[OT] Wireless Distance in Apartment

[Don Moskaluk]

Dlink specs.

Wireless Transmit Power:
* 15dBm (32mW) 2dB (Control TX power level from full, 50%, 25%, 125% and
min.) 

Receiver Sensitivity: 
* 54Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-66dBm) 
* 48Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-71dBm 
* 36Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-76dBm 
* 24Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-80dBm 
* 18Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-83dBm 
* 12Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-85dBm 
* 11Mbps CCK, 8% PER,-83dBm 
* 9Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-86dBm 
* 6Mbps OFDM, 10% PER,-87dBm 
* 2Mbps QPSK, 8% PER,-89dBm 

External Antenna Type:
* 1.0dB Dipole with reverse SMA connector

As you can see the power level in the dlink AP is fairly low at 15dBM.
Generally you can use up to 200 mW; however, if you can't change out
your radio card you may need to increase your antenna size to get that
level.

As you can see from the Receiver Sensitivity the lower the MPBS the
higher the strength dBM. Reducing the speed does have a benefit for
getting more power out.

The external antenna is only 1 dBM.  Increasing will affect both
receiving and sending signals.  On your Linux box if you do have a radio
card you can also change the signals strengths.  That why Linux is fun
to use!  

Sincerely,

Don Moskaluk
http://moskaluk.com/voip_using_wireless_mesh_infrast.htm 

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4 at public.gmane.org [mailto:owner-tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4 at public.gmane.org] On Behalf Of James
Knott
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2008 11:17 AM
To: tlug-lxSQFCZeNF4 at public.gmane.org
Subject: Re: [TLUG]: [OT] Wireless Distance in Apartment

Tyler wrote:
> Stephen wrote:
>> I want it to connect to my PS3 which is in the living room and about 
>> 35 feet away. But it goes through two walls. Concrete, steel 
>> reinforced, but not supporting walls. Wall width is about 2 inches.
>>
>> The signal is weak and flaky.
> 
> Apartment buildings are usually festering with wireless noise.  Other 
> tenants could be running one (or more) wireless APs, 2.4ghz cordless 
> phones, etc.  The concrete walls are a big deterrent (actually, the 
> rebar probably does more damage).

Steel mesh is also often used, particularly in floors.
> 
> Try changing channel...  the common ones are 1, 6, and 11.  Try 
> switching to those and see if you get a better signal.
> 
> Use netstumbler to see what channels are in use by other APs in the 
> area, and set yours to a free channel.  Beware that for each channel 
> being used, the signal also uses 2 channels on each side, so if
someone 
> is using channel 6, they are also using: 4,5,7, and 8.

Most of the energy is close to the carrier frequency, so if there's a 
lot of traffic on 1, 6 & 11, choosing a channel in between may work
better.
> 
> If possible, move the AP to a more centralized location, preferably
with 
> the best line of sight.
> 
> Tyler
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