singnal strength and tx signal strength difference of 15-20?

RouterOS Wireless Networking
1

I have a P-t-MP link, 5GHz, 5180.
AP is AR5413 with 23dBm power output at 6Mbit, 54Mbit is down to 16dBm, 20dBi panel.
Two identical clients are also AR5413 but without amp, 17dBm at 6Mbit, 54Mbit is down to 13dBm, 19dBi panels.

All three are RB433 with latest ROS (3.24) and firmware (2.20).

Note that client B is 130m from AP, client A around 250m, client B doesn’t “see” client A, buildings between them etc.

I am reading this:
client A) signal strength -55, tx signal strength -71
client B) signal strength -51, tx signal strength -64



which is strange, as AP card is the one with 23dBm output, so the OPPOSITE should be true.
I thought it might be the antenna a/b but it’s not, the setting is correct at antenna a. I thought it might be something to do with the amp and readings through that, but the readings are the same on clients too.

I tried fixing rates and setting manually tx power on AP, the situation improves but by only a few dBm, nothing major.

I have dismissed the possibility of the amp being bad because then the readings would be the same both ways.

Please help me figure this out as it’s driving me crazy!

2

There are 2 amps.
Receive and transmit.

3

Note that client B is 130m from AP, client A around 250m, client B doesn’t “see” client A, buildings between them etc.

I am reading this:
client A) signal strength -55, tx signal strength -71
client B) signal strength -51, tx signal strength -64



this is logical because of different distance from AP. signal strength - this is how clients sees AP. tx signal strength is how AP sees the client. And I see, there is maybe problem with panel antennas - both clients are “sending” lower power signals.

4

actually it’s the other way round, the are receiving lower power signals. from a more powerful card. strange?

5

the signal strengths are different because of different cards used - there is other output power, other sensitivity, maybe also other cables used… so thats why you get these numbers

6

a panel at the base it’s not the brightest ideea…use sector. You can aim the clients to the base but you can’t aim the panel to the clients…maybe with a chainsaw.