Why Do You Need to Perform a WiFi Site Survey?
- Reduce Downtime. According to Gartner, the average cost of IT downtime is $5,600 per minute. That’s a huge number, and...
- Provide Sufficient Coverage and Capacity. Without a WiFi site survey, it’s very difficult — if not impossible — to know...
- Keep Costs Down. Designing a WiFi network without wireless site survey software...
What to expect during a wireless site survey?
Wireless Site Survey
- Wireless Networking. Regular wireless site surveys can be used to see if someone has violated your company security policy by placing an unauthorized AP on the network, regardless of their ...
- An Architectural Design Approach. ...
- Site Survey. ...
Why do you need a wireless site survey?
Why Do You Need a Wireless Site Survey?
- Internet Connection. Many companies question the range of their access points or wireless router broadcasts. ...
- Best Wireless Site Survey. The Wireless site survey entails a few processes covering the inspection of a site or facility. ...
- Wireless Site Survey Tools. ...
- Finalizing Access Points. ...
- Benefits of Predictive Site Survey. ...
- Wireless Site Survey. ...
How to perform a wireless site survey?
- Predictive surveys are performed before moving into a new space.
- Passive surveys collect information about all the signals in the environment after the site is built.
- Active surveys focus on a specific signal or set of signals while the network is in full operation.
How much does a WiFi wireless site survey cost?
How Much Does A Wireless Outdoor Survey Cost? ExterNetworks charges $4,200 for outdoor wireless site surveys up to 100,000 sq.ft. In comparison to other services from different companies, this is a brilliant price. You’ll struggle to find a cheaper option that goes into as much detail as we do with our surveys.
What are the two main objectives of wireless site surveys?
The main objectives of a wireless site survey are to determine areas of RF interference and RF coverage as well as locations of access points and other infrastructure devices.
Why is it important to conduct a site survey?
A site survey can demonstrate existing signal coverage for your customers and draw attention to problem areas. This can help stimulate conversation about product options and installation solutions, and provide opportunities for sales conversion.
How do you do a wireless site survey?
When conducting a wireless site survey, consider the following:Understand the wireless requirements. ... Obtain a facility diagram. ... Visually inspect the facility. ... Assess existing network infrastructure. ... Identify coverage areas. ... Determine preliminary access point locations. ... Verify access point locations. ... Document findings.
Why You Should Conduct a Wireless Site Survey
Many factors regarding the physical environment impact the effectiveness of the wireless network. For example, some businesses may have very dense product on pallets in racking that spans from the floor to very near the top of the warehouse ceiling.
Wireless Site Survey Checklist
Here are a few considerations taken into account during a wireless site survey:
Wireless Site Survey Companies
If you have a need for a wireless site survey, there are two organizations that can help with this service in addition to wireless hardware, devices, printers and labels.
Introduction
To say that we have come to the point where we expect strong wireless connectivity in our places of work, conference centers, hotels, and even when we stop for a quick coffee to check our emails is an understatement.
The Why
Put simply, a wireless site survey is the process of planning and designing a wireless infrastructure to suit your specific needs. The idea of simply buying a router and providing free wifi to customers for instance might still work for tiny shop spaces.
Types of Survey
There are three types of site surveys that can be conducted. Those are active, passive, and predictive.
Conclusion
In the past wireless site surveys have been an underestimated tool in making sure the wireless infrastructure is up to the task. However, with the increasing demands of both people and the devices they need, these surveys can make the capital investment required for a wireless network well spent rather than a capital sink.
Why do we need a wireless site survey?
A wireless site survey is the best way to gain this information, because it will reveal areas of channel interference and identify any dead zones, helping you avoid problems as you build the network and prevent obstacles for network users. The main goal of performing a wireless site survey is to determine two things.
What frequency is a wireless survey?
There are three non-overlapping channels you can use to deploy a wireless network in the United States: 1, 6, and 11 for the 2.4 GHz frequency. These rules apply to everyone, not just your site. So if your site is in a building ...
What frequency is better for WiFi?
In some cases, using another WiFi frequency like 5 GHz with 802.11 a/n/ac might be a better option. Channel interference. Channel interference can mean problems for your wireless network and can be caused by a variety of issues.
What is site survey?
A site survey also helps you to determine what type of equipment you will need, where it will go, and how it needs to be installed. WLAN access points can be placed potentially anywhere. What the wireless site survey does is help you to determine where the APs need to be located to avoid overlap or interference.
How to determine feasibility of building a wireless network?
