Novarum (independent research group) reported 3 key differences between MERU’s 802.11N product and that of Cisco and Aruba.  The first significant difference was 40mbps more of throughput over MERU’s competitors.  Performance was usually above 170mbps beating the other guys’ by 40mbps.  The next thing they found was in the category of “Air Time Fairness” where MERU’s solution provided “fair and equitable access” to the 802.11N clients being served by the WLAN.  Airtime fairness is important because it’s how the signal is shared by different clients, both old school (b/g/a) and the new (N), and gives a sense of network stability in the eyes of the client (user).  The final standout in Novarum’s WLAN testing is in the category of “Toll Grade Voice”.  Neither Cisco or Aruba can match MERU’s performance in supporting voice applications at a toll grade voice level.  MERU’s product registers above a MOS score of 4.0 with high density, bi-directional voice and data traffic.  Interface Technologies’ AVAYA VOIP users and dual mode cell phone users require a WLAN system like MERU’s to provide toll quality voice performance. 

What is QOS?  QOS is “Quality of Service” and is a hugely important when considering the move to an all wireless VOIP solution.  Without QOS rated wireless, a company’s voice communications will be unsatisfactory.  In a nutshell, QOS is a function of your wireless LAN’s ability to “prioritize voice” transmissions on the network in order to maintain the appropriate performance levels.  These performance levels can be measured with a “MOS score” to measure “Toll Quality Voice”.  MERU’s Virtual Cell technology and Air Traffic Control show powerful results in independent testing.  In the testing procedures, the evaluation group compared MERU and two other big names in a multiple testing format of combined VOIP and laptop users with the largest single test being a combined 48 data users and 24 simultaneous VOIP users.  In this last scenario testing with 15 APs, MERU and another competitor tied for MOS scores of 4.5 while both maintaining data throughput of over 33 mbps  using 802.11g gear.  When the AP count was reduced from 15 to 10 with the same number of clients trying to connect to the network (48 laptops, 24 VOIP phones), MERU’s throughput stayed above 33mpbs and its MOS score only dropped to 4.0, the bar for “toll quality voice”.  The other guys’ both came in below 5mpbs in throughput and MOS scores of 3 and 1.4, well below the standard for toll quality voice.  This testing showed us that MERU’s WLAN is very scalable, requires less infrastructure to perform at the same or better levels to support voice and data, more easily managed without the need for costly RF planning, and outperforms its’ closest competitors in the market place at nearly every level.

You’ve got a lot of options to connect your main building to your expansion building but it depends on a handful of variables.  The short answer is that ITN can help you connect these two buildings using any one of the following technologies;  1) wireless/radio, 2) VPN/internet, or 3) a hard wired aerial or underground connection using copper and fiber optic OSP cabling.  First question, how far apart are these buildings?             500’?     2000’?   15 miles?             The short answer here is that if the buildings are within 1,000’ or so, then wireless or a hard wired copper/fiber solution is certainly feasible.  If the buildings are 15 miles apart, then a connection through the internet is likely the best option for your business, group, or school.  Second question, what kind of traffic will you have and what connection speed is required for your network between buildings?  For the 15 mile example, you’ll have to weigh your budget against your connection needs as these internet solution decisions are often driven by price.  But in the example of “around 500’ of separation”, ITN can propose a couple different options.  A MERU wireless B/G client bridge might do the trick if you had just a few employees in a remote warehouse?  Or a Proxim Gigalink radio bridge with a 1GIG line of sight beam could be the solution where an underground or aerial cable couldn’t be installed but a 1GIG connection was still required?  Or a Laser Optimized Multi-Mode fiber optic cable capable of delivering up to 10GIG speeds at a maximum distance of 984’ could be the solution for the most demanding application within the second building.  An Engenius cordless phone might be the inexpensive fix for a handful of distant telephone users who don’t need a data connection? (a guard shack?)  The MERU Networks bridge, Proxim Gigalink, Engenius Phones, and the AMP Netconnect XG Fiber Optic systems are all just some of the products that ITN can lean on to solve your campus connection requirements.