Over and over my coworker and I debate the whole "client has weaker Tx power than AP" topic. We have strived to turn our AP Tx power levels down to match our client's Tx power level -- 13dBm. However, in the back of my mind, is a concept I heard from someplace (can't recall where) about the AP having a "big ear", when you crank the Tx power up. I understood this to mean that although the client might only have 13dBm Tx power capabilities, if you crank the AP's Tx power >13dBm it will be able to hear the weaker client due to its "big ear". Would this not compensate for the client having weaker Tx power capabilities?
Pause for a second, I understand the idea of smaller cells for high density client environments, but in our environment we have neither high density, nor high performance requirements. We need complete, full coverage and great roaming (warehouse).
I was reviewing the Data Sheet for the 2800 access point, as an example to review Rx sensitivity. I noticed that all the specs are listed at full Tx power, 23dBm for the access point. Snipet below.
How to interpret this? Does the AP indeed have a "big ear", so that when the Tx power is turned up to max, it has maximum Rx sensitivity? Does this inversely mean that if we have turned our Tx power down to 13dBm, we are losing Rx sensitivity? If yes, is the loss of sensitivity equal to the Tx power reduction?
I am really trying to solidify my understanding of this, and then take that understanding and use it when designing future wireless coverage. Most of the design documentation that comes out is all about high performance, high density, and that does not meet my customer's business needs. Every cost is questioned, and it is hard to sell a design with a large number of APs, based on keeping cell sizes small for high client density and high performance.
