Design of an Outdoor Wireless Local Area Network and Antenna Analysis

Abstract

One of the ongoing projects of the Engineering Network Services (ENS) at Auburn University (AU) is to design and implement an outdoor Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). This project involved using Access Points (AP) that are provided by Meru Networks. The AU College of Engineering is acting as the test bed for the proposed AU WLAN. This thesis provides detailed documentation of the considerations involved in the implementation of the WLAN.

Another aspect of the project dealt with the analysis of WLAN antennas. Theoretical antenna radiation models were created and compared with the same from manufacturer’s data sheets. A commercial cellular antenna manufactured by CSA Wireless was investigated. As part of the study of the CSA Wireless antenna, a patch antenna was fabricated and its performance characterized.

Outdoor field measurements were conducted in the vicinity of the AP and the results obtained were compared to the general antenna coverage patterns.