[PLUG] Metrofi wins Rogue of the Week

[Russell Senior]

>>>>> "m0gely" == m0gely  <m0gely at telestream.com> writes:

m0gely> Paul Johnson wrote:
>> Seems like a better answer would be to get a higher gain antenna...

m0gely> That increases their transmit power and your machine's ability
m0gely> to see the AP better. It doesn't help communication strength
m0gely> going *too* the router though.  High gain antenna's don't help
m0gely> much unless they are on both ends.

That's wrong, actually.  Antenna gain in bi-directional, it focuses
incoming and outgoing signal.  Transmit power is not bi-directional.
MetroFi's loud radios don't do a damn thing to make client radios
easier to hear (rather the reverse, by flooding the city with radio
noise).

So, if you are in a fixed-wireless (where neither end is moving)
situation, a dB of antenna gain is better than a dB of transmit power.
Amongst other things, you are generating less noise for everyone else.
If you are moving, though, too much antenna gain ends up being too
much of a pain to aim.


-- 
Russell Senior, Secretary
russell at personaltelco.net