## Conducting a Site Survey

Site surveys differ depending on the size of the survey site.

- Smaller sites are surveyed for one or two access points to provide coverage over a space no larger than a single room.
- Medium sites could require between 10 and 20 access points for the size of a warehouse or several rooms.
- Large sites could require between 20 and 100 access points for a large building with different radio coverage service areas in different parts of the building.

Discuss any special installation requirements. Determine the types of cables to be connected to the access points (Category 5 for 10 Base T 10 Mbps Ethernet or 10/100 switched Ethernet, fiber optic cabling, etc.)

### Survey for a Small Area

To conduct a survey in a site where one or two access points are anticipated

1. Document the size and layout of coverage area. Also, document RF systems already in use, location of host system, and available AC power.
2. Set up an access point in the middle of the room or where it is estimated that the coverage cell is the largest.
3. Walk the perimeter of the coverage area and measure radio coverage.
   - For a wireless network, study round-trip ping times and data rates. The individual round-trip ping time is usually about 7 ms before the rate decreases when using a packet size of 1024 bytes.
   - To display the number of packets transmitted and received and the rates for each, click Test Totals on the Site Survey Tests dialog box.
   - Move the mobile computer in different directions. Position the computer between the surveyor and the access point. Do not walk fast. If you walk too fast, you may miss coverage area dead spots.
   - Depending on the coverage requirements, you may have to determine the perimeter for each of the data rates separately. For example, in a 2.4 GHz environment, total test time should be less than 13 seconds for 1 Mbit or 12 seconds for 2 Mbit.
4. Mark the location of access points on the blueprint, move the access point to the second survey location and repeat the procedure.
   Infrastructure backbone, hubs and patch panels should all be documented. Document the conditions existing in the final installation.
5. Complete the Site Survey Report. The report indicates the number and location of the access points. Assign the access points the same channel for each coverage area.

### Survey for a Medium or Large Area

To conduct a survey in a site where 10 or more access points are anticipated

1. Document the size and layout of the coverage area. Also document RF systems already in use, location of host systems, available AC power, possible antenna locations, interfering metal fire breaks and wall structures, doorways and passages that could help RF propagation, and amount of stock in coverage areas. For a warehouse, document how high the stock is kept and how high the lifts go so that the lifts do not damage the access points.
2. Set up an access point at one side of the proposed coverage area.
3. Walk the perimeter and measure radio coverage. If there are multiple floors, measure each floor separately. For a wireless network, document round-trip times and data rates. The individual round-trip ping time is usually about 7 ms before the rate decreases when using a packet size of 1024 bytes. Move the mobile computer in different directions. Position the computer between the surveyor and the access point. Do not walk fast. If you walk too fast, you may miss radio coverage dead spots.
4. Document the boundary of each coverage area. The data rates could be different in each area. For results in better coverage, you may only need to move the access point a meter (three feet) or so. For higher data rate networks, reflection is a bigger problem. Ceiling sprinklers can cause a problem if the access point antenna is less than 60 centimeters (two feet) away. For example in a 2.4 GHz environment, total test time should be less than 13 seconds for 1 Mbit or 12 seconds for 2 Mbit.

| NOTE: For large surveys, consider the site survey boundary areas for multiple buildings. Determine whether the network requires a LAN bridge, wireless access points or both.

5. Mark the location of each access point on the blueprint and move the access point to a different trial location. Continue the process until the entire site has radio coverage.
6. Take a photograph of at least one access point location for each coverage area. If each coverage area has unique features, take a picture of racks, stock level and hub locations. The pictures go into the report and help establish the condition of the site as it was surveyed.
7. Consult with customer technical personnel and document any additional hubs that could be required. Fourteen or more access points could require multiple hubs. Consider exact conditions that exist in the final installation.
8. Complete the Site Survey Report. The report indicates the number and location of the access points. Assign the access points the same channel for each coverage area.

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