Question 22 - CWNA-109 discussion

In wireless communication, several factors influence the effective reception of RF signals, including the receiving station's radio sensitivity, the transmitting station's output power, and free space path loss. However, the receiving station's output power does not influence the distance at which an RF signal can be effectively received. The key factors that impact signal reception distance are:

Receiving Station's Radio Sensitivity: This refers to the lowest signal strength at which the receiver can process a signal with an acceptable error rate. Higher sensitivity allows for better reception at greater distances.

Transmitting Station's Output Power: This is the power with which a transmitter sends out a signal. Higher output power can extend the range of transmission, making it easier for distant receivers to detect the signal.

Free Space Path Loss (FSPL): FSPL represents the attenuation of radio energy as it travels through free space. It increases with distance and frequency, reducing the signal strength as the distance from the transmitter increases.

The output power of the receiving station is related to how strong a signal it sends out, not how well it can receive or process incoming signals. Therefore, it does not affect the reception distance of incoming RF signals.

CWNA Certified Wireless Network Administrator Official Study Guide: Exam PW0-105, by David D. Coleman and David A. Westcott.

RF fundamentals and RF design considerations in wireless communication systems.