Question

An outdoor WiFi unit for a picnic area has a 100-mW output and a range of about 30 m. What output power would reduce its range to 12 m for use with the same devices as before? Assume there are no obstacles in the way and that microwaves into the ground are simply absorbed.

Answer 1

To reduce the WiFi unit's range from 30 m to 12 m, we need to find the output power that will achieve this. Using the range and output power proportion, we can solve for the desired power. The desired power is approximately 187.5 mW.

Step-by-step explanation:

To reduce the range of the outdoor WiFi unit from 30 m to 12 m, we need to find the output power that will achieve this. The range of a WiFi unit is inversely proportional to the square root of its output power. So, we can set up a proportion using the initial range and output power, and the desired range and output power:

√(initial power / desired power) = desired range / initial range

Substituting the given values:

√(100 mW / desired power) = 12 m / 30 m

Simplifying the equation and solving for the desired power:

desired power = (100 mW * 30 m * 30 m) / (12 m * 12 m)

The desired power is approximately 187.5 mW, which would reduce the range of the WiFi unit to 12 m.