Site Survey
The site survey is a procedure highly recommended for a project is prepared properly and precursor of the implementation of an infrastructure network successful. You can have as goals from the assessment of the results obtained with the improvement of the infrastructure of the network to identify and solve problems of implementation.
There is no specific formula to perform a site survey. The best recipe is the practice, because each case is unique and the solutions adopted in a project infrastructure will hardly be ideal for another. The familiarity gained with the peculiarities raised during this procedure results in better use of resources, build successful and a better physical location of network devices.
The documentation generated during the completion of site survey provides a more accurate planning for the development of project infrastructure. For example, a physical assessment and other information gathered during the inspection technique complement both the physical design and design software identify the best locations for the installation of network points and the need for interfaces / security of each one. The expected performance for the network can also be checked more precisely by those involved through specific management tools.
The site survey allows even greater accuracy in the preparation of the final documentation of the project known as "As Built" because it allows this includes all the documents that record everything that has been effectively carried out, using the technical information initially raised, and a listing This includes all the hardware installed, location and configuration of network devices and other information to enable any professional in the area a complete infrastructure in place for subsequent maintenance.
Site Survey for wireless networks
We can consider two types of Site Survey for wireless networks:
Indoor Site Survey
Outdoor Site Survey
- In addition to identifying and locations of network is to establish whether there is direct contact with the target (s) Point (s) Remote Access (s) or if there are any obstacles, and measurements of vertical lines and other collection information relevant to the project.
Care should be taken in implementing the site survey for the deployment of the wireless network takes place satisfactorily. The professional responsible for the project must be attentive to detail because a column is not discussed in the documentation of the building can cause coverage problems in the case of an indoor project. In the case of outdoor project is necessary to give special attention to the stage of installation of antennas, check the grounding system and lightning of the building.
Since the completion of site survey on a network up and running include additional testing and performance verification of interference:
Performance Testing:
Tests PER (Packet Error Rate) - errors in packets detected by the CRC, mainly due to effects of multipath or collisions on the network;
Test Interferences
Analysis of network coverage;
Verification of compliance with requirements;
Verification of network design and documentation available.
For indoor projects, for example, interconnection of campus buildings, businesses, clinics and business offices, some basic recommendations should be considered during the implementation of Site Survey:
The existing lighting on site can interfere with the quality and signal range. Therefore, we recommend positioning the Access Point in place to give sight to most points of the network;
Places with high concentration of electrical equipment (air conditioning, engines, stabilizers, etc.) are potential sources of interference EMI / RFI;
The existence of equipment operating in the 2.4GHz frequency (for example, if wireless phones), can cause interference and may even interrupt the signal in networks using that frequency;
They are positioning the antennas in order to meet all the planned coverage area or a large part of it. In this case it should be borne in mind that there is a place but a more appropriate location;
In areas that need more coverage or where there are many stations with a high volume of traffic, verify the possibility of installing additional Access Points.
- Held to identify the location and number of base stations required (and expected traffic coverage). The equipment used is basically a notebook or handheld, an access point and a PCMCIA card (if you use a notebook computer) or Compact Flash (for a handheld);
download pdf