With our experience in
making wireless LAN installations, an investigation is the most crucial step of
implementation.
There are several Wifi Survey techniques
used to determine how a wireless network is designed. Most use images of heat
maps superimposed on sitemaps that indicate signal strength, with a key
indicating what the colors indicate. Wireless surveys can be done in several
ways.
1. Passive on-site
investigation
A passive survey is one
where a physical survey is performed with one or more access points in
operation and signal test readings are performed with a special site survey and
planning software (Air magnet and Ekahau are industry leaders in this sector).
The locations for the access points are positioned to determine the feasibility
of that location based on the arrangement of the wireless access points through
the coverage plan to meet the end-user requirements. You can generate a survey
report that provides details such as access point locations, signal strength
graphs in heat map format, photographs of the mounting locations of the access
points, detailed interference analysis and description of cable installations.
2. Survey active on site
It is also a Wifi Site Survey
that is performed after implementing a wireless network or to check the status
of an existing network. This is called "active detection" which
measures signal coverage, verifies SSID and VLAN throughput through AP
allocation and the behavior of data packets. Usually, this is done after
installation to ensure that the wireless network works within the requirements.
This type of investigation can also be carried out when consolidated wireless the network finds problems that may arise over time, due to internal changes to the
network (for example, configuration changes, other large numbers of
simultaneous users) or for external reasons. the network (for example,
additional interference from new networks, new non-network devices that emit a
signal).
3. Predictive survey
It is here that the
plans of the site are inserted in a program that simulates walls and floors.
Sometimes a visit to the site is not even necessary. It is NOT recommended as a
survey tool. A program cannot take into account thickness, density, type of
material, interference, etc. of the internal space of a property, and is
therefore of little use for the design of a wireless LAN because it can provide
very incorrect information that can lead to a lower network, which can
potentially cost more in time, money and resources to be corrected.
For a new installation,
the appearance of an installation survey determines the number of access points
needed to provide coverage in the most economical configuration. This takes
into consideration the internal arrangement of the internal space, which can be
divided by partitions for different rooms, the composition of these partitions,
the furniture, the aesthetic considerations, the purging of the radio signal
through the floors, the interference from other networks, interference from
any IP network, etc. etc., the list goes on.
If an investigation is
not carried out, all the mentioned negative factors can cause the effect of a
poor wireless network, therefore problems such as black spots for coverage,
lack of speed due to interference, not enough access points to satisfy users
simultaneous and too many access points (causing interference) are problems
that come to mind. This, in turn, may require corrective action to resolve
these problems after the investigation, which will cost more resources and
possibly equipment. If you are doing a job for a client, worse than losing
money is damaging the reputation of you and your company.
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