NetStumbler.org Forums - View Single Post - Accuracy of signal strength in Netstumbler/ AP

andrejun · 05-10-2004

Should I believe the readings from Netstumbler or the AP??????

As some of you guys know I am working on a 3.1 mile link.
We have peaked the Dishes atop towers with a notebook running Netstumbler, a WiFi card connected to a pigtail, an N coupler, through an N->RPSMA pigtail, which was then connected to the antenna. We then got displayed signal strength of -71~ -69 dbm, however we could not connect to the remote AP on the note book. Apparently indicating a signal below the receive threshold. Using the Ap's (which are connected directly to the dish via included 24" coax, so much less cable loss, we have intermittent packet loss (about 75% of packets make it) we are set to run B only, 1 mbit. When we bump it up to 2 mbit we loose connection (basically entirely) According to Netgears documentation we need -93 dbm for 1 mbit, -92 for 2 mbit, -92 for 5.5 mbit and -89 for 11 mbit, so according to our Netstumbler readings (which had WAY WAY more cable loss) we should be easily getting a 11 mbit connection, however we are obviously stuck someplace in between the receive threshold for 1 mbit and the receive threshold for 2 mbit (according to Netgear -93 or so). So is Netstumbler miss-representing the signal strength or is Netgear miss-representing their product

05-10-2004	#1 (permalink)
andrejun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 34	Accuracy of signal strength in Netstumbler/ AP Should I believe the readings from Netstumbler or the AP?????? As some of you guys know I am working on a 3.1 mile link. We have peaked the Dishes atop towers with a notebook running Netstumbler, a WiFi card connected to a pigtail, an N coupler, through an N->RPSMA pigtail, which was then connected to the antenna. We then got displayed signal strength of -71~ -69 dbm, however we could not connect to the remote AP on the note book. Apparently indicating a signal below the receive threshold. Using the Ap's (which are connected directly to the dish via included 24" coax, so much less cable loss, we have intermittent packet loss (about 75% of packets make it) we are set to run B only, 1 mbit. When we bump it up to 2 mbit we loose connection (basically entirely) According to Netgears documentation we need -93 dbm for 1 mbit, -92 for 2 mbit, -92 for 5.5 mbit and -89 for 11 mbit, so according to our Netstumbler readings (which had WAY WAY more cable loss) we should be easily getting a 11 mbit connection, however we are obviously stuck someplace in between the receive threshold for 1 mbit and the receive threshold for 2 mbit (according to Netgear -93 or so). So is Netstumbler miss-representing the signal strength or is Netgear miss-representing their product __________________ 87 Supra with 15" tft on dash 1ghz supra pc in trunk and orinoco silver on tap. Last edited by andrejun : 05-11-2004 at 07:18 AM.