A wireless coverage area is the geographic region in which a wireless receiver can obtain a usable signal. Because wireless signals propagate through an unbounded medium, they radiate outward from the source rather than following a cable. section 18.1.1
A coverage area creates several operational consequences:
- Devices within sufficient range receive the wireless device’s signals, increasing the need for wireless encryption and attention to data privacy. section 18.1.1
- Devices share the wireless medium and contend for airtime; simultaneous transmissions can collide because wireless communication is half-duplex. section 18.1.1
- Interference and coverage limits must be considered when planning or troubleshooting a wireless LAN. section 18.1.1
Figure 18.2 Similar to how frames are flooded to all devices connected to a hub, all devices within range of a wireless device receive its signals.
Visualizes how signals reach every device within range, analogous to frames being flooded to devices connected to an Ethernet hub. section 18.1.1
