How and why to use CDRouter’s Wi-Fi RvR Extension during functional, stability, and regression testing
Earlier this year, we launched the Wi-Fi Range vs. Rate (RvR) Expansion for CDRouter, adding programmable attenuation to run all-important RvR performance testing against any device. With the release of CDRouter 15.9, this capability is no longer limited to RvR performance test cases; attenuation can now be applied to any test package, providing a complete picture of your product’s behavior under realistic, changing conditions.
This matters because Wi-Fi performance isn’t just about throughput. End-users experience your product through the applications they use, the protocols it supports, and the system's stability. The ability to automate attenuation directly within CDRouter enables you to combine functional, stability, and regression testing with controlled “distance” that simulates how devices perform at the edge of coverage.
Why programmable attenuation matters
By introducing variable signal strength, programmable attenuation helps you:
- Expose hidden issues: Identify where roaming, retries, or protocol failures occur when signal strength decreases.
- Test stability under stress: Mix performance and protocol tests under attenuated conditions to uncover memory leaks, crashes, or long-term degradation.
- Build regression confidence: Validate that new firmware changes haven’t altered behavior at the margins of Wi-Fi coverage.
- Simulate real deployment scenarios: Create repeatable “distance profiles” without physically moving devices or relying on uncontrolled environments.
Suggested test scenarios with attenuation
- Functional + attenuation: Run baseline connectivity tests (DHCP, DNS, IPv6, TR-069/USP sessions) while gradually increasing attenuation. This validates that essential services remain reliable even as Wi-Fi conditions deteriorate
- Performance + attenuation: Combine throughput benchmarks with programmable attenuation to create a full RvR curve. Use both TCP and UDP traffic, across IPv4 and IPv6, to reveal where performance bottlenecks emerge
- Stability + attenuation: Loop a mix of performance and functional tests overnight while stepping attenuation up and down. This simulates end-users moving around their homes and exposes long-term issues such as memory fragmentation or firmware instability. For a complete look at stability testing, check out our stability testing series.
- Regression + attenuation: Apply your standard regression test packages under attenuation profiles. This ensures that bug fixes or new features haven’t broken critical behavior in weaker signal conditions
- Multi-client + attenuation: Scale up Wi-Fi clients under attenuated conditions to validate how your product handles real-world density when multiple devices at varying distances compete for bandwidth.
The bigger picture
Adding programmable attenuation to any CDRouter package makes it a natural part of your broader QA and CI/CD workflows. By pairing attenuation with functional, regression, and stability testing, you create a holistic view of product quality that better reflects how customers will actually use your devices
In today’s competitive Wi-Fi market, throughput numbers aren’t enough. End-users expect reliability across every corner of their homes. Using CDRouter’s Wi-Fi Range vs. Rate Expansion with programmable attenuation, you can prove that your product delivers.
Ask for a demo, and we can show you how it works!
