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This visualization shows the areas covered by the APs. An area is considered covered if the signal is strong enough for the clients to communicate to the AP. You can select and deselect one or several of the APs to see individual or group coverage areas. Coverage areas are color-coded: For each AP, a small colored square is shown next to the AP icon. The corresponding color is used to display the coverage area contour or fill.
The definition of “strong enough” is rather subjective because certain signal strength might be sufficient for low data rates, but insufficient for the high data rates required for such applications as VoIP. Additionally, 802.11 adapters vary in sensitivity, and some adapters might be able to provide good connectivity in zones where other adapters fail to connect altogether.
The following options on the Visualization Settings panel (located on the Options tab of the right-side panel) affect the way AP coverage areas are analyzed and visualized:
| § | Area is considered covered if signal strength is at least – This setting defines the AP coverage area based on the minimum signal strength. If the signal strength is below the specified level, the area is considered to be not covered. |
| § | AP coverage areas – This allows you to change the color coding method used for displaying coverage areas. In No fill, contours only mode, the application draws contours of the coverage areas without filling the areas with colors. In Fill and mix colors mode, AP coverage areas are filled with colors; when areas overlap, the application draws a striped pattern, alternating the colors of the respective APs. In Fill, strongest AP on top mode, AP coverage areas are filled with colors; when areas overlap, the application draws the color of the strongest AP. In Fill, weakest AP on top mode, AP coverage areas are filled with colors; when areas overlap, the application draws the color of the weakest AP. |
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