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To stay connected with all-day battery life, Surface devices implement wireless connectivity settings that balance performance and power conservation. Outside of the most demanding mobility scenarios, users can maintain sufficient wireless connectivity without modifying default network adapter or related settings.
In telecommunications, particularly in radio frequency, signal strength (also referred to as field strength) refers to the transmitter power output as received by a reference antenna at a distance from the transmitting antenna. High-powered transmissions, such as those used in broadcasting, are expressed in dB-millivolts per metre (dBmV/m). For very low-power systems, such as mobile phones. Identify Any Interfering Appliances. Screenshot via Google Play. Use your wireless network analyzer. Oct 13, 2020 10 Ways to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal. Check out these quick tips to boost your wireless signal from your router, extend and optimize your Wi-Fi coverage, and speed up your surfing. Wi-Fi signal strength determines whether your internet connection is reliable or not. The stronger the signal is, the more reliable your connection will be. The way that Wi-Fi signal strength is measured and represented is different than how to measure Wi-Fi speed. However, both speed and signal strength rely on one another so that you can have.
In congested network environments, organizations can implement purpose-built wireless protocols across multiple network access points to facilitate roaming. This page highlights key wireless connectivity considerations in mobile scenarios utilizing Surface Pro 3 and later, Surface Book, Surface Laptop, and Surface Go.
Prerequisites
This document assumes you have successfully deployed a wireless network that supports 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) or later in accordance with best practice recommendations from leading equipment vendors.
Configuring access points for optimal roaming capabilities
If you’re managing a wireless network that’s typically accessed by many different types of client devices, it’s recommended to enable specific protocols on access points (APs) in your WLAN, as described in Fast Roaming with 802.11k, 802.11v, and 802.11r. Surface devices can take advantage of the following wireless protocols:
- 802.11r. “Fast BSS Transition” accelerates connecting to new wireless access points by reducing the number of frames required before your device can access another AP as you move around with your device.
- 802.11k.“Neighbor Reports” provides devices with information on current conditions at neighboring access points. It can help your Surface device choose the best AP using criteria other than signal strength such as AP utilization.
Specific Surface devices can also use 802.11v “BSS Transition Management Frames,” which functions much like 802.11k in providing information on nearby candidate APs. These include Surface Go, Surface Pro 7, Surface Pro X, and Surface Laptop 3. Nebulosity 4 4 15.
Managing user settings
You can achieve optimal roaming capabilities through a well-designed network that supports 802.11r and 802.11k across all access points. Ensuring that your network is properly configured to provide users with the best wireless experience is the recommended approach versus attempting to manage user settings on individual devices. Moreover, in many corporate environments Surface device users won’t be able to access advanced network adapter settings without explicit permissions or local admin rights. In other lightly managed networks, users can benefit by knowing how specific settings can impact their ability to remain connected.
Recommended user settings and best practices
Ycal 1 64. In certain situations, modifying advanced network adapter settings built into Surface devices may facilitate a more reliable connection. Keep in mind however that an inability to connect to wireless resources is more often due to an access point issue, networking design flaw, or environmental site issue.
Note
How you hold your Surface Pro or Surface Go can also affect signal strength. If you’re experiencing a loss of bandwidth, check that you’re not holding the top of the display, where the Wi-Fi radio receiver is located. Although holding the top of the display does not block wireless signals, it can trigger the device driver to initiate changes that reduce connectivity.
Keep default Auto setting for dual bandwidth capability
On most Surface devices, you can configure client network adapter settings to only connect to wireless APs over 5 gigahertz (GHz), only connect over 2.4 GHz, or let the operating system choose the best option (default Auto setting).
To access network adapter settings go to:
- Start > Control panel > Network and Sharing Center > your Wi-Fi adapter > Properties > Configure > Advanced.
Keep in mind that 2.4 GHz has some advantages over 5 GHz: It extends further and more easily penetrates through walls or other solid objects. Unless you have a clear use case that warrants connecting to 5 GHz, it’s recommended to leave the Band setting in the default state to avoid possible adverse consequences. For example:
- Many hotspots found in hotels, coffee shops, and airports still only use 2.4 GHz, effectively blocking access to devices if Band is set to 5 GHz Only.
