WLAN Channel Measurement in Two Classrooms for LOS and NLOS Coverage

Coverage optimization is a key problem for wireless local area networks (WLANs) deployed for indoor access. Appropriate WLAN deployment should be planned based on the accurate channel fading characteristics. In this paper, we conduct a measurement campaign in two typical university classrooms on the large-scale channel fading of an access point (AP) at 2.4 and 5.8 GHz for both line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios. Based on the experimental data, we analyze the underlying propagation mechanisms in path loss, shadowing effect, and multipath effect in this classroom scenario. We establish the dual-band channel fading model including all these factors. The measurement data and fading model provide in-depth insights into the signal propagation mechanisms and provide guidance for the energy-efficient WLAN deployment for campus coverage.