What is WLAN illumination?

June 2, 2025 Marcel Zimmer
On our own behalf Netzwerk, WiFi, Access Points, WLAN

A WLAN Ausleuchtung can be used as a reference measurement of a WLAN infrastructure that has already been put into operation, to determine existing sources of interference or also as a test loop for an implemented WLAN Planung. It can also be used to determine the positions of access points step by step in order to provide an area with WLAN functionality.

In the case of a reference measurement, WLAN Ausleuchtung shows how strong or weak a WLAN signal is received in the respective measurement area. An efficient distribution of access points can also be promoted with a WLAN Ausleuchtung. Furthermore, existing sources of interference can be determined and, if necessary, taken into account or circumvented by moving or adding access points. Such sources of interference can, for example, be created over time by the addition of furniture, shelves, etc. Basically, a WLAN Ausleuchtung serves in this case as an optimisation of the existing WLAN network.

Another variant of WLAN Ausleuchtung refers to a test with the help of reference access points, for example, to verify the reliability of a previous WLAN Planung. This is always recommended in the course of a project. This is always recommended in the course of a WLAN project, as even detailed construction plans - and thus the WLAN Planung created on this basis - do not always match reality. Possible differences in wall thickness or interference sources that were not taken into account and added later can be the reason for this. If such a check is carried out before the individual access points are installed, small changes or the consideration of sources of interference based on the measurement rarely result in significant monetary disadvantages and worse can be prevented.

In contrast to the other two reasons for illumination, the WLAN illumination variant for determining the positions of access points step by step for comprehensive WLAN coverage of an area is very complex and also somewhat "old scool". Nowadays, it is more common to use WLAN Planung, which simulates the WLAN signal strengths and results in a reasonable WLAN coverage plan in a much shorter time. A subsequent reference measurement of the resulting Planung usually does not take too much time and in the end we are back to variant 2, the test based on a previous WLAN Planung.

For all the scenarios mentioned above, WLAN Ausleuchtung serves in any case to promote efficiency, optimisation or verification of WLAN Infrastrukturen.

Author: Marcel Zimmer

Marcel Zimmer is the Technical Managing Director of EnBITCon. During his time in the German Armed Forces, the trained IT developer was able to gain numerous project experiences. His interest in IT security was significantly awakened by his service in command support. Even after his service, he is an active reservist in the Bundeswehr.

His first firewall was a Sophos UTM 120, which he had to set up for a customer project. Since then, his interest in IT security has grown steadily. In the course of time, various security and infrastructure topics have come into his focus. His most interesting projects included, for example, WLAN coverage in an explosion-proof area, as well as a multi-site WLAN solution for a large