Tutorial by: NightShade1
What is a Wireless Site Survey?
A really fast definition and straigh to the point would be the design and planning of a Wireless Network
Types of Wireless Site Survey
- Passive Site Survey
- Active Site Survey
- Predictive Site Survey
Passive Site Survey
What is?
This is the most usual type of site survey, or at least is what i think. Its done on site, and what you do its collect data of the radio frequency enviroment, you dont need to connect to any AP in this type of Site Survey
What type of Data you can collect with it?
- Signal Level
- How much interference is on the Area
- How many APs
- Placement of APs
- Requirements such as BW per Device
- Etc
Example of Tools Used
- Wifi Testers for example a Fluke AirChecker( One of my favorites!)
- Wifi Analyzer
Active Site Survey
What is it?
This type of site survey does a more indeep study than the passive one, as you will be connecting a device or deveices to get more specifc infomration
What type of Data you can collect with it?
- TCP Troughput(uptream/downstream)
- UDP Trhoghput(Uptream/downstream)
- Get an idea of the performance of the AP in expected scenarios
Example of tools used
- Application that generates network traffic
- Devices(laptops, smartphones etc)
- Applications that can measure thoughput rate
Predictive Site Survey
What is it?
In this type of site survey you simulate with a program where should be placed the APs, how many APs you need and all this is done by inputing some building plans in the soflware
What type of Data you can collect with it?
- Number of APS
- Placement of APS
- Etc
Example of tool used
- Visual RF(In our case)
- Vendor specific simulator( Mosf of Wifi vendors got their own simulator)
- AirMagnet
- Etc
Survey Requirements:
You see that i have mention before Requirements? well when i say requirementes i mean things that you need to ask the client to take in mind for your design
- Bussiness REquirements: Why is the bussines asking for Wifi? asnwering this can give you the idea of the wifi architecture you will need
- Coverage vs Capacity: Here you need to take in mind or ask the client how many devices will be connected to the wifi in a specific areas, so you know if you need more than one AP(Lately you will notice that most of the client are starting to pick capacity over coverage). But still you will see some clients which just need coverage as they just want wifi for some random users and high level users like managers, owners, and other type of users like guest.
- Devices Requirements: How much BW does the devices need? what kind of deivces are expected? there would be a lot of cellphones? if so you migh be thinking then that you need no less than an RSSI of -65 even -60 for those.
- Cell Planning: Yes when you are doing High Density you need a Cell planning. You will be using 20mhz or 40mhz channels on 5ghz? how many channels you would need? Are you using dual band dual radio APS? then you should be thinking in surveying for 5ghz as well
This small techincal guide will give you an idea of what site survey is about i mean an overivew of it.