06/02/2026
π Wi-Fi Word of the Day: Coverage
Coverage refers to the physical space where an access point's RF signal maintains acceptable quality.
Sounds simple, right? But here's where most wireless deployments go wrong:
Coverage β Capacity
You can have full bars (great coverage) and still experience terrible performance. Why? Because RF is a shared medium. Every device competes for airtime.
When an administrator says "I need coverage in the Accounting department," they're talking about ensuring the RF signal reaches that physical area with sufficient strength for reliable connectivity. But if 50 devices are trying to use that same AP, coverage won't save you.
This is the most common mistake in wireless design: treating coverage as the only requirement. Real wireless design accounts for both coverage and capacity, how many devices need to connect, what applications they're running, and how much airtime each will consume.
Coverage gets devices connected. Capacity keeps them performing.