• by Seth Burstein
• Oct 10, 2019
• Wifi

Providing WiFi coverage over a large area usually calls for the use of multiple access points, but it’s not as easy as sticking a router wherever the signal is weak. Some common challenges include interference from overlapping WiFi signals and a drop in strength at the edge of a signal’s range, among others.

Read on for an overview of some factors that can impact your WiFi signal strength and tips on setting up multiple access points for an efficient, reliable wireless network that meets your needs.

What’s the deal with signal strength and building materials?
If you’ve ever wondered what causes the wireless signal to drop while you’re wandering around the house or office, take a look at your surroundings; building materials (ie – sheetrock, wood, brick, etc.) and physical barriers like walls can have a significant negative impact on WiFi signal strength.

There’s an easy way to gauge the extent to which certain objects in your environment might be impairing your WiFi signal: the WiFi Analyzer app for iOS and Android. Using dBm (decibels relative to milliwatts), this app tells you how strong the WiFi signal is in any given location. The ideal signal strength is around -30 dBm, whereas a signal strength of -120 dBm is nothing short of abysmal. You can generally expect to see signals ranging from -40 to -60 dBm in your everyday life.

To test the app, all you need to do is start it up while standing next to your router and then take a walk around your house or office, noting the signal strength fluctuations as you enter different areas.

How much can different materials impact your WiFi signal?

Glass: You’re likely to find glass walls in the conference rooms of many modern office buildings, and while they look great, they can be bad news for your WiFi signal. The average glass window can reduce signal strength by approximately 4 dBm and the higher the number of panes, the more impaired the signal becomes.

Wood: Wood is a construction staple, found all around the typical home or office. Unfortunately, considering how prevalent it is, wooden barriers can lower the WiFi signal by about 6 dBm. Even more damage is done if the wood is thick or damp, lowering the signal by as much as 20 dBm.

Metal: Metal is among the most detrimental materials for the average WiFi signal; a metal framework surrounding your workplace, for example, could lower the signal by up to 50 dBm. Seeing as most corporate offices are built with similar frameworks, this is likely something you’ll have to work around when installing WiFi access points in those areas.

Brick: Like metal and wood, brick is fairly ubiquitous as a construction material, and you can expect a hit of up to 28 dBm if there’s a lot of it nearby.

Other elements: You might think that when it comes to WiFi, the more the merrier; however, too many routers and access points in one area can actually lead to the wireless signal being negatively impacted.

One of the hardest materials for WiFi to penetrate is water. For this reason, having lots of people in the vicinity can have a significant detrimental impact on the WiFi signal. In a closed indoor setting with different building materials at play and crowds of people around, multiple access points are necessary for preventing dropped connections.

How to Properly Set Up Multiple Access Points

Now that it’s clear why you may need more than one access point (AP) for optimal WiFi, here are some tips on how to install those access points the right way.

1. Conduct a wireless site survey.

The first step towards setting up your access points is to carry out a wireless site survey. This will help you figure out where the signal is weakest and where to locate your APs in order to make up for the deficiency.

2. Invest in a controller.

After conducting the survey and placing the access points, your next concern should be security, which may mean changing the passwords for some of your APs. If you aren’t so keen on having to manually access each AP every time you want to change the password or other settings, you can invest in a controller to manage all of your APs simultaneously.

3. Use the right access points.

There may be times when your guests or employees need access to the WiFi outside the house or office. In this case, you’ll need to set up outdoor access points. These APs can be more expensive than indoor ones, but they're also manufactured specifically to withstand the elements.

4. Keep the Ethernetcable short.

Keeping the length of your Ethernet cable under 320 ft can go a long way in ensuring that a low-latency connection won’t drop off after a point, with some people limiting the length to 300 ft just to be safe. And if you absolutely must have a longer cable, you’re in luck. With a small (and usually cheap) switch, you can extend your cable length another 300 feet. If you still need more distance, you’ll have to look into fiber optic cables, which are made for transporting bandwidth further distances than Ethernet but can also be quite costly.

5. Control the strength of each access point.

Keeping an eye on the transmit power of each of your access points can help avoid overlapping signal issues. Luckily, if you’ve already installed a controller, controlling AP strength should be a walk in the park. Regular maintenance is important for ensuring your access points are running optimally and within their own zones, so if you notice any overlap, try lowering the strength of a nearby AP.

6. Choose the right channels.

If you’ve invested in a controller, it’s important to make sure you’re using a non-overlapping channel for each AP, as overlapping channels may result in interference/packet loss (i.e. – think of trying to listen to a song when two radio stations broadcasting on the same station). Keep in mind that the 2.4 GHz band only offers 3 non-overlapping channels, which may be sufficient for small spaces but not large ones. Most modern routers broadcast on the 5 GHz band, allowing for more channels.

Need more help?

The recommendations listed here are adequate for getting your multiple-access-point endeavors off the ground, but where Internet technology is involved, it’s easy to accidentally hit a snag. If you run into a problem and need more help, call our specialists at Trade Show Internet. Our Event WiFi and network IT teams can help you set up multiple access points for a hassle-free Internet experience across event venues.