asterisk users - Mar 2006 - WiFi phones and WDS (Wireless Distribution System)

I'm about to start working with WiFi phones on my Asterisk 
installations.

Can anyone tell me if they are using WiFi phones on wireless network 
that is extended with WDS and how well the phone handles jumping from 
access point to access point while on a call?

Do any WiFi phones support WPA encryption or are they all still under 
the impression they are only being used on public hot spots?

Thanks!

Chip Schweiss

There are a number of phones that support WPA, including the UTStarcom 
F1000G and F3000, and the Linksys WIP300 and WIP330, although current 
availability on these products is scarce.

I know a couple of integrators that are having good success on WIFI 
deployments using the D-Link DWS-1008 (8 port Wireless Switch with PoE) and 
the corresponding DWL-8220AP Access points.  In this scenario, 
administration of the AP's is handled through a central point on the switch.

Here are a few specs on the switch.

The D-Link MobileLAN solution is powered by Trapeze Networks and executes 
Trapeze Networks' Mobility System Software (MSS), which maintains the 
intelligence of the MobileLAN system. In addition to managing users' 
identities as they roam, the DWS-1008 configures and controls all aspects of 
the complementing DWL-8220AP Wireless Switch Dualband Access Points.

Product Features:


  a.. Powered by Trapeze NetworksT Mobility System
  b.. Provides Central Management for WLAN Infrastructure
  c.. Automatically Configures All Attached DWL-8220APs
AAA Authentication Offloading Capability
The MobileLAN DWS-1008 supports Administration, Authorization, and 
Authentication (AAA) policies to ensure maximum security. Rather than 
checking the identity of a connecting user from the switch's local database,
user authentication policies can be sent back to an AAA server for complete 
verification. This offloading capability ensures that the WLAN will not 
overload when clients are simultaneously connecting to the network.

User-Based Authentication Services
This wireless switch delivers Identity-based Networking, which provides 
user-based services such as virtual private group membership, personal 
firewall filters, time-of-day/day-of-week access, encryption type, 
authentication, usage tracking, location tracking, and associated network 
statistics. Authorizations stay with users wherever they roam because all 
deployed DWS-1008s share stored information, ensuring secure access and 
connectivity to the right services.

Easy Deployment
The DWS-1008 includes eight 10/100 Mbps ports with integrated PoE to enable 
network connectivity to any connected DWL-8220AP. It is designed for 
distributed deployments in the wiring closet or small or medium offices. It 
can support up to six directly connected DWL-8220APs and up to six more 
DWL-8220APs connected indirectly. Maximum Performance With Load Balancing 
Capabilities The DWS-1008 performs Layer 2 forwarding and also comes with 
extensive Layer 3-4 and identity-tracking capabilities. It integrates 
seamlessly with wired infrastructures and offers redundant load-sharing 
links, 802.1q trunking, spanning tree and per-VLAN spanning tree (PVST+). It 
also supports IGMP snooping, which is vital to supporting IP multicast 
streams.

Cory Andrews
++++++++++++++++++
VOIPSupply.com
A Division of b2 Technologies
454 Sonwil Drive
Buffalo, NY 14225
++++++++++++++++++++
direct - 716.250.3402
mobile - 716.907.4059
email - Cory@VOIPSupply.com
AIM - b2Cory

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <chip@innovates.com>
To: <asterisk-users@lists.digium.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 12:02 PM
Subject: [Asterisk-Users] WiFi phones and WDS (Wireless Distribution System)

> I'm about to start working with WiFi phones on my Asterisk
> installations.
>
> Can anyone tell me if they are using WiFi phones on wireless network
> that is extended with WDS and how well the phone handles jumping from
> access point to access point while on a call?
>
> Do any WiFi phones support WPA encryption or are they all still under
> the impression they are only being used on public hot spots?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Chip Schweiss
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> --Bandwidth and Colocation provided by Easynews.com --
>
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>   http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
>

Hi,

I use the Zyxel  P-2000W v2 wireless VOIP phones with Zyxel G-1000 
access points and the hand off calls fairly smoothly using a port for 
the hand off and using WEP security (the Zyxel is not capable of WPA 
security  yet). I  understand that people have problems with some 
manufactures access points not handling the hand off very well due to 
latency issues. I can not remember the article but I believe Network 
World or a similar rag did hand off tests and found the Zyxel to be one 
of the best at the time.

Thanks

hip@innovates.com wrote:
> I'm about to start working with WiFi phones on my Asterisk 
> installations.
>
> Can anyone tell me if they are using WiFi phones on wireless network 
> that is extended with WDS and how well the phone handles jumping from 
> access point to access point while on a call?
>
> Do any WiFi phones support WPA encryption or are they all still under 
> the impression they are only being used on public hot spots?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Chip Schweiss
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> --Bandwidth and Colocation provided by Easynews.com --
>
> Asterisk-Users mailing list
> To UNSUBSCRIBE or update options visit:
>    http://lists.digium.com/mailman/listinfo/asterisk-users
>
>
>
>
>

On 3/21/06, chip@innovates.com <chip@innovates.com>
wrote:
> I'm about to start working with WiFi phones on my Asterisk
> installations.
>
> Can anyone tell me if they are using WiFi phones on wireless network
> that is extended with WDS and how well the phone handles jumping from
> access point to access point while on a call?
>
> Do any WiFi phones support WPA encryption or are they all still under
> the impression they are only being used on public hot spots?
>
 We've got a WDS mesh setup on WRT54GS's here internally with the
HyperWRT firmware, and we're able to roam fairly seamlessly with the
Linksys WIP300 and the Zyxel phones. The F1000 from UTStarcom gets a
little cranky while you're on a call and go from one to the other. The
Linksys WIP300 does support WPA and 802.11g. We got all of the
aforementioned equipment from VoipSupply.com.

--
Bird's The Word Technologies, Inc.
http://www.btwtech.com/