When comparing other equipment from different manufacturers, you will want to compare "apples to apples", so look at their specs - usually they are rated in dbm. Look at this chart to compare their dbm rating to our transmit or receive power in miliwatts:
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40 dBm |
10.00 watts |
|
|
36 dBm |
4.00 watts |
. |
|
30 dBm |
1.00 watts |
|
|
27 dBm |
500 milliwatts |
|
|
26 dBm |
400 milliwatts |
|
|
25 dBm |
320 milliwatts |
|
|
24 dBm |
250 milliwatts |
|
|
23 dBm |
200 milliwatts |
|
|
22 dBm |
160 milliwatts |
|
|
21 dBm |
130 milliwatts |
|
|
20 dBm |
100 milliwatts |
|
|
15 dBm |
32 milliwatts |
|
|
10 dBm |
10 milliwatts |
|
|
5 dBm |
3.2 milliwatts |
|
|
4 dBm |
2.5 milliwatts |
|
|
3 dBm |
2.0 milliwatts |
|
|
2 dBm |
1.6 milliwatts |
|
|
1 dBm |
1.3 milliwatts |
|
|
0 dBm |
1.0 milliwatts |
How High Should the antenna be to make a wireless link?
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Date: August 26th, 2009
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Author: Greg Shultz
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Category: Windows Vista
Avoid the hassle of hitting the command line to run Vista’s IPConfig command, with its expanded set of switches. This little GUI app makes the job a cinch.
When you’re troubleshooting TCP/IP connectivity problems, chances are good that you shell out to the command line and use the IPConfig command. While this is indeed a powerful tool, using it can be a painstaking operation that requires you to type the IPConfig command over and over again with a different switch for each operation.
To alleviate some of that tedious labor, I created the Windows XP IP Configuration Tool several years ago. Now, I’ve built a version just for Vista — whose IPConfig command offers five more switches than XP includes.
The Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool presents each of the IPConfig command-line tool’s switches in one dialog box (Figure A). All you need to do is select the option corresponding to the switch you want to use and click the OK button. In addition to making it easy to use the 13 switches, the Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool allows you to run the IPConfig command without any switches at all. This will display just the IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway for all adapters.
Figure A
The Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool dialog box
Installation
Once you download the Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool package, simply copy its three files to a folder of your choice:
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Vista-IPConfig.hta
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Wvipc.ico
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Vista IPConfig Tool-ReadMe.doc
Of course, the Vista-IPConfig.hta file is the HTA file that you’ll use to launch the application. The Wvipc.ico file simply contains the icon that the HTA uses for the control menu and the taskbar. The Vista IPConfig Tool-ReadMe.doc runs through the basic usage info, covered here.
Using the Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool
The Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool is an HTML Application (HTA) that combines HTML, Windows Script Host, and VBScript to create nice little GUI application. However, because Windows Vista employs the User Account Control system, running the script-based Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool requires that you download and install the Elevate HTML Application PowerToy, which is a part of the Elevation PowerToys for Windows Vista.
You can learn more about the Script Elevation PowerToys for Windows and the Elevate HTML Application PowerToy by reading the article Elevate privileges automatically with Elevation PowerToys.
With the Elevate HTML Application PowerToy installed, you can launch the Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool by right-clicking on the HTA file and selecting the Run As Administrator command.
The Windows Vista IP Configuration Tool dialog box has a single panel containing a set of option buttons and text boxes that allow you to configure your IPConfig command line. When you click OK, you’ll see the IPConfig command line and be prompted to launch it. When you do, a Command Prompt window will open and display the results.
Click the Help button and you’ll see Command Prompt window, which will display the IPConfig command’s help screen.
Greg Shultz is a freelance Technical Writer. Previously, he has worked as Documentation Specialist in the software industry, a Technical Support Specialist in educational industry, and a Technical Journalist in the computer publishing industry. Read his full bio and profile.
USB/Vista Issues:
I'm running Windows Vista Home Premium and trying to install the WEC600N (or USB600N... I've tried both and have the same problem).
When I disable my internal G adapter on the laptop and try to logon to the 5ghz network (using the Linksys Simultaneous Dual-Band router) it starts to search and then asks for "Additional Credentials" including a "Logon Domain".
I've tried everything including my username, password and network key and nothing is acceptable.
I can run the 2.4 band with the G internal on my laptop. But that is not what I bought the router and adapters for.
1. Remove all the networks from the preferred network list.
Click on the Start button >>> Settings >>> Control Panel >>>Network
Connections >>Here right click on the "Wireless Network
Connection" icon and select Properties- Click on the "Wireless Network" tab-
Make sure that ""Use windows to configure my wireless network settings""
is checked- In the "Preferred Networks" box select each network name
and click on "Remove" to make it empty- Click on OK.
**Click on the "Advanced" button(below the Preferred Networks) and
make sure "Access point(infrastructure) networks only" is selected- And
also make sure that "Automatically connect to non-preferred networks"
should be unchecked >> click on "Close" and click on OK on main properties
window.
2. Manually add the network.
Click on the Start button >>> Control Panel >>> Network Connections-
Here right click on the "Wireless Network Connection" icon and select
Properties- Click on the 'Wireless Network' tab- Click on the 'Add'
button below- Provide the network name in the SSID box exactly as set
on the router/gateway(as it is case sensitive)- Data encryption (WEP
enabled) should be checked- Uncheck the box that says, "The key is
provided for me automatically"- Type the network key in the Network
key box as set on the router/gateway and then confirm it again and
click OK.
Connect to the network - it would take some time and it should show up as "connected" and you should be able to go online.
WiFi Setup:
There are many ways to set up a wi-fi system, but some basic questions must be answered to begin your installation such as:
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How big is the area that needs coverage?
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Will there be line of sight betweent the main Access Point and the client or repeater?
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Do I need a high power transmitter to get the most throughput (not bandwidth) at the far end, or just enough power to cover the area?
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What should the antenna pattern be - 30º, 90º, 180º 360º ?
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Is one transmitter and one antenna enough to support the number of users?
If you have the answers to these basic questions, we can certainly help you in your deployment. For an idea of different setup scenarios, look at these:
