Link Test (Ap-600B Only) - Proxim ORINOCO AP-600B User Manual

Link Test (AP-600b Only)

This tab displays information on the quality of the wireless link to clients and other AP-600b units in the Wireless
Distribution System. During a Link Test, the Access Point and the selected device exchange a series of packets to test
the strength of the connection. The devices start by exchanging packets at the 11 Mbits/sec rate but fall back to the
slower rates if necessary.
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This feature is not available for the AP-600a. Also, this feature is not available if you are using an ORiNOCO
802.11a/b ComboCard or a non-ORiNOCO client with the AP-600b.
Follow these steps to perform a Link Test:
1. Open the Remote Link Test screen.
2. Click Explore.
Result: A list of detected stations will appear. If the list does not appear automatically, click Refresh
Figure 5-10 Remote Link Test Screen
3. Select a Station from the list by clicking the circle to the left of the Station's entry.
4. Click Link Test to start the test.
Result: A new Link Test window opens and displays the following information for the Access Point (referred to as
the Initiator Station) and the wireless client (referred to as the Remote Station):
• Station Name: The Access Point's System Name or the client's Windows Networking name.
• MAC Address
• SNR (dB): The Signal to Noise ratio for the received signal. The displayed value is the running average since
the start of the test and is reported in decibels (dB). Higher numbers correspond to a stronger link. The bar
graph also displays the relative strength of the link (a green bar indicates a strong link, a yellow bar indicates a
fair link, and a red bar indicates a weak link).
• Signal (dBm): The strength of the received signal in dBm (decibels referenced to 1 milliwatt). The displayed
value is the running average since the start of the test and is reported as a negative number. Higher numbers
correspond to a stronger link. For example, -40 dBm corresponds to a stronger signal than -50 dBm. The bar
graph also displays the relative strength of the signal (a longer bar represents a stronger signal).
• Noise (dBm): The strength of the noise detected at the receiver reported in dBm (decibels referenced to
1 milliwatt). The displayed value is the running average since the start of the test and is reported as a negative
number. Noise can interfere with the received signal so a smaller noise value corresponds to a stronger link.
For example, a noise level of -95 dBm is more desirable than a noise level of -89 dBm. The bar graph displays
the relative strength of the noise level (a shorter bar represents a weaker noise level and is more desirable
than a longer bar).
• 11 Mbps (pkts): The number of packets received at the 11 Mbits/sec transmit rate since the start of the Link
Test. In general, most packets will be received at the 11 Mbits/sec rate if the devices have a strong link.
Monitor Information
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