IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)

Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJCS/IIJCS.htm

A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijcs@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017 ISSN 2321-5992

To measure WiFi signal strength and

solution to increase the signal strength
Saloni Burad , Rambabu Vatti , Chaitanya Patil , Nikhil Zambare, Umesh Jagtap

Department of Electronics Engineering,Vishwakarma Institute of Technology,666 Upper Indira Nagar,

Bibvewadi, Pune, Maharasthra,India.

Abstract
This paper provides an overall coverage of the Wi-Fi in the college campus. The WiFi signal which was measured was at
frequency level of 2.4GHz. This paper includes the study related to building structure and its effects on the different access
points available in campus. The objective of this paper is to study the conduct of signal strength when it travels through line of
sight (LoS) and non-line of sight (NLoS) through the college campus and to verify the inverse proportion to the square of
radius of line of sight[1]and to study the major internet access points in the campus, examine the area for dead zones and
suggest remedies in order to improve WiFi connectivity throughout the premises, so that dead zones could be eradicated, and
signal strength could be evenly distributed through the campus.
Software used: Acrylic Wi-Fi Analyzer Professional [5].
Keywords- Wi-Fi, access point, optimal area coverage

INTRODUCTION
In this modern world, everyday life depends on Internet and
Wi-Fi signal strength and speed of the signal.Wi-Fi services are provided to the consumer through one or more access
points, depending on the area the consumer wishes to be covered. The arrangement of these access points is crucial in
order to ensure optimal area coverage. In many organizations, little heed is paid to this, which results in significant
wastage of resources .
Optimal area coverage would mean
1. At no point in the area to be covered does the WiFi signal strength drop to negligible levels, and
2. The signal strength across the entire area is more or less uniform.
Furthermore, its importance in technologies like the Internet of Things[2], and government initiatives like the Smart
Cities Programme[3]means improvements in this field would be of value to a large number of stakeholders.
The communication and connectivity depends on the internet.
While doing this project the access point in the college campus and the strength of Wi-Fi was noted. To access the
internet from various areas in the college and providing solutions to increase the connectivity

PROJECT
Wi-Fi stands for wireless fidelity, it is used for providing network over a local area. The devices used for Wi-Fi is based
on IEEE 802.11 standards. The IEEE 802.11 standards has five different WLAN channels namely 2.4Ghz, 3.6 GHz,
4.9 GHz, 5 GHz, and 5.9 GHz bands and each band called as a channel[4]. The campus where the experiment was
performed uses channel no 1 of frequency band of 2.4 GHz.
The project is done to measure the signal strength in campus and gives solutions to improve the Wi-Fi strength in the
campus.
There are many softwares available to measure the Wi-Fi[5]
1) Wi-Fi Analyser*
2) Nirsoft Wi-fiInfoView*
3) Xirrus WiFi inspector
4) WirelessNetworkView
5) Acrylic Wifi Professional
6) NetSpot
7) Vistumbler

Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017 Page 88

 IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJCS/IIJCS.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijcs@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017 ISSN 2321-5992

We have used Acrylic Wi-Fi Analyser, it is an open and free software. Using acrylic Wi-Fi analyzer the Wi-Fi network
can be covered and signal propagation level can also be measured in high level resolution.The method to use the
software is to start the software as run as administrator and start taking the readings. We can specify the frequency in
which we have to measure the signal strength of Wi-Fi.
The Wi-Fi strength varies from -66 dbm to -92 dbm in the college campus. The first building of the college has
maximum Wi-Fi strength varying from -66 dbm to -88 dbm. The number of access points in the first building is
maximum and the number of dead zones are very less.It was found that the WiFi access points had been distributed
quite unevenly on some floors and in the campus the access point also has uneven distributions. Though the
connectivity and strength is maximum in the campus but due to large number students connected to it the speed of the
internet decreases. So it is not so beneficial.

The signal strength of Wi-Fi in the second building is lowest. Most of the building is in dead zone and gives the lowest
reading of -92 dbm . Dead zone is present in the second building due to complex structure and thick walls. The
building is quite old there is a possibility of having chicken wire which blocks the Wi-Fi signals[6].