First, you want to determine the feasibility of building a wireless network on your site. Once you have established it's feasible, you’ll need to determine the best place for access points and other equipment such as antennas and cables. A site survey also helps you to determine what type of equipment you will need, where it will go, ...
Can microwaves cause network interruptions?
Even the microwave in the lunchroom can cause network interruptions if it is using the same radio frequency. Human beings can also cause issues. The average human body is made up of mostly water, and since water causes absorption, people’s bodies can actually absorb wireless signals, resulting in problems for your network.
Can too many WiFi APs cause interference?
In fact, too many WiFi APs could actually increase the possibility of co-channel interference with other APs already in place. A wireless site survey can help you avoid that problem. Surveys can also help you know the APs around you.
Why do we need site surveys?
Site Surveys help bring a better workflow to companies around the world. They can also reduce the financial impact on a company’s budget. Especially when confronting connectivity and power issues. A wireless site survey can provide important data to prepare for wireless connection installation.
What are the factors that can be controlled by wireless?
Certain factors you can control include wireless transmit output power, number of APs, placement, and signal strength. The environmental factor is not in your complete control.
How much will the internet industry make in 2020?
The global net revenue of the internet service industry had an uptick of 450 billion dollars in 2020. It’s expecting to reach a total of 600 Billion by 2027. To ensure your company’s internet services are up to standard, you’ll need to perform a wireless site survey. This guide will give all you need to know about why your company should conduct ...
Can you use access points in 360 degree?
Access Points are omnidirectional, therefore you can place them facing any point. Their omnidirectional patterns will still allow access in a 360-degree bubble. The center of the placement is the access point. This can allow users to place their access points anywhere in the field.
Do Acess Points need internet?
One important note is the fact that the team does not need an internet connection to perform this. In fact, they do not even need to mount Access Points in the area. With the use of an ethernet cable, Acess Points can broadcast their default SSID.
What can a survey do for WiFi?
Finally, a WiFi site survey can address the existing network security, highlight weak points in the system, and make recommendations for improving access point encryption.
Why is a site survey important?
The importance of a site survey. WiFi site surveys are like audits for your network. With a site survey , the coverage of each access point is thoroughly tested. Areas can be identified that are not correctly covered, or overlapping each other, to ensure that all AP’s are correctly spaced and performing efficiently.
Is a WiFi survey a one size fits all survey?
There are also many types of site surveys depending on what your business needs – they are not a ‘one size fits all’. Whether you need to find and fix existing faults, design a new network entirely, or upgrade your current solution, a WiFi site survey should be designed around the things you need to understand.
What is predictive Wi-Fi?
A predictive Wi-Fi network design is an assumption of how many access points (APs) are needed and where they should be placed to meet the Wi-Fi requirements of a network. Predictive designs give you an excellent idea of how a network will perform in the environment, but they’re only as good as the information provided—as the saying goes: junk in, ...
What is validation in wireless?
Validation is the scientific method come to life for your wireless network—a time to test your design hypothesis against real-world data and remove any risk before deploying a brand new network or making a change to an active network. In recent years, the evolution of the Wi-Fi survey has moved away from Wi-Fi adapter-laden computer setups ...
How does Ekahau survey work?
Survey uses the built-in camera, Apple ARKit and sensors to track your movement and continuously survey the network. It takes the traditional stop-and-go method of surveying and adds more data points at every step for the most accurate readings and Wi-Fi heatmaps. Survey also lets you add photos to your .esx file and even change or create coverage requirements right from within the app.
Why is collecting data important?
Collecting data to validate your design or for troubleshooting and managing your network health is critical for high-performing Wi-Fi. Regularly monitoring and validating your network utilizing different survey methods helps you determine if your design is meeting your business needs — or if you have a problem.
What is validation in networking?
At its simplest, validation is the second set of eyes hyper-focused on making sure the network you designed works how it’s supposed to in the real world. It’s using the tools and techniques available to make data-driven Wi-Fi choices that remove risk and ensure your enterprise wireless network is always perfectly tuned to the needs of your users.
Is Wi-Fi set and forget?
Wi-Fi isn’t set it and forget it. It needs to be checked in on and adjusted periodically to account for changes in usage levels, number of client devices operating on the network, or changes in the physical environment such as fluctuating inventory levels in warehouses or changes to office space layouts.
Is it easier to conduct a WiFi survey?
In fact, conducting a Wi-Fi site survey is easier and faster than ever before—which not only makes it easier to validate your network, it also opens the door for businesses to survey more often to ensure their networks continue to operate flawlessly for business-critical applications. For the network owner responsible for a location’s Wi-Fi ...