Engenius AP - 26dBm vs 29dBm TX Power?

BnG

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Nov 1, 2013
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So I've been trying to get more out of my internet for quite a while now. We have spend a very long time choosing proper hardware, but still the internet seems to be disconnecting for some random reason every couple hours. Not for long (5 min or so), but while playing it is very annoying if you get disconnected ;). It is most likely interference (I notice that I get disconnected a lot when people walk upstairs / my brother starts up his computer with the same wireless extender).

Anyway, now I am trying to get the most out of my router + AP as a last resort.

My AP has a default TX power or 26dBm, the max I can put it on is 29dBm. According to what I've read this could improve my connection... Will I be able to change this without frying my access point? The model is: Engenius ECB300. It didn't seem like a big difference at first, but when converted to mW the difference is quite big (which made me wonder if it is a smart thing to try).
 
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Rogue Leader

It's a trap!
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I run Engenius APs in my home they are very durable. If it allows you to set transmit power I would not be concerned about frying it. I actually turned mine down (I have 2) because I was getting good signal from the street in front of my house and thats just a bit too far for my security mind.
 
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BnG

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Nov 1, 2013
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Thank you for your answer, I will give it a go and see what happens :). If it isn't too hot after a couple hours I will assume it is safe enough :D.
 
29db is near the maximum it can legally put out but that is a peak rate anyway it likely puts out less on certain channels you would have to look at the graphs they put in the fcc certification reports. Some times manufacture run them at slightly less than the max power because the amplifiers may put out a cleaner signal at a lower power. It will not hurt them to run at max power the actual chipsets are designed to be stable at that power level.

Don't get too excited by the increase in power in the real world it makes very little difference. I suspect this is because the loss of signal is also exponential. Normally you have to increase it by a lot more than 3db to actually see any signification difference. You might be able to detect it but that may not stop the dropping. Dropping is normally interference not signal level. Wireless extenders are extremely bad to have in a network you should not use them unless you have no other option. They badly degrade the signal because they retransmit into the same radio frequency.