After doing the complete analysis of the college campus it can be concluded that the number of access points are very
less compared to the area of the campus .If the number of access points are increased then Wi-Fi can be connected
properly. One more solution that we can use Wi-Fi repeater which will increase the signal coverage. The antenna
which is used for Wi-Fi signal is omni directional so it has to be vertical along the earth surface to get the maximum
Wi-Fi strength[6]. If any of the above solution is implemented we can resolves the problem of dead zones.

GRAPHS :

Fig 1 :Location of the Campus

Fig 2 :Readings of the First Building.

Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017 Page 89

 IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJCS/IIJCS.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijcs@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017 ISSN 2321-5992

Fig 3: Readings of the Second Building.

Fig 4 :Readings of the Fourth Building

Fig 5 : Heat Map of First Building

Fig 6:Heat Map of Fourth Building

Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017 Page 90
 IPASJ International Journal of Computer Science (IIJCS)
Web Site: http://www.ipasj.org/IIJCS/IIJCS.htm
A Publisher for Research Motivation ........ Email:editoriijcs@ipasj.org
Volume 5, Issue 10, October 2017 ISSN 2321-5992

CONCLUSION
From this project, it can be concluded that signal strength of Wi-Fi signal is high at particular area of the campus and
there are many dead zones in the campus where it cannot be connected to the internet. The spacing of these routers
should be made more even to ensure convenience of the user.

FUTURE SCOPE
The future scope of this project is to increase the access points in the college campus, so that the Wi-Fi signal strength
can be increased and it can be used efficiently. The connectivity and data utility can also be effective.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This work is supported by Vishwakarma Institute of Technology. We thank our Director Prof. Jalnekar , Head of
department Prof. Dr. Rambabu Vatti who provided insight and expertise that greatly assisted the work.

REFERENCES
1] ANALYSIS AND MEASUREMENT OF WI-FI SIGNALS IN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT 1Ahsan Sohail,
2Zeeshan Ahmad, and 3 Iftikhar Ali 1Department of Computer & Software Engg, Bahria University Islamabad,
Pakistan 2College of Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, P.R. China 3Military
College of Signals, NUST Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
2] Li Li et al, The applications of WiFi-based Wireless Sensor Network in Internet of Things and Smart Grid,
Industrial Electronics and Applications (ICIEA), 2011 6th IEEE Conference on Industrial Electronics and
Applications
3] Pretika Khanna, Narendra Modi launches smart city projects in Pune [online] http://www.livemint.com/Politics/
4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_WLAN_channels,viewed on 19 Aug 2017
5] Software available at
1) Wi-Fi Analyser available at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.farproc.wifi.analyzer&hl ,
viewed on 18 Aug 2017
2) Nirsoft Wi-fiInfoView available at www.nirsoft.net/utils/wifi_information_view.html , viewed on 18 Aug 2017
3) Xirrus WiFi inspector available at https://www.xirrus.com/inspector/ viewed on 18 Aug 2017
4) WirelessNetworkView available at http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wireless_network_view.html , viewed on 18
Aug 2017
5)Acrylic Wifi Professional available at www.acrylicwifi.com/en/wlan-software/wifi-analyzer-acrylic-
professional, viewed on 19 Aug 6)NetSpot available at https://www.netspotapp.com, viewed on 18 Aug 2017
7)Vistumbler available at https://www.vistumbler.net/ , viewed on 18 Aug 2017
6] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-a-wireless-dead-zone-and-how-to-eliminate-it, viewed on 20 Aug 2017
7] Reference paper
1)WiFi Localization and Navigation for Autonomous Indoor Mobile Robots Joydeep Biswas The Robotics
Institute Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 Email: joydeepb@cs.cmu.edu Manuela Veloso
Computer Science Department Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh PA 15213 Email: veloso@cs.cmu.edu
2) Wi-Fi Parameter Measurements and Analysis I. Soldo, K. Malari University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical
Engineering and Computing, Zagreb, Croatia, Email: Ivana.Soldo@fer.hr

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