setting NS5 poser level

[garymansperger]

One of my networks is rather short, .3 to .6 miles. It has 9 NS5 clients. The AP is also a NS5. Currently I have the power set to max for everything (AP and Clients). All of the signal strength meters are close to maxed out.
Should I lower the power?? How much?
Thanks,
Gary

[WHT]

You're very likely overloading the receiver front ends. Back the power down in 6 dB steps till you get ummm...30 dB signal.

[kijoma]

heh,

i had this image of a guy posing with NS5's :twisted:

http://arunvalley.kijoma.net/loco/ns5pose.jpg

:lol:


Crank em down so you get around -65dBm , if they will go that low!

[garymansperger]

I set the AP back and watched the power of the 5 clients on this node. Then I went in and set the power of the clients to match the AP.
Is that the way you would go about adjusting the net??

Also, I think I know the answer but, I have one AP (PS5) that has 4 clients. 3 of the 4 are about 1.5 miles. 1 is about 0.1 miles. How would you go about adjusting power in this case? (Do I need to use 2 APs?)

Another question: On the AP I can not see the power in db. The show stations give me the RSSI in the Show Stations tool. Is there a better RSSI number I should shoot for when adjusting the client power?

[kijoma]

hi,

the rssi is apparently the SNR (signal to noise ratio), for an ns5 the noise floor is ~-94dBm usually so the figure you see needs -94 added to it e.g.

-94 + 30 = -64

maybe good to check noise floor first.

as for the short link / long link issue, not much you can do, the longest distance / weakest signal defines the lowest you can set the AP power.

if the close one is screaming (-30dBm or more) at the AP then try and mis align the client a bit, tilt it down or up etc..

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

Hey Gary,

I would recommend offsetting the close NanoStations a bit. Remember you have a 3dB 60 degree beamwidth though, so the offset might have to be a tad high to drop significant signal.

Thanks,

Mike

[kijoma]

hi,

hence i said up/down as that beamwidth is much narrower :)

[WHT]

I'm thinking here...

http://telecomanddata.com/Nanosock.jpg

[garymansperger]

Thanks all,
The moving the alignment off to lower the signal is a great idea. I will be up in the air today doing this. I am so close with this radio, that I may aim it 90 degrees off or point it at the ground!

Gary