How to reduce signal strength

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

Hi

We need to install an AP and reduce signal strength in a clients coffee shop to cover just their shop space ±7m by 7m

And am considering purchasing them an RB751

At home on my RB411 I have tried the following:

Winbox
Interfaces
wlan2 (wlan is disabled)
Tx Power
Tx Power Mode: all rates fixed
Tx Power: 1

Using ssider I can see my Wireless Signal Strength drop right down to -65 while sitting three feet from the AP

Is there anything else I need to change / be aware of to safety reduce the range of a (Mikrotik) wireless network or can I continue to increase / adjust the Tx Power setting until comfortable with the range of the signal?

Thanks

2

You can also use Antenna Gain to reduce signal strength to whatever value you want. Set frequencymode=regulatory domain, set country, then increase the antenna gain and watch the signal nosedive.

3

Awesome.

Are there any pro’s and cons to using the one vs the other or do they both achieve the same end safely?

Thanks

4

It is much more safer to use the method I described that modifying the tx power directly. You risk damaging the wireless adapter if you accidentally adjust the tx power beyond the capacity of the card. Whereas, modifying the antenna gain allow the ROS to automatically adjust the tx power to ensure that the EIRP stays within legal limits without the risk of damaging the card.

5

I’ll follow your suggested method.

Though I assume its not possible to damage a card by setting the Tx too low?

Am I correct that these setting are ROS and not hardware dependent?

I intend to buy the RB751 with built in radio card / antennae

Are the settings still adjustable on integrated RB’s with build in radio cards / antennas?

6

Setting the tx power too low will not damage the card but the card might not function properly at such low power level.

The settings are adjustable on all Mikrotik ROS with wireless adapter.

7

Awesome, thanks.

On my way to collect RB751

8

Set antennae Gain to 17 db

This together with placing the RB low down (about 2 feet off the ground) has reduced the signal sufficiently.

I have a new challenge though:

How to gain access to the RB from the main office (about 50M away) via the LAN cable connected to WAN / POE port?

So that staff can change the wifi key from the main office without having to physically go the the coffee shop…

9

get a wireless cpe to point on it and get access via wireless.
make sure you have enable the mac-telnet on the wireless interface.

10

I would like ask also for correct antena gain parameters and power for RBwAPG-5HacT2HnD-BE.