How do I test signal strength and distance on a wifi network?

Question

Sometimes some of the computers seem to be slow. Thanks.

Answer 1

What kind of Wifi do you have a, b, g? 11a is 54Mbps (5HGz), 11b is 11Mbps (2.4 GHz) and  (2.4GHz) 11g  54Mbps datarate (the speed of one frame,

not throughput). If the signal gets lower, the system falls back to a lower datarate, the lowest is 1Mbps.

Usually, this happens only when the signal gets medium to very low. So between "100%" and "50%" (whatever that means, because vendors define it different) you should see not significant drop.

What type of wireless card do you have? Does it have a tool? Often the tool tells the current data rate and signal strength.

If you have portable, start a ping with (if you have windows): Start->Run->cmd and then "ping www.google.com" (I assume your internet works).

walk arround. Where the ping drops out, is the border of the cell. What is acceptable to you? One ping loss in 100 pings? Then the border is where you have 1% loss or more.

Or start your favorite application, and do the thing that is critical. Where you can do the job fine, you are in the cell. Where the job is not fine (say  wait times longer then you define, or no resonse), you are out of the cell. Draw it on a map, and you know.

To make a good survey, is quite a professional job, but I hope this guideline works.

You can improve the performance of an individual computer by displacing the antenna, often into a more open space. Metal reflects, have structure absorbs often.

Note: packet loss or slow down can also be caused by other factors then just low signal, for example interference from (bad) microwaves or other 2.4 Ghz devices. So this answer looks only at low signal strength.

Answer 2

Right mouse click on your wireless connection in the system tray and select status.

Walk around the property (including the backyard) with your notebook and watch the signal strength indicator. When the indicator registers zero you are out of range. The signal strength will vary over time but the test will still give you a firm idea of where you can receive a strong signal.

It will not work for a desktop (no battery).