Wireless signal through a powered-on IWB?

[pete]

We have a classroom where the closest AP to a teacher's desk is in line with a (typically powered on) IWB*. We've had complaints of poor signal in there, but not elsewhere in the general area. Walls are the same construction throughout the building.

 

AP <> IWB (within 2 m of the AP in the corridor) <> Laptop on desk

 

while we plan to take the board down in the holidays to test if/how much this affects wireless signal, has anyone come across IWBs in the WiFi path affecting signal noticably?

 

*old-style Promethean.

[synaesthesia]

They will due to their construction. I can't remember on the Prometheans but on some IWB's they had a wire matrix throughout the board for the touch signal. Not quite a full faraday cage but certainly enough to impact on signal, especially when powered on. Only real way around that are additional AP's or relocation of existing ones to cope.

[pete]

They will due to their construction. I can't remember on the Prometheans but on some IWB's they had a wire matrix throughout the board for the touch signal. Not quite a full faraday cage but certainly enough to impact on signal, especially when powered on. Only real way around that are additional AP's or relocation of existing ones to cope.

 

Yeah, wall-powered with the built-in grid on these ones - they're the old, annoyingly indestructable ones.

 

Considering how many IWBs we've got deployed across the schools I'm surprised we haven't run into it before, but looking at the maps very few areas have an IWB intersecting the path to the closest AP.

Edited June 28, 2024 by pete

[dhicks]

has anyone come across IWBs in the WiFi path affecting signal noticably?

 

For our Promethean touch screens with embedded OPS PCs (which are available, if you want some more), we've tended to have to put USB extension cables just long enough to dangle down at the bottom of the screen to pick up wireless signals for both network WiFi and wireless keyboard / mouse, having the USB receiver hidden behind the actual screen tends to get poor signal.

[psydii]

Things that ruined previously good signal strength and required me to move APs over the years:

 

1) New Fire Alarm system

2) New Heating System (pipes now run in the ceiling voids)

3) LED lighting

4) Metal backed display frames on every corridor wall

5) Replacement IWBs - new ones were of different construction, size and shape.

 

Mostly we were fine as the wifi design had every location provided for by two APs (ish). But after each of the above we'd find one or two classrooms where the signal at the teacher's desk had become very poor, if moving the desk a few feet wasn't an option, we moved the AP, typically just a few feet and the problem would be resolved.

 

So yes. IWBs etc blocking signal is absolutely a thing.

[NDEJosh]

I don't post too much on here, but one thing I'd suggest looking at is whether this IWB is broadcasting it's own wireless signal, many of them do for direct connection and can cause co-channel interference which may end up being your issue.

 

What devices are experiencing Wi-Fi issues? If they're Windows devices run a netsh wlan show interfaces in cmd and look at the Signal Strength. It's quite possible it's not actually low signal causing your issues.