10-26-2009 04:28 AM - edited 07-03-2021 06:11 PM
By referring to Voice over Wireless LAN 4.1 Design Guide RF design chapter, the recommended power level cell boundary for IP phone is -67 dBm => 43 feet client radius. And with 20% cell overlap, the distance between non-overlapped channel's AP is 59 feet for -67 dBm boundary. My questions are:
1. I have two APs of AIR-LAP1242AG, one WLC 2106 and one client-side WIFI cardbus adapter with 17 dBm maximum transmit power. How can I configure in WLC web interface to get the aforementioned result? Set tx power level assignment to level 5 and antenna gain to 4x0.5 dB to get 2 dB?
2. What is the formula/other parameters to calculate for 43 feet client radius and -67 dBm cell boundary? Or the value is obtained through site survey?
3. For ideal VoWLAN, IP phone should roam and associate to another AP at -67 dBm boundary => 43 feet client radius?
4. What would be the ideal dBm of the new AP for IP phone to roam/associate to? This should be the cross point between the new AP and current AP at 43 feet boundary I guess.
Please advise. Thanks.
11-01-2009 05:45 AM
As general information to cover a couple of your points, keep in mind that antennas and environment will be the primary factors in how far a signal goes at a specific power level.
Formulas are nice for ballpark, but you'd be surprised how many things can screw up a "straight forward" installation.
Any objects intermediate to the AP and client can have a very broad spectrum of effects. A tall shelf can cause multipath, a human can suck up a big chunk of signal, leaded glass decorative partitions can create a shadow such that a client won't connect from 20 feet away.
While it is a Good Thing to have paper plans and calculations, they should be confirmed with a comprehensive site survey.
Once you have a good idea of how reactive (or not) the environment is, you can match up the desired operational areas with antennas that can create the pattern and the power necessary to meet the goals.
You may also be fighting noise / interference and some adjustments to your preliminary power levels maybe needed.
The best way to reliably judge is to perform a survey; initially for design, then post-installation to pick up nulls, dead spots, hot spots, and places where the signal goes beyond the intended area.
Corrections can be made by using different antennas, changing power levels, moving the AP/Antenna(s), moving objects in the room for better signal path, etc.
A final survey for signoff should (IMO) be done, so the customer has an opportunity to see that the goals are met, everything works as agreed, all issues have been resolved, AND THE DOCUMENTATION MATCHES THE "AS BUILT" configuration (so payment will be forthcoming and unhindered).
"No job is complete until the paperwork is done"
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