Where is the most bizarre place you've found an Access Point (AP)?
If you're reading this blog post I would assume that you know what wireless and an access point is, however there may be the odd few that don't know what either is and have come to learn or just have a general nosy at my blog or website. For those that aren't fully clued up on what an Access Point (or AP for short) is, it's a piece of hardware device on a local area network (LAN) that allows wireless devices to connect to the network. These AP's are 'usually' found in an office or large building, I say the word 'usually' because on building recce's whilst auditing and pulling together reports it feels like I am participating in one of Captain Jack Sparrow's treasure hunt called 'Find the AP'.
Access Point hidden under a reception office desk.
At one location I happened to stumble across an Access Point under the desk of a receptionist? Of which the receptionist had no clue as to what the device was or did! So, why I hear you ask is that a problem? Well, from experience the best place for an AP is on the centre of the ceiling it will provide the best experience for your end users where there is nothing to interfere in the Radio Frequency (RF) signal providing all devices with a clear frequency.
Here comes the science bit.....
RF signals work by creating electromagnetic waves at a source and being able to pick up those waves at a destination. In simple terms radio waves travel at the speed of light and when they hit the AP antenna it creates small waves that vibrate inside, this in turn causes an electric current which recreates the original signal.
If the AP is hidden under a busy working desk in a reception area (as it was in this case), a office that handles many calls or is a through fare for other office workers and visitors to the facility it can cause interference to the wireless connection. Some non-network devices including cordless phones; microwaves; video cameras and even bluetooth interfere with wireless channels (these items use 2.4 GHz frequency) causing interference. So for this office where the AP was hidden under the desk propped on some books the wireless coverage would be at its least advantage for coverage and its end users.
For those who work in Wireless; IT or Networking I would be interested to hear and see the most bizarre place you have found an AP point?
Sources References for 'Where is the most bizarre place you've found an Access Point (AP)?
http://blog.commander.com/how-to-prevent-wifi-and-bluetooth-interference/
https://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/wireless-access-point-placement-3-common-design-mistakes
https://www.linksys.com/us/r/resource-center/what-is-a-wifi-access-point/
https://www.mouser.co.uk/applications/rf-wireless-technology/