Purpose and status
This calculator is an independent planning aid for estimating Wi-Fi range from channel, transmit power, antenna gain, receiver assumptions, and propagation model inputs.
It is not an official Cisco tool. It is not approved, warranted, supported, or endorsed by Cisco.
Estimate-only results
Results are estimates only. They do not guarantee RF design feasibility, service quality, throughput, roaming behavior, regulatory compliance, certified operating limits, or real-world range.
Final designs should be validated with the target AP, antenna, WLC/AP software release, channel plan, measured environment, and local regulatory requirements.
RF model assumptions
The calculator converts a link budget into allowed path loss, then converts that path loss into distance using the selected propagation model.
Allowed path loss = actual EIRP + receiver antenna gain - required receiver levelFree Space FSPL is a best-case line-of-sight reference. Indoor PLE models are empirical approximations and do not model walls, floors, furniture, people, reflections, interference, AP placement geometry, or client-device variation individually.
P2P / backhaul estimates assume line of sight, antenna alignment, and Fresnel clearance. Terrain, obstruction profiles, multipath reliability, vendor-specific mesh behavior, and mobility behavior are not simulated.
Power level, TXP, and EIRP
Power Level 1 is treated as the maximum-power planning level. When firmware-derived data exists for the selected AP, regulatory domain, band, and channel, Conducted TXP is calculated from the firmware power table.
Conducted TXP = maxDbm - 3dB * (power level - 1)If no matching firmware table exists, the calculator falls back to channel-plan TXP assumptions and shows a warning. Fallback values are calculation aids, not certified AP operating values.
Actual EIRP is calculated from Conducted TXP, antenna gain, cable or connector loss, and the selected EIRP limit option.
Raw EIRP = Conducted TXP + TX antenna gain - cable loss
Actual EIRP = min(raw EIRP, selected EIRP limit) when the EIRP limit is appliedAlways verify the final TXP/EIRP against Cisco data sheets, AP certification data, WLC/AP runtime values, configured antenna gain, and local rules.
Antenna data
Some integrated AP antenna gains are registered as planning defaults. For final design or public-facing material, verify the AP data sheet, certification data, antenna pattern, installation orientation, and any project-specific antenna assumptions.
External-antenna AP profiles require the selected antenna gain or manual gain value to match the intended design case. Directional antennas should be interpreted with their real pattern and mounting orientation, not only the peak gain number.
Regulatory profiles
The default regulatory profile is Q domain / Japan. The tool also includes selected planning profiles for other Cisco regulatory domains. Unsupported countries, special cases, and user-entered limits can be estimated with Other / Manual.
Non-Q 2.4GHz and 5GHz regulatory values are planning defaults. Check current country approvals, AP model approvals, antenna approvals, and the target controller/AP release before final design.
Other / Manual starts from provisional values and uses user-entered limits. Those inputs are calculation parameters only and do not indicate regulatory compliance or certified operating limits.
6GHz and AFC notes
6GHz LPI, VLP, and Standard Power behavior varies by country, operating class, device type, location, antenna height, and current regulatory status.
Japan 6GHz Standard Power is treated in this calculator as a draft/AFC planning profile. It should not be interpreted as a final MIC-certified operating rule.
US and Canada 6GHz Standard Power values are AFC-based maximum planning ceilings. Actual AFC grants depend on location, antenna height, frequency, and AFC response.
When a profile has a PSD limit, the calculator adjusts the effective EIRP ceiling by channel width. This is a planning approximation and still requires validation against the current rule set and device certification.
Throughput estimate
The throughput value is a rough edge estimate based on simple RSSI-to-MCS thresholds, channel width, and channel usage. It is not a capacity planner and does not model client capabilities, contention, retries, airtime fairness, protocol overhead in detail, roaming, or application behavior.
Source notes
AP, antenna, regulatory, channel, and power-level catalogs are maintained as static JavaScript data in this project.
For design decisions, use the calculator together with authoritative sources such as Cisco data sheets, Cisco Wireless LAN Compliance Lookup, WLC/AP runtime output, local regulatory publications, and project-specific RF validation.
Trademark notice
Cisco, Catalyst, Meraki, Wi-Fi, and other product or company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.