THE IMPORTANCE OF WIRELESS SURVEYS

Wireless surveys ensure network designs are based on best practices, avoiding faults and optimising coverage and performance tailored to organisational needs. They help save resources and prevent guesswork in wireless network deployment.

Wireless site surveys are essential for accurate budget planning, addressing infrastructure changes, capacity planning, and adapting to technological advancements like Wi-Fi 6. Random placement of access points often leads to interference and inefficiency, which surveys help prevent.

DESIGN SURVEY

This survey uses scaled floor plans and software to create a theoretical wireless solution, estimating the number and placement of access points, radio configuration, and power settings to guide purchasing and budgeting before hardware acquisition.

• A theoretical wireless solution is developed using a scaled and accurate floor plan.
• A survey report is generated with industry-leading wireless survey software.
• The report outlines:
• Number of APs required
• Approximate placement of each AP
• Radio and power configurations to minimise interference
• The report supports decisions on AP purchasing and budgeting.
• A Design Survey is recommended before final AP purchase to ensure optimal network performance.

PRE-DEPLOYMENT SURVEY

Conducted on-site with actual access point models, this survey confirms exact AP placement and requirements, validating and refining the design survey to avoid costly mistakes and optimise network performance.

• Confirms the exact placement and requirements of access points (APs), unlike the Design Survey.
• Supports cabling and implementation planning for customers.
• Requires an on-site visit using a mobile AP on a stick (APoS) to emulate actual AP coverage.
• Produces a detailed report that validates the initial wireless design by Simplify IT.
• A Simplify IT ECSE engineer conducts a site walk-through with the proposed AP model.
• Provides a real-world accurate model to assess feasibility of final deployment.
• Aims to prevent costly mistakes and optimise Wi-Fi network design by refining the predictive model.

POST-DEPLOYMENT SURVEY

After deployment, this survey verifies the wireless system’s optimisation, checking for issues like interference or environmental changes that may affect performance, ensuring the network meets initial design requirements.

• Conducted after a wireless system has been implemented or modified to ensure optimal performance.
• Involves a walkthrough of the relevant areas using specialist hardware to identify any issues needing final adjustments.
• Valuable once the deployment is approved for public use, confirming the system meets the original design and pre-deployment specifications.
• Detects unforeseen disturbances such as rogue personal APs, RF interference from devices like microwave ovens, or repositioned large obstacles.

HEALTH CHECK SURVEY

A proactive on-site survey to monitor Wi-Fi performance over time, identifying potential problems before outages occur, and providing data to guide redesign or adjustments.

• Used to proactively assess Wi-Fi performance over time and identify potential issues such as interference, coverage gaps, or capacity problems.
• Involves an on-site visit with specialist hardware to conduct the survey and generate a detailed report.
• The report may lead to a new Design Survey or suggest changes to AP positions or configurations.
• Aims to prevent costly outages and enhance the Wi-Fi network by validating and refining the current setup.

TROUBLESHOOTING SURVEY

A reactive, focused survey addressing specific user-reported issues, often involving on-site visits and vendor tools to diagnose and resolve wireless network problems.

• Similar to a Health Check Survey but conducted reactively in response to reported issues.
• Focuses on specific areas identified by users as problematic.
• Typically involves an on-site visit to investigate the issue.
• The need for a site visit depends on the nature of the symptoms and the availability of vendor tools like dashboard logs.

NEED Wi-Fi ADVICE? GET IN TOUCH TODAY

Whether you need advice about your current wireless network, or planning an upgrade, all you need to do is call us, drop us a line, or request a call back using the form provided.

Phone: 0345 1243 441

Email: sales@simplifyit.co.uk