We show that the point process of signal strengths from transmitters in a wireless network observed from a fixed position can be well-approximated by an inhomogeneous Poisson or a Cox point processes on the positive real line.Under appropriate conditions,our results support the use of a spatial Poisson point process for the underlying positioning of transmitters in models of wireless networks,even if in reality the positioning does not appear Poisson.We apply the results to a number of models with popular choices for positioning of transmitters,path loss functions,and distributions of propagation effects.(joint work with P Keeler and N Ross).