Wireless Site Surveys In Los Angeles & Southern California

Wireless Site Surveys In Los Angeles & Southern California

In today’s world, wireless technology is more important than ever before. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices, it’s essential for businesses to have a solid wireless network in place. Wireless technology advancements and the need for ever-increasing amounts of data have spurred businesses to reevaluate their Wi-Fi networks. One way to ensure that your Southern California business has the best possible wireless network is to conduct a wireless site survey.

Installing a wireless network is a systematic process that starts with understanding the site’s infrastructure and ends with a detailed post-installation report. A wireless site survey is an important step in this process, and it can save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Your business can use an inefficient or inadequate wireless network without a proper assessment.

What Is a Wireless Site Survey?

Before we get into how to conduct a wireless site survey, let’s first define what one is. A wireless site survey simply investigates an area to determine the best possible location for a wireless network. This investigation includes building materials, physical obstacles, and environmental interference. A wireless site survey aims to find the optimal location for access points, identify any potential interference, and create a heat map of signal coverage.

There are three basic types of wireless site surveys:

1. Passive Survey
2. Active Survey
3. Predictive Survey

A passive site survey investigates and analyzes an existing wireless network. This type of survey is best suited for small businesses or those with simple networks. An active site survey tests and collects data for a new or proposed wireless network. This type of survey is ideal for businesses planning to expand their wireless network or having difficulty with their current network. A predictive site survey creates a heat map of signal coverage for a proposed wireless network. This type of survey is ideal for businesses planning to install a new wireless network.

What Are the Expectations of a Wireless Site Survey?

The expectations of a wireless site survey vary depending on the survey’s type. A pre-deployment site survey is typically focused on assessing the viability of a potential deployment location, understanding the customer’s requirements, and producing a detailed report that can be used to plan and design the deployment.

In contrast, a post-deployment site survey is conducted after a wireless network has been deployed and is focused on verifying that the deployment meets the customer’s requirements and identifying areas where coverage or capacity may be deficient. Some common factors that should be considered when conducting a wireless site survey include:

• Radio frequency (RF) interference
• Environmental factors (e.g. weather, topography, building materials)
• Network architecture (e.g. access points, controller, switching)
• Client devices (e.g. laptops, smartphones, tablets)

An effective wireless site survey will consider all of these factors to produce accurate results. Each report should provide detailed information about SNR(signal to noise ratio), RSSI(Received Signal Strength Indicator), channels, and neighbor APs(Access Points) that can be used to understand the current state of the wireless network and identify areas for improvement.

After the survey has been completed, the collected data should be analyzed to identify areas where coverage or capacity may be deficient. In some cases, it may be necessary to adjust the location or configuration of access points in order to improve coverage. In other cases, additional access points may need to be deployed to meet the customer’s capacity requirements. Once the wireless network has been properly configured, it should be re-surveyed to verify that the changes have had the desired effect.

Businesses can expect the following information to be collected during a site survey:

• List of all detected access points, including MAC addresses, signal strength, and channel information
• List of all detected client devices, including MAC addresses and signal strength
• Information about the physical layout of the building, including a floor plan with the access point and client device locations marked
• Information about the network architecture, including a list of all access points and their configuration

How to Conduct a Wireless Site Survey in Seven Steps

1. Define the Survey Goals and Requirements: The first step in conducting a wireless site survey is to define the goals and requirements of the survey. This will help to determine the type of survey that needs to be conducted and the factors that need to be considered.
2. Obtain Floor Plans And Site Maps: The next step is to obtain floor plans and site maps of the area that will be surveyed. This will help to identify potential obstacles and areas of interest.
3. Conduct a Walk-through of the Building: Once the floor plans and site maps have been obtained, the next step is to conduct a walk-through of the building. This will help to familiarize yourself with the layout of the premises and identify any potential obstacles.
4. Network Infrastructure Connectivity: The next step is to assess any existing network infrastructure. This will help to determine the potential for interference and identify areas where coverage may be lacking.
5. Identify Potential Access Points: The next step is identifying potential access points, such as windows and doors. This will help determine the best locations and ensure adequate coverage.
6. Design and Install the Wireless Network: The next step is to design and install the wireless network. This will involve choosing the right equipment and configuring the network to meet the specific needs of your business.
7. Test and Evaluate the Wireless Network: Once the wireless network has been installed, the next step is to test and evaluate it. This will include diagnosing any current problems and assessing the network’s overall performance. A thorough test will ensure that the network is properly configured and adequate coverage.

How Generation IX Can Help With a Wireless Site Survey

A wireless site survey is exactly what it sounds like—a survey of a potential site to identify the optimal location for installing a wireless network. Wireless site surveys are important for several reasons, not the least of which is that they allow you to collect data that can be used to improve your business performance.

Generation IX can be your partner in conducting a wireless site survey. We can help you eliminate the guesswork from your wireless site survey and give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your business is supported by a well-designed and implemented wireless network.

Our team of experts can do the following:

• Document your current wireless network’s coverage and performance
• Design and install a new wireless network
• Optimize your existing wireless network
• Test and evaluate your wireless network’s performance

With the information we receive from a wireless site survey, we can provide you with the insights you need to make informed decisions about your business. Call Generation IX at (310) 477-4441 for a Wireless Site Survey for businesses in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and across LA and Orange County.