Site Survey

- Site survey introduction
- Preparation
- Survey on site

- Introduction

What is Site Survey?

An RF site survey is a MAP to RF contour of RF coverage in a particular facility. With wireless system it is very difficult to predict the propagation of radio waves and detect the presence of interfering signals. Walls, doors, elevator shafts, and other obstacles offer different degree of attenuation. This will cause the RF coverage pattern be irregular and hard to predict.

Site survey can help us overcome these problem and even provide us a map of RF coverage of the facility.

Preparation

Below are the step to complete a simple site survey with simple tools.

1. First you will need to Obtain a facility diagram, such as a blueprints. This is for you to mark and take record on.

2. Visually inspect the facility, walk through the facility to verify the accuracy of the diagram and mark down any large obstacle you see that may effect the RF signal such as metal shelf, metal desk, etc on the diagram.

3. Identify user's area, when doing so ask a question where is wireless coverage needed and where does not, and note and take note on the diagram this is information is needed to determine the number of AP required.

4. Determine the preliminary access point location on the facility diagram base on the service area needed, obstacles, power wall jack considerations.

Survey on Site

1. With the diagram with all information you gathered in the preparation phase. Now you are ready to make the survey.

2. Install an access point at the preliminary location.

3. User a notebook with wireless client installed and run it's utility. An utility will provide information such as connection speed, current used channel, associated rate, link quality, signal strength and etc information as shown in utility below.

4. It's always a good idea to start with putting the access point at the corner of the room and walk away from the access point in a systematic manner. Record down the changes at point where transfer rate drop and the link quality and signal strength information on the diagram as you go alone.

5. When you reach the farthest point of connection mark the spot. Now you move the access point to this new spot as have already determine the farthest point of the access point installation spot if wireless service is required from corner of the room.

6. Repeat step 1~5 and now you should be able to mark an RF coverage area as illustrated in above picutre.

7. You may need more than one access point is the RF coverage area have not cover all the wireless service area you needed.

8. Repeat step 1~6 of survey on site as necessary, upon completion you will have an diagram and information of site survey. As illustrated below.

Note: If there are more than one access point is needed be sure to make the adjacent access point service area over lap one another. So the wireless station are able to roam. For more information please refer to roaming at