What Is A Wireless Site Survey & Why Is It Needed?

Wireless site surveys, also known as radio frequency (RF) site surveys or wireless surveys, are the procedure of planning and scheming a wireless network to afford a wireless solution that offers the required wireless coverage, data rates, network capacity, and roaming. Function and quality of service (QoS). Surveys generally include site visits to assess RF interference and determine the best location for the access point. This requires the analysis of building plans, facilities inspections and the use of site inspection tools. Interviews with IT administrators and end-users of the wireless network are also important in determining the design parameters of a wireless network.

As part of a wireless site survey, coverage limits are established. Defines the area where signal levels are needed to support the desired application. This includes determining the minimum signal to noise ratio (SNR) required to support performance requirements.

The wireless site survey also refers to tests of walking, auditing, analyzing or diagnosing existing wireless networks, especially those that do not provide the level of service required.

Why Is A Wireless Site Survey Needed?

When implementing a wireless network, a wireless site survey is recommended. Site surveys are essential for any large wireless network implementation. For small wireless implementations, conducting a site survey is good, but the cost of the site survey can be a problem. When implementing wireless networks, we seek optimal wireless coverage and performance with minimal use of the equipment. This saves time, labor and equipment costs. To obtain optimal wireless coverage and performance, you must understand the radio frequency (RF) behavior of your wireless network's implementation site. Wireless network site survey provides this information by identifying where signal interference occurs, where the signal is weak and where there is no signal (dead zone). Wireless studios also help prevent interference from existing radio sources and physical structures, such as columns, beams, walls, and metal objects. In fact, anything affects the profile of a site's wireless signal, including furniture and people. The purpose of a wireless site survey is to determine the probability of implementing a wireless network according to your needs and determine how to implement a wireless network within the limitations of the site.

How does a Wireless Site Survey help?

When deploying wireless networks, WiFi access points (AP) are often organized randomly but is this ad-hoc implementation of AP WiFi a good strategy? For small implementations, the ad hoc approach is not a problem, but for medium to large implementations, a wireless site survey is recommended, which is often required. Surveys of wireless sites can help determine where to locate WiFi access points to avoid interference and avoid duplicate coverage of other access points. In practice, many network administrators will randomly locate WiFi access points and simply install additional WiFi access points if additional coverage is needed or if you receive a complaint of poor WiFi access. In ad hoc wireless networks, network administrators do not know what type of interference exists and how the site's radio signal profile changes. Conducting a wireless survey on the site will determine if there is co-channel interference and how much interference is present, where external radio interference is causing problems, how to minimize the amount of WiFi access points needed and how to use Wi-Fi access points. for optimal coverage, It will help you determine how to locate them better. It is important to understand that a wireless site survey is a snapshot of the site's radio signal profile at that time. If the site changes with the incorporation of new people, cubicles, furniture and electronic devices, the profile of the radio signal may change and a new site survey may be required.