ar 100mw then I would expect some problems. IT should work and if you can actually spot the difference it impossible to say until you switch the 500mw AP on.

Why go for a hopper 802.11 radio. Symbol ar the only company who makes such a radio so by even bother with a standards radio. You will locked into a single vendor.

[scoraymo]

The Aironets are 100mW. I want to use 802.11b scanners but the vendor has suggested the Symbol access point and scanners.

I found a FAQ on Cisco's site that said that FH products will definitely cause problems with the Aironets.

The other problem we would have if I used 802.11b barcode readers they would have to support 128 bit encryption. We are a large company with global standards and I can't turn off the encryption.

[MoleStrangler]

Ok so your company has been locked into the Symbol FH system because of some decision elsewhere.

I think you will have to ****-it-and-see, run a few tests with the Aironet & Symbol APs. It will be very difficult to predict any results.

The FH radio will use the full frequency range, so it will exist in DS channels 1 to 14. The problem may be the 500mw FH radio is 5 time the power of the DS radio so it will cause problems when a FH device is physically near to a DS device.

Do not place the FH access point anywhere near to a DS access point...as much distance between the two as possible...Try to keep FH stations away from DS clients and Access Points.