ABHATH AL-YARMOUK: "Basic Sci. & Eng." Vol. 16, No.1, 2007, pp. 135-145 Effect of Access Point Moving on the Wireless Network Performance Using Opnet Modeler Sameh H. Ghwanmeh* 1 Received on Oct. 23, 2005 Accepted for publication on July 30, 2006 Abstract The effect of moving the access point on the performance of the wireless network has been presented using an advanced network simulator. The Network Performance has been shown via a series of simulation tests with different access points locations. The simulation results are presented showing satisfactory network performance when the access point is chosen to include maximum possible number of users over the RF coverage area, geographical nature of the considered area and the number of access points. Keywords: access points, wireless networks, remote access, performance. Introduction Wireless local area networks (WLAN) enables people to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at anytime, using a range of multimedia services. The exponential growth of cellular telephone and mobile systems coupled with the spreading of laptop computers indicate a bright future for such networks.[1] The next stage of its development will be in complementing or replacing the network infrastructure that was traditionally wired as well as enabling network infrastructures. However as the communications field become a key factor in many other fields such as medical, teaching, business, information technology and other, the need for the communication to be anywhere without the problem of cables and the position of the user was increased and applying the wireless network become more important and essential in this fields, thus this help to spread these technology as fast as possible. WLAN technologies employ infrared, laser, spread spectrum, microwave, and satellite for supporting voice, video, and data transmission in local area and wider area environments [2,3]. The wireless networks gives the user to use any applications regardless to its source or vendors and the type of the application which can be data, video, real-time applications or others. However, the WLAN performance and quality of transmission are key factors in spreading and usage of such technologies [4,5]. This paper deals with the WLAN performance techniques based on advanced network simulator, OPNET modeler. © 2007 by Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan. * Director, Computer and Information Centre. Computer Engineering Department, Yarmouk University 211-63, Irbid, Jordan. E-mail: sameh@yu.edu.jo