- Since Miracast wireless display connections require the initial handshake to be completed over 2.4 GHz channels, devices won’t be able to connect at 5 GHz Only.
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By default Surface devices will prefer connecting to 5 GHz if available. However, to preserve power in a low battery state, Surface will first look for a 2.4 GHz connection.
You can also toggle the band setting as needed to suit your environment. For example, users living in high density apartment buildings with multiple Wi-Fi hotspots — amid the presence of consumer devices all broadcasting via 2.4 GHz — will likely benefit by setting their Surface device to connect on 5 GHz only and then revert to Auto when needed.
Roaming aggressiveness settings on Surface Go
Front-line workers using Surface Go may wish to select a signal strength threshold that prompts the device to search for a new access point when signal strength drops (roaming aggressiveness). By default, Surface devices attempt to roam to a new access point if the signal strength drops below Medium (50 percent signal strength). Note that whenever you increase roaming aggressiveness, you accelerate battery power consumption.
Leave the roaming aggressiveness setting in the default state unless you’re encountering connectivity issues in specific mobile scenarios such as conducting environmental site inspections while also maintaining voice and video connectivity during a conference meeting. If you don’t notice any improvement revert to the default Medium state.
To enable roaming aggressiveness on Surface Go:
- Go to Start > Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center.
- Under Connections select Wi-Fi and then select Properties.
- Select Client for Microsoft Networks and then select Configure
- Select Advanced > Roaming Aggressiveness and choose your preferred value from the drop-down menu.
Conclusion
Surface devices are designed with default settings for optimal wireless connectivity balanced alongside the need to preserve battery life. The most effective way of enabling reliable connectivity for Surface devices is through a well-designed network that supports 802.11r and 802.11k. Users can adjust network adapter settings or roaming aggressiveness but should only do so in response to specific environmental factors and revert to default state if there’s no noticeable improvement.
Talking about 'good signal strength' may have become part of everyday language, but what constitutes a good Wi-Fi signal, really? Do you know what it takes to be able to use demanding services like Netflix and videoconferencing over Wi-Fi?
Signal strength is measured in dBm or decibel milliwatts, which, somewhat confusingly, is expressed only in negative values (with a minus sign in front).
So what are the good and acceptable dBm values for wireless internet?
Here is what the Wi-Fi signal strength values mean
How to measure the received signal strength
To measure signal strength at a given location and time, you can use a Wi-Fi scanner. You can read more about this in our article How to find good Wi-Fi channels and bad neighbors.
The measurement you are looking for is RSSI, which is short for received signal strength indicator.
If you are running Mac OS X, you can also measure the received signal strength directly without installing anything: Hold down the Altkey and click the Wi-Fi icon in the top menu, and details of communication with the wireless access point will appear under the name of the active Wi-Fi network.
If you would like to map out the signal for an entire home, we recommend using a heat mapper to create a heat map of good and bad coverage zones. See also: Map your wireless network with a heat mapper.
Poor signal strength? Remove obstacles
Have you done your testing and concluded that the signal strength is insufficient? First of all:
Wifi Signal Strength Mac
Don't be tempted to try to amplify the transmit strength from your router / access point. You may sabotage both yourself and your neighbors in the process, and you risk breaking the law along the way. Read more about this in Don't. Boost. Your Wi-Fi Signal.
Of course, the performance and capacity of the wireless network depends on more than the signal emitted from the access point, but the most important thing you can do for the signal is:
- Move the router or other access point high up and in front of any obstacles. Preferably high up on the wall.
- Place your devices and access points with as much of a clear line of sight between them as possible.
Wifi Measure Signal Strength
Get further advice on what you can do yourself to improve your home Wi-Fi in: Better Wi-Fi at Home: 18 Free Tips.
Wifi Signal Strength Chart
Article by Jan Pedro Tumusok and Jorunn D. Newth