A site survey is an in-depth examination and analysis of a proposed wireless LAN
site. The purpose of a site survey is to determine the number of access points
needed, the types of antennas needed, and the best placement for those access points and antennas.
Although the goal of a site survey is simple, the means of arriving at that
goal are not. Some of the steps involve taking measurements, but most
involve experience, trial and error, and a little guesswork rather than
numbers and figures.
Intel® recommends that you perform a site survey prior to installing a wireless
LAN. Site surveys are especially important when:
An effective site survey requires four elements. Failure to commit the
appropriate time, money, and energy to accomplish a proper site survey in
advance may result in greater expenditures of money and time later, when
problems arise that require repeated adjustments to the wireless configuration.
The four elements of an effective site survey are:
When to Perform a Site Survey
Elements of an Effective Site Survey
How many clients need a wireless LAN connection? What areas of the site
require wireless LAN connectivity? How many hours each day is wireless LAN
connectivity required? Which locations are likely to generate the largest
amount of data traffic? Where is future network expansion most likely?
A site blueprint provides a map of the site as well as the location of
objects, such as walls, partitions, and anything else that could affect the
performance of a wireless LAN. Examining the site blueprint prior to
conducting the physical walk-through helps you identify areas in which wireless
equipment is likely to perform well and areas where it is not. Many
obstructions are not readily visible and, in some cases, a room originally
built for a specific purpose, such as a radiology lab, might have been
converted into something completely different, such as a conference room.
The blueprint may also show areas proposed for future building expansion. To prepare for the next step of the site survey, mark possible wireless
device locations on the blueprint and refer to the marked blueprint during
the physical walk-through and inventory.
The primary purpose of the physical walk-through is to document any items or
materials near a proposed device location that may interfere with reception
or transmission and affect network performance. Document stock and inventory
levels, current environmental conditions and any materials that may
interfere with the wireless LAN.
The Intel® PRO/Wireless LAN Site Survey Utility allows you to measure the
signal strength, transmission rate and the number of successfully
transmitted packets. This step in the site survey involves mounting access
points and antennas in the proposed locations and measuring the RF signal
strength, transmission rate and packet throughput.
Copyright (c) 2003 Intel Corporation.