ZENworks® ESM 3.5 Administrator’s Manual 119
Wi-Fi Signal Strength Settings
When more than one WEP-managed access points (APs) are defined in the list, the signal strength
switching for the Wi-Fi adapter may be set. The signal strength thresholds can be adjusted by
location to determine when the ZSC will search for, discard, and switch to another access point
defined in the list.
Figure 88 : Signal Strength Control
The following information can be adjusted above or below the current defaults:
• Search (default: Low [-70 dB]) - When this signal strength level is reached, the ZSC
will begin to search for a new AP to connect to.
• Switch (default: +20 dB) - In order for the ZSC to connect to a new AP, that AP must
broadcast at the designated signal strength level above the current connection.
The signal strength threshholds are determined by the amount of power (in dB) reported through
the PC's miniport driver. As each Wi-Fi card and/or radio may treat the dB signals differently for
their Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) the numbers will vary from adapter to adapter.
The default numbers associated with the defined threshholds in the Management Console are
generic for most Wi-Fi adapters. It is recommended you research your Wi-Fi adapter's RSSI
values to input an accurate level. The Novell values are:
Table 2: Signal Strength thresholds
Name Default Value
Excellent -40 dB
Very Good -50 dB
Good -60 dB
Low -70 dB
Very Low -80 dB
