Cisco Cisco Aironet 1524 Lightweight Outdoor Mesh Access Point Guia De Informação
Customer Case Study
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Network Solution
Photo Violation was planning a large deployment in the city of Niagara Falls, New York, a popular,
high-traffic tourist destination. The team knew that the company needed a centrally controlled
solution that would work well in an outdoor environment. Following a brief investigation, the team
decided that the company would benefit from an outdoor wireless solution that utilized Wi-Fi
technology.
high-traffic tourist destination. The team knew that the company needed a centrally controlled
solution that would work well in an outdoor environment. Following a brief investigation, the team
decided that the company would benefit from an outdoor wireless solution that utilized Wi-Fi
technology.
In a wireless mesh outdoor solution, the network dynamically routes packets from node to node (or
access point to access point). A few nodes have to be connected directly to the wired network, but
the rest share a connection with one another over the air. The fact that wiring issues are mitigated
made such a network ideal for a municipal deployment of wireless parking meters; and the fact that
Wi-Fi operates in an unlicensed band meant that the company would not have to worry about
spectrum fees.
access point to access point). A few nodes have to be connected directly to the wired network, but
the rest share a connection with one another over the air. The fact that wiring issues are mitigated
made such a network ideal for a municipal deployment of wireless parking meters; and the fact that
Wi-Fi operates in an unlicensed band meant that the company would not have to worry about
spectrum fees.
Several startup vendors offered mesh solutions, but Photo Violation wanted a vendor that could
handle a large-scale deployment. The company also needed to plan for the future. If the Niagara
Falls trial garnered interest from several other cities, the company needed an equipment vendor
that could serve multiple large customers at once.
handle a large-scale deployment. The company also needed to plan for the future. If the Niagara
Falls trial garnered interest from several other cities, the company needed an equipment vendor
that could serve multiple large customers at once.
“We looked at a variety of companies,” Mitschele says. “But we knew that the scale of the project
required a company that was both reliable and scalable. That’s why we chose Cisco.”
required a company that was both reliable and scalable. That’s why we chose Cisco.”
With the help of a systems integrator, Photo Violation deployed some 50 Cisco
®
Aironet
®
1500
Series lightweight outdoor mesh access point on light poles across a two-square-mile trial area in
Niagara Falls; these access points are centrally controlled by a Cisco 4400 series Wireless LAN
controller. Each parking meter is equipped with a Wi-Fi radio that communicates with the mesh
access points. The Wi-Fi technology is clearly faster than GPRS.
Niagara Falls; these access points are centrally controlled by a Cisco 4400 series Wireless LAN
controller. Each parking meter is equipped with a Wi-Fi radio that communicates with the mesh
access points. The Wi-Fi technology is clearly faster than GPRS.
“Our connection times went from nine seconds with GPRS to two seconds with Wi-Fi,” Mitschele
says.
says.
The controller’s management features distribute network traffic evenly among APs, preventing
network overload.
network overload.
“The network is both self-healing and self-monitoring, two more good reasons to choose Cisco,”
Mitschele says.
Mitschele says.
The Cisco wireless outdoor solution also offers the ability to support multiple SSIDs (service set
identifiers), giving the mesh the ability to support multiple applications at once. And the Cisco
network can also support multiple VLANs, helping keep parking meter traffic secure and separate
from any other traffic on the network. In fact, Photo Violation soon realized that it could offer more
than wireless parking meter services to its municipal customers: its customers could also use the
network for wireless Internet access.
identifiers), giving the mesh the ability to support multiple applications at once. And the Cisco
network can also support multiple VLANs, helping keep parking meter traffic secure and separate
from any other traffic on the network. In fact, Photo Violation soon realized that it could offer more
than wireless parking meter services to its municipal customers: its customers could also use the
network for wireless Internet access.
“With the Cisco wireless mesh network, almost
anyone can be a professional service provider.”
—Fred Mitschele, president and CEO of Photo Violation Technologies