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Wireless Link Calculator On A Cell Phone

Posted by simoniker on from the dial-up-success dept.

Casey Halverson writes "Ever been out in the field and wanted to make a quick wireless link calculation, but didn't have a computer or internet connection handy? Or maybe you're just too lazy to turn the thing on? Well now you can, from your xHTML capable cell phone. PocketSOM can calculate a wireless link, telling you your signal strength, whether or not it meets local FCC/IC/EU regulations, and even an expert analysis system that will tell you how you can improve your wireless link and what kind of performance you can expect. People like us (the SeattleWireless admins) are using it right now - here's a screenshot."

4 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. ho hum... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Useful but hardly revolutionary. At the Cellular company where I work we've written a Java MIDP app linked into our RF planning tool and BTS database, delivering mini coverage plots for submitted locations.

  2. Now what would be really neat... by femto · · Score: 2, Interesting
    is if they could figure out how to get the phone to actually measure field strength! (and compare the measurements with calculations).

    It can be done using only software modifications! It's how some network operators measure their networks. I've seen a picture of around half a dozen mobile phones (each a different make) attached to a piece of wood, with cables plugged into the standard connector on the bottom, running back to a black box (think it was actually a laptop). The system then logs field strength for each phone as a function of position (GPS is also attached).

  3. J2ME? by arcain · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Wouldn't this be better suited as a Java MIDlet? What if you have no signal? What if the server is down? No additional bandwidth charges (for those with carriers that do). And probably quicker response times. And no worries of the site being slashdotted.

    Document the calculations and I'll make a MIDlet in a couple of hours. I can find basic equations, but they take into account additional variables (cable loss, receiver related variables) which you don't use.

  4. This would be great if... by Op7imus_Prim3 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    it measured the actaul field strength of your wireless link. If you are doing field meseaurements you would have your laptop or wireless equipped PDA with you anyway. I really cannot see the fscking point or carrying around another bit of gear that does less than all the other bits of gear I carry around.

    --
    EGG, the Electronic Gamers Guild