Friday, January 10, 2020

What is Site Survey & How to Conduct a Wireless Site Survey –



Site Survey Definition Wireless research involves the development of planning capabilities for a wireless network. For a specific property search, this involves examining the architectural plans and the physical structures required while assessing the potential of elements such as coverage, capacity and overall service quality.
A wireless search is also called a wireless site search or RF site search.
Part of a wireless survey involves establishing the scope of the project, where some professionals may refer to something like "effective range limit." Engineers also observe any intrusion or signal problems in different parts of the defined area. Different types of tests involve different methodologies to evaluate the signal and the reception potential.

Some professionals divide wireless surveys into three categories: passive, active and predictive. A passive search tends to depend on local network traffic to see how the signals move and where the access points are. A dynamic survey may involve a more accurate recording of data transmission rates and deadlines, as well as observing packet transmission success rates. The third category, predictive research, is based on simulation or model of the environment and is more theoretical in terms of finding plans and other resources.

Conduct a Wireless Site Survey –

With Wireless Survey systems, it is challenging to predict the propagation of radio waves and detect the presence of spurious signals without using test equipment. Even if the system uses omnidirectional antennas, the radio waves do not travel the same distance in all directions. On the other hand, walls, doors, elevator shafts, people, and other obstacles provide varying degrees of attenuation, making the RF radiation pattern uneven and unpredictable. Therefore, a wireless Site Survey (also called an RF site survey) is necessary to fully understand the behavior of radio waves in the operating environment before installing access points.

Website Search Concepts

The ultimate goal of a Wireless Site Survey is to determine the number and location of access points (or mesh nodes) that provide adequate signal coverage throughout the facility or the city. In most implementations, "adequate coverage" means supporting minimal data throughput or performance. To perform a successful search, you must associate the required performance with a value measured by research tools such as SNR. A wireless site survey also detects the presence of RF interference from other sources that can degrade wireless LAN performance.

The need and complexity of a Wifi Site Surveys vary depending on the installation. For example, a small three-bedroom office may not require on-site research. This scenario can probably be resolved with a single Wi-Fi access point (or router) located anywhere in the office while maintaining adequate coverage. If your access point encounters RF interference from another nearby wireless LAN, you can choose a different channel and eliminate the problem.

A larger installation, such as an office complex, an airport, a hospital or warehouse, or an outdoor space such as a city, usually requires a thorough Wifi Surveys
 site search. Without a survey, users risk having inadequate coverage and poor performance in certain regions.

When Conducting A Wireless Site Survey –

Understand The Wireless Connection Requirements. To identify optimal locations for access points or mesh nodes, you must understand the specific network requirements that affect signal coverage. For example, the maximum interval between a client device and the access point decreases as the data throughput and the resulting throughput increases. Therefore, you must know the target data rates (and performance) to correctly interpret the search results. In addition, customer devices may have relatively low transmission power, which should be taken into account when using most site analysis tools. Identify the technologies that your Surveys Network will implement, such as 802.11g or 802.11n, and investigate with these technologies in mind.

Obtain An Installation Diagram. Before going too far with research on the site, look for a set of construction plans or city plans. If not, prepare a drawing that shows the location of walls, hallways, etc. Website search tools import diagrams in different image formats. Of course, mapping software is a good source for outdoor city research. If all else fails in the construction of surveys, consider taking a digital photo of the fire escape diagram, which is often found on the walls of the corridor.

Visually Inspect The Installation. Perform the installation before performing any test to verify the accuracy of the installation diagram. Now is a good time to observe the possible attenuation barriers that could affect the spread of RF signals. For example, a visual inspection will reveal obstacles to signs, such as metal supports and partitions, elements that the planes generally do not show. Also consider possible locations for mounting access points, such as ceiling plates or pillars. For urban outdoor environments, you should carefully evaluate the location and availability of light poles and water towers to assemble mesh nodes and connection equipment. These actions will make subsequent tests more fluid.

Assess The Existing Network Infrastructure. Determine the capacity of any existing cable network that can interconnect access points or fabric nodes. Most buildings have Ethernet networks and, in some cases, fiber optic networks. Check how many of your existing networks may be available to support your wireless network. This will help designers later in their deployment when defining the architecture and nomenclature of the wireless network.

Identify The Coverage Areas. In the installation diagram or city map, indicate all the areas where coverage is required, such as offices, hallways, stairs, laundries, toilets, toilets, courtyards, parking lots and elevators . In addition, it is important to identify where users will not have wireless coverage to avoid wasting time inspecting unnecessary areas. Remember that you could survive with fewer access points and lower equipment costs if you can limit roaming areas.

Determine The Preliminary Locations For The Access Points. When considering the location of wireless users and the range estimates for the wireless LAN products you use, calculate the locations of access points that will provide adequate coverage in all areas of the user. Anticipate some propagation overlap (usually 25%) between adjacent access points, but keep in mind that channel assignments for access points must be sufficiently separated to avoid interference between access points .

Consider the mounting locations, which can be vertical posts or metal supports on the tiles. Identify the appropriate locations to install the access point, antenna, and data / PoE cable. Also consider the different antennas when deciding where to place the access points. An access point mounted near an exterior wall, for example, can be a good place if you are using a remote antenna with a relatively high gain oriented inside the installation.