If you are planning a wireless network, a wireless site survey is a crucial part of the process. Performing a site survey before deploying any new equipment or changing the configuration of existing APs can help you ensure that your network is optimally performing. You can conduct a passive or active survey to determine the location and type of access points that best fit your needs.
Both types of surveys use a combination of hardware and software tools to determine signal strength, coverage, and AP placement. The type of adapter to use depends on the type of unifi site survey you are performing. For example, active surveys measure signal strength, packet loss, and retransmission rates while passive surveys simply listen to probes and beacons.
The type of software used to perform the survey is also important. Some of the more popular options include the Ekahau Site Survey and Ekahau Predictive Site Survey. The latter is a predictive tool that uses building floor plans and wireless node proposed locations to estimate signal propagation between data points. In addition to determining the optimum AP placement, the tool also can be used to identify potential sources of interference.
If you are planning a large-scale wireless network, you may also want to consider purchasing an advanced wireless site survey system. These are available from hardware vendors and software vendors. Using a sophisticated system can provide accurate results and can also help you ensure that the APs are configured to work with each other.
When it comes to a wireless site survey, you should always follow the appropriate procedure to get the best results. A common mistake is to skip the survey altogether, which can lead to poor performance and user complaints.
In addition, it is crucial to perform a site survey before removing or moving furniture or other network elements. This will also help you identify rogue devices or other interference that can compromise your network. A proper site survey can reveal many problems, including unauthorized APs in the company’s work areas. A small three-room office can do fine with one AP, but more APs will require more maintenance and are generally more costly.
After the survey is completed, you will need to verify the information collected. This can be done by either visual inspection or by taking a floor plan. You can also perform a passive survey at regular intervals to monitor the performance of the network. If there are marginal changes in performance, you can use the passive survey to determine whether you need to move or add APs.
You can also check out a site survey flowchart to see which steps you need to take. This will help you understand what activities are required, and what additional information you will need to include in your statement of work.
In order to complete a site survey, you need a laptop and other tools. Ideally, your adapter should have the same characteristics as the actual wireless network adapters. If you are unsure of which device to choose, you can check with your IT support department.
