Get Unplugged Now - Wireless Marine Products, Computers and Electronics

A Wi-Fi Primer on Connectivity and Speed

The performance of wireless Internet access is affected by many factors. This tutorial will attempt to “demystify” much of the performance issue and supply you, the end user, with some basic tips on how to improve the 2 basic measurements of overall wireless performance – 1. Basic connectivity and 2. Speed. Basic connectivity, or the ability to stay connected from your wireless device to a host unit or Hotspot, and connection speed are related and warrant a paragraph of their own. First, however, we will start by explaining the concept of basic connectivity.

Hotspots and the radios in your laptop (or desktop…or PDA) are nothing more than high speed, 2-way, data radios. In order for these radios to communicate effectively with one another, they must establish a wireless link and maintain a “dialog” in the language associated with Wi-Fi. In ideal conditions your wireless computing device should be able to communicate with a Hotspot over distances approaching 1, or even 2 miles. Ideal conditions would be a clear, unobstructed line of sight between radios over a consistent, flat surface (water or ground). Unfortunately, ideal conditions rarely exist and, in the case of marinas, there are a number of factors that degrade signal and shorten the effective operating distance between radios. The primary factors include; obstructions between radios, additional radio “noise” in the area and the power output or strength of signal from the radios themselves. Let’s explore each of these factors.

Most people have heard the phrase “a clear view of the southern skies” relating to satellite television receiving antennas. The emphasis here should be on clear or unobstructed space between the receiving antenna and your satellite dish. Trees, other houses, light poles, etc. will interfere with your satellite signal by blocking its transmission from the satellite. The same is true (to varying degrees) with cellular telephones, pagers, VHF radios and even Wi-Fi devices. Typical obstructions in the marina environment would be other boats, sailboat masts, trees, dock structures and even your own boat. Although metal objects are the worst blockers, your signal can be affected by concrete, wood and even fiberglass. We have seen cases where a user can get good connection a mile away from a Hotspot because he is using his computing device on deck with a clear line of sight to the Hotspot and has no obstructions between radios. In that same marina another user struggled to get good connection 100 feet away because he was using his device down near the waterline with 5 or 6 boats and several dock structures between him and the Hotspot. Fortunately there are a number of ways to dramatically improve signal and negate obstructions while allowing the user to use his device anywhere on the boat. These solutions include high power radios, external antennas and even power amplifiers to boost signal on the boat. External antennas can be connected to your device with a cable and placed higher on the boat to eliminate obstructions and provide substantially better signal. These antennas will also boost both the incoming and outgoing signal strength 5 to 10 times verses that of the typical built-in antenna. High power radios and power amplifiers can dramatically increase your transmit and receive power thus allowing you to “blast” through obstructions more effectively. We’ll talk more about these later.

Additional radio noise in the area around the marina can also degrade your ability to maintain a good basic connection by impeding the ability of the radio in your device to communicate with the Hotspot. Consider standing across the room from a friend and having a conversation while there is no ambient noise. Now consider the same room full of people with the stereo turned up and a party going on. The same level of voice, or power output becomes far less effective. This same concept holds true with wireless devices. 2 radios trying to communicate with a hotspot can have the exact same signal strength but if one has substantially higher ambient radio noise its ability to get a basic connection and certainly its speed will be impaired. Fortunately Beacon Wi-Fi can remotely monitor noise around its Hotspots and change channels to move away from high noise frequencies. End user radios will automatically seek out this new channel and remain connected transparent to the end user. In some cases there may be noise on or near all channels (there are 11 available) and some action may be required by the end user in the form of acquiring a high power radio or power amplifiers to boost the signal strength at his/her device. Most Hotspots transmit at near 1 watt of power while most built-in radios and readily available off-the-shelf radios transmit at only 30 milliwatts (.03 watts). High power radios can give up to 200 milliwatts (.2 watts) of power and power amplifiers can give up to 1 watt of power to dramatically improve signal strength and thus improve both the ability to obtain a basic connection and the speed of the connection.

The bottom line is that even in a marina full of obstructions and with high outside radio frequency noise, users can ensure basic connection and improve their connection speed through the use of high power radios, power amplifiers and external antennas. Let’s discuss for a moment the relationship of basic connection and connection speed. Wi-Fi systems are designed to maintain basic connection under varying conditions including excess noise and obstructions. To do this, the radios in your computing device will monitor signal strength and signal quality (a measurement including the relationship of strength and noise) and make adjustments as either degrades. The adjustment is to lower the connection speed as signal strength or quality goes down. Running at lower speeds will allow the radio to maintain a better connection but the end user will see a corresponding degradation in performance. When your signal strength or quality goes down to far, and your radio has adjusted its speed to the lowest level, you will lose basic connection. Conversely then, if the end user can improve signal by adding a high power radios, power amplifiers or external antenna he/she can maintain basic connection and improve the effective speed of the connection with the Hotspot.

The above concepts may still be a bit intimidating to some and therefore end users should seek professional advice that is available through Beacon Wi-Fi via www.beaconwifi.com or by calling 800-696-8518. External antennas, power amplifiers and high power radios are available in packages that are easily installed in either your laptop or desktop device. These packages should ensure connection under virtually any conditions.

Good luck and good surfing!