Changing wireless power setting

[boxst]

I am interested in upping the power output for 2.4ghz and (to a lesser extent) 5ghz wireless.

The web interface (even on Merlin's custom firmware) seems to be restricted. Can it be changed elsewhere?

Thanks for any replies,

Steve

 

[angelsevov]

originally posted here..

http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?25929-NEW-ASUS-RT-N66U-ROUTER!/page18&


Open telnet (you can turn it on in the administration of the router)
before you do anything you might want to check this value and make note of it:
nvram get pci/1/1/ccode
To change to us:
nvram set pci/1/1/ccode=US
nvram set pci/2/1/ccode=US
nvram set wl0_country_code=US
nvram set wl1_country_code=US
nvram set regulation_domain=US
nvram set regulation_domain_5G=US
nvram commit


do a reboot and your router will allow 500mW for 2.4GHz and 250mW for 5.2GHz connections. ( now with new firmware releases u can change it to the max 200mW, 500 mW was before- long time ago"stupid ASUS")

Please keep in mind that the US allows different network channels, especially for 5GHz:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels#5.C2.A0GHz_.28802.11a.2Fh.2Fj.2Fn.29

to go back to eu mode is easy:
nvram set pci/1/1/ccode=EU
nvram set pci/2/1/ccode=EU
nvram set wl0_country_code=EU
nvram set wl1_country_code=EU
nvram set regulation_domain=EU
nvram set regulation_domain_5G=EU
nvram commit

 

[got_milk]

By how much do you plan to increase the power by? Higher output would mean a little more range but at the cost of increased radio noise, and subsequently lower throughput, so you could actually cut performance across the board by increasing the power output.

 

[boxst]

Thank you for that. I can increase the 2.4ghz to 200mW now.

I thought I was going crazy that I could set up to 500mW before but I guess as you say they changed the firmware. The validation is probably just I the webform so it can probably be overridden somewhere.

 

[RMerlin]

Thank you for that. I can increase the 2.4ghz to 200mW now.

I thought I was going crazy that I could set up to 500mW before but I guess as you say they changed the firmware. The validation is probably just I the webform so it can probably be overridden somewhere.

Output power is enforced by the firmware itself based on your country, not just the webui. I suspect there is also further enforcement done at the driver level, but can't be sure (as it's closed sources).

 

[boxst]

Surprisingly changing the web interface has appeared to modify the power (here: http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=9986).

Although I've probably broken a whole bunch of EU laws though ...

 

[huotg01]

Surprisingly changing the web interface has appeared to modify the power (here: http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=9986).

Although I've probably broken a whole bunch of EU laws though ...

...but remember that changing the settings "may" (or "may not") change the power setting on the router, but not on the client...Could result in no improvement because your lap/deskTop is still emitting at the same power level...

Others could probably comment on this, but a solution could be to have more sensitive antennas ?

 

[Mark the Red]

Here is a thread on the subject by super router programmer Toastman:

http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/tomato-signal-strength-low-any-ideas.33868/

In brief, the US country regulation is a boolean variable that cancels out any and all modifications of the transmit power you make.

Solution: Change country to Singapore and boost away. (Tomato only I think) Although it would appear with the e3000 that it is a case of diminishing returns as you up the power. YMMV

Souce: Not me

 

[RocketJSquirrel]

What is the factory default value for transmit power on the 2 bands of the RT-N66U? I've changed it a few times and lost track of the default. Thanks.

 

[CaptainSTX]

Here is a thread on the subject by super router programmer Toastman:

http://www.linksysinfo.org/index.php?threads/tomato-signal-strength-low-any-ideas.33868/

In brief, the US country regulation is a boolean variable that cancels out any and all modifications of the transmit power you make.

Solution: Change country to Singapore and boost away. (Tomato only I think) Although it would appear with the e3000 that it is a case of diminishing returns as you up the power. YMMV

Souce: Not me

I have started inSSIDer and then varied the power settings both on my E3000 running Tomato and my N66U running Merlin's custom firmware.

My test results are very similar to what you found. I currently have my ASUS 2.4 Ghz radio set at 85mw and if I go higher my dbm actually starts to decrease. My E3000 is set at 100.

 

[DrTeeth]

Higher output would mean a little more range but at the cost of increased radio noise, and subsequently lower throughput, so you could actually cut performance across the board by increasing the power output.

Higher output = increased radio noise? I would say it is quite the opposite. Could you please supply some references?

TIA,

DrT

 

[richto]

Surprisingly changing the web interface has appeared to modify the power (here: http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=9986).

Although I've probably broken a whole bunch of EU laws though ...

There is no EU law that restricts WiFi transmit power, so you can legally set whatever you want.

The only limit is on ERP, so you just need to use the power setting with an appropriate antenna....

 

[DrTeeth]

There is no EU law that restricts WiFi transmit power, so you can legally set whatever you want.

The only limit is on ERP, so you just need to use the power setting with an appropriate antenna....

Power Levels

In Europe at 2.4GHz we are limited by ETSI regulations to 20dbmW.

That is 20dB gain above 1mW or 100mW Effective radiated power compared to an isotropic (0 gain) aerial. This figure includes the gain from the aerial and losses from cabling.

So to calculate the EIRP of your system:
EIRP=Output power of card or access point in dBm – cable loss in dB – connector losses in dB + aerial gain in dBi

A typical card gives out +15dBmW so the largest aerial allowed is +5dB. However on a typical installation an +8dB aerial can be used as there is quite often a 3dB loss on the aerial cable.

The exception to the above is France, where the maximum output power is limited to 7dBm (5mW EIRP) at 2.4GHz.

Above from http://wireless.navigator.co.uk/index.htm.

It's all slitting hairs unless some seriously directional antennas are going to be constructed,

 

[mikeg]

If I remember correctly 80 mW on both bands.

What is the factory default value for transmit power on the 2 bands of the RT-N66U? I've changed it a few times and lost track of the default. Thanks.