Conventional WLAN gear works fine for simple nets, but building construction and radio-frequency noise can make coverage and performance flakey, as two Georgia hotels discovered as they struggled to give consistent wireless Internet access to their guests.

In this case, they turned to a local systems integrator, One Media Wireless, of Atlanta, which used beam-forming WLAN equipment from Ruckus Wireless. It was a new step for both the integrator and vendor.

Ruckus originally designed its multi-antenna WLAN products specifically to deliver consistent, high-bandwidth links to transport music, video and other multimedia streams wirelessly throughout a home or building. The software monitors changes in the RF environment and selects from hundreds of antenna combinations to maintain an optimal signal. Other software classifies and prioritizes the multimedia traffic. The technology has attracted the interest of high-powered investors including Motorola and Germany’s Deutsche Telekom. 

The products have been sold through carriers, such as Deutsche Telekom’s T-Home division, which this month chose Ruckus’ 802.11a equipment for the carrier’s in-home IPTV service.

Network World reviewed one of the company’s early products in April 2006.

But the same capabilities that make for effective multimedia can be vital where wireless data networking is hampered by the physical and RF environment. And Ruckus has recently introduced products, under the ZoneFlex brand, designed to bring affordable, very reliable WLANs to small and midsize enterprises. One Media, founded last year, has focused its wireless expertise toward marinas, condos, RV parks and hotel properties. The company is especially interested in WLANs that are highly reliable, easy to install and easy to run, says Michael Gompers, CTO and co-founder.

The integrator was approached by a Georgia-based property group that owned a two-story, 120-room Comfort Suites and a three-story, 100-room Holiday Inn Express, both in Duluth, Ga. Both had existing Wi-Fi networks, based on what Gompers calls “budget brand” access points with conventional omni-directional antennas, and both had chronic problems.

Despite each hotel having a T-1 connection, WLAN performance for guests maxed out at 100Kbps at best. Coverage was spotty because of the design of the buildings, and the limitations on being able to extend the in-building Ethernet and cabling for access points. RF signals were flakey. One particular problem was the access points couldn’t reach down the corridors to the room at the end of each wing.