[Server-devel] Samoa Deployment - planned hardware for 30 July 2010

[Brenda Wallace]

On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 11:21 AM, James Cameron <quozl at laptop.org> wrote:
> On Tue, Jul 20, 2010 at 11:02:47PM +1200, Tom Parker wrote:
>> The 400mW Ubiquiti device seems a good choice for a smaller number of
>> laptops over a wider area, but I'm no expert on these things. How many
>> walls can the TL-WR741ND penetrate?
>
> Impossible to predict.  It depends on the materials used in the walls,
> the thickness relative to the wavelength, the humidity, and the
> structure holding the wall.  The floor and ceiling construction also
> has a significant impact on signal propagation; they are in the Fresnel
> zone.
>
>> Is a higher transmit power only
>> really relevant if you're talking to an equally powerful partner?
>
> As a general rule yes, but there are a few exceptions.
>
> 400mW isn't that much greater than 200mW; radio power doubling does not
> double the range.
>

I've had more success with wifi by placing the antenna in the roof
space. Generally walls go only as far as the ceiling, and ceilings are
thinner than walls.