Wireless Distance

There are six major considerations to determine the maximum allowable distance between two wireless devices:

1. Transmitter output power in to the antenna (in dBm): As output power increases, so does the
maximum distance between two wireless radios. The standard version of the SpeedLAN 9200 produces a maximum power level of +21dBm peak. The high power version produces +27dBm peak.

2. Receiver sensitivity (in dBm): The lower the receiver sensitivity, the greater the maximum
distance between two wireless radios. Also, as the data rate increases, the receiver sensitivity increases (i.e. gets worse). At 54Mbps the receiver sensitivity is -71dBm in the SpeedLAN 9200.

3. Path loss based on frequency and distance: As the path loss increases, the maximum
distance between two wireless radios decreases. The higher the frequency, the higher the path loss. Non line-of-site conditions will also increase path loss significantly. The SpeedLAN 9200 can operate at one of three different possible frequency bands; 2.4, 4.9 or 5.8 GHz.

4. Data rate in Mega Bits per Second (Mbps): As the data rate increases, the maximum
distance between two wireless radios decreases. The SpeedLAN 9200 has a maximum data rate of 54Mbps and a minimum data rate of 6Mbps.

5. Antenna gain (in dBi): As antenna gain increases, so does the maximum distance between
two wireless radios. Omni-directional antennas radiate a signal in all directions and have the lowest gain. Directional antennas radiate in a specific direction (like a wedge shape) and have higher gain. Very difficult to use in mesh but not impossible. Very high gains possible. The size of the antenna doubles for every 3 dBi gain increase.

6. Link distance: On link distances greater than 5 miles, the curvature of the Earth will
negatively affect the signal. In order to overcome this affect the antenna must be raised off the ground by an amount determined by a simple mathematically calculation. Example: You have a link with a distance of 5 KM (between two wireless radios) at 2.4GHz with a desired throughput of 54mbs:

With a 23dBi antenna you would have the desired throughput at 5 kM. With a 10dBi omni-directional you could go 1.3kM at 54Mbps. This antenna is a little more at $100