I'm testing out my Senao 2511 ext2 card against a Senao 2511 access point and I think there's something odd going on with the "interference" level. I use WLan expert to probe the card and it typically reads an interference level of -56 dBm or so, which is about the same strength as the signal of my AP. In fact, no matter where I go on my property it seems like the interference level is pretty high. (The antenna on the card is a 14 dB Hyperlink range extender).
I also see that the link quality is significantly below the signal strength, even for line of sight over about a 200 foot distance. With a signal strength of -56 dB read by WLan the Senao signal strength meter reads Good yet the link quality is rated as poor (30% to 50%). It really seems as if the card is experiencing heavy interference. I doing my testing on a farm where I'm reasonably sure there are no continuous microwave sources for some distance. I have a 2.4 Ghz PC and I shut that off yielding no change in perceived interference level. The only think I can't discount is the laptop I have the Senao card in. It's an old Compaq 266 Mhz job. I don't know what could be operating in the laptop that would get up to 2 Ghz. I was wondering if anyone on the list knew what was a "normal" reading for interference on a 2511 card is or if what I'm observing makes any sense to anyone. On the bright side, the signal level I read off of WLan expert agrees with my link budget calculations within about 5 dB. At least the raw power is all there. I have the feeling that unless I resolve this intererence problem I'm not going to get near the -84 dBm sensitivity. Connection to the access point seemed to fail somewhere around -65 dBm. Anyhow have any knowledge of the _practical_ minimum sensitivity for a Senao card is running at 1 mbps? -- general wireless list, a bawug thing <http://www.bawug.org/> [un]subscribe: http://lists.bawug.org/mailman/listinfo/wireless
