Capacity Planning

Capacity refers to the maximum number of badge-to-badge calls a specific access point can support simultaneously. The ability varies according to the manufacturer, model, and firmware level of an access point.

Capacity planning is an important aspect of a Vocera deployment. An access point is flooded when the number of calls it processes exceeds its capacity. High traffic areas may require more access points than low traffic areas to prevent flooding.

For example, you may need to provide additional access points in places such as break rooms or nursing stations, if badge users frequent these areas. Monitor user traffic patterns when you update your site survey to accommodate the Vocera system.

Vocera usage pattern is not similar to that of a conventional telephone. Vocera calls are typically brief because Vocera calls are short and there is less probability of many users being on calls simultaneously, exceeding the capacity of an access point.

Introducing additional access points to a network, create new problems, such as choppy audio due to interference with existing access points.

Smartphone with VCS enabled on it sends more packets per second than Vocera badges. While planning capacity for high traffic areas, note that it requires more overhead to transmit sound.

The following table displays the packet characteristics per Vocera device:

The following table shows the recommended maximum number of badge and smartphone calls with acceptable voice quality supported by a wireless test network. Results may vary based on your wireless network and AP models.