The AirMagnet Planner includes two powerful tools for estimating Wi-Fi signal strength: the Wall Tool and the Attenuation Tool. Understanding how these tools work will help you design more accurate wireless networks.
Wall Tool: Accurate dB Drop Calculation
The Wall Tool allows you to draw individual walls on your map and assign specific dB drop values. This method provides the most accurate representation of signal loss caused by physical barriers.
How to Determine Wall dB Drop:
- Measure signal strength on both sides of the wall using tools like AirMagnet Survey.
- Calculate the difference in dB between the two measurements.
- Enter this value into the Planner using the Planner Object Manager (found under File → Planner Page).
Attenuation Tool: Simplified Area Coverage
The Attenuation Tool is designed for ease of use when covering large areas, such as cubicle spaces, without drawing individual walls.
- Select an area type (e.g., cubicle) with a predefined attenuation index.
- The index represents a scaled degradation of signal strength based on distance from the AP.
- Higher index values indicate greater signal loss (e.g., elevator shafts have higher attenuation than cubicles).
Understanding dB Drop vs. Attenuation Index
- dB Drop: Measures signal loss through a single object (e.g., a wall).
- Attenuation Index: Represents signal degradation across an area.
Note: These values are not identical and should not be confused with percentages.
Best Practices
- Use Planner as an estimation tool only. Always follow up with an actual site survey using a test AP.
- Refer to the User Guide for more details:
Start → All Programs → AirMagnet Survey → User Guide