Divining WiFi Signal

Being a distributor of WiFi CPEs (Customer Premise Equipment) for Google WiFi project, I am becoming an expert of where to find the best Wifi signal. No, I don't use divining rods. I use the CPEs that we sell: PepLink, Ruckus, Buffalo and Wi-Fire. These CPEs are of different breed, not in the league of Linksys, dLink or Netgear. They are far more powerful and reliable.

Finding wifi signal is, yes, an art that requires imagination and a steady hand. You move the CPE quarter of an inch, you lose the signal. The green lights start to dance in Ruckus, while in PepLink, the green status light turns to amber. That means you lose connection.

So what's the secret of knowing where to position your CPE or your wifi modem to get the optimum signal and connect to the wireless access node? You begin with the basic knowledge, the stuff that you learned from the books, or by reading the manual from the CPE manufacturers, i.e. know where the signal is coming from - a line of sight. How about for non-line of sight? Just the same, just imagine you have a line of sight and see the antenna. Point the CPE to that direction. After you have positioned the CPE to where the AP or antenna is, then that's the time that a steady hand is needed. Start moving the CPE, gently, sensually for Ruckus and with authority for PepLink. From doing this everyday in different places and different scenarios for different types of people, you develop a sense of something that you can only sense and tell. Whether it is a hunch, a guess, a feel, or even gut-feel, you become better than the engineers who designed these equipment, of where and how to deploy their creations.

A most interesting situation is the sensitivity of these CPEs to irregular obstuctions: leaves, the type, shape and thickness of leaves may degradate or even kill the signal.

Anyways, this is Divining WiFi Signal 101. More to come. Good day