How to measure signal strength?

Hi, I am a fourth year university of Waterloo student, and I am currently
working on a project. I was wondering if there is a way to measure the signal
strength of each wireless access point? When we connect to a wireless
connection, we are shown the signal strength, and it is shown in terms of
bars, 5 bars means excellent, 4 means good etc. I am sure there is something
going on in the back end that is converting the actual measurement (above 90%
signal strength implies 5 bars etc) into bars. I was wondering if it is
possible to access that somehow?

I appreciate any help.
Thanks.

"Suman" wrote:
> Hi, I am a fourth year university of Waterloo student, and I am currently
> working on a project. I was wondering if there is a way to measure the signal
> strength of each wireless access point? When we connect to a wireless
> connection, we are shown the signal strength, and it is shown in terms of
> bars, 5 bars means excellent, 4 means good etc. I am sure there is something
> going on in the back end that is converting the actual measurement (above 90%
> signal strength implies 5 bars etc) into bars. I was wondering if it is
> possible to access that somehow?

This parameter is called RSSI. It can be obtained from the
driver of the wireless network adapter.
Windows Wireless config and other wireless utilities have some
function that maps RSSI values in dBm to 0-100% scale, and then to
"human readable" form, such as bars.
Hope you can proceed with your research from here.

--PA

Hi
May be this can Help, http://www.ezlan.net/wbars.html
Jack (MVP-Networking).

"Suman" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:9DD76C9F-6CCF-4365-8A98-(E-Mail Removed)...
> Hi, I am a fourth year university of Waterloo student, and I am currently
> working on a project. I was wondering if there is a way to measure the
> signal
> strength of each wireless access point? When we connect to a wireless
> connection, we are shown the signal strength, and it is shown in terms of
> bars, 5 bars means excellent, 4 means good etc. I am sure there is
> something
> going on in the back end that is converting the actual measurement (above
> 90%
> signal strength implies 5 bars etc) into bars. I was wondering if it is
> possible to access that somehow?
>
> I appreciate any help.
> Thanks.

Netstumbler will display the signal strength in db for you.


MD



"Suman" wrote:

> Hi, I am a fourth year university of Waterloo student, and I am currently
> working on a project. I was wondering if there is a way to measure the signal
> strength of each wireless access point? When we connect to a wireless
> connection, we are shown the signal strength, and it is shown in terms of
> bars, 5 bars means excellent, 4 means good etc. I am sure there is something
> going on in the back end that is converting the actual measurement (above 90%
> signal strength implies 5 bars etc) into bars. I was wondering if it is
> possible to access that somehow?
>
> I appreciate any help.
> Thanks.