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Connect802 Is the Recognized Leader in Predictive Modeling
and On-site Survey Consulting for Wireless LAN Site Surveys
- Virtual Wi-Fi Site Survey Services Using Predictive RF CAD Modeling and Simulation -

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Does the Predictive CAD Modeling System create a virtual Wi-Fi site survey in three dimensions?
Software that only considers two-dimensional space can not produce an accurate wi-fi site survey!
 
Does the virtual Wi-Fi Site Survey that's produced have coverage patterns that show up as concentric circular enclosed areas?
RF signals don't propagate in circular zones except in free space. If you see something that looks like a topographic map of a mountain, you're not seeing a accurate representation of the signal coverage for most virtual Wi-Fi site survey situations.
 
AirMagnet Planner is an excellent preliminary planning tool but it does not consider the environment in 3-dimensions and it does not take signal reflection into account. It is not possible to simulate the presence of a frequency hopping Bluetooth transmitter or the effect of an access point on another floor of a building.
Notice the circular coverage areas. Although the software is easy to use and provides a visual approach to those needing a quick predictive wi-fi site survey, the real strength of Ekahau Site Survey Pro comes in it's post-deployment use for location tracking and post-installation site survey verification.
 
Is the Predictive RF Modeling software limited to six or seven different types of construction materials?
An accurate virtual WiFi Site Survey can only be performed when a large library of specific construction materials can be assigned to individual partitions in a building.
 
   
     

  1. Start with a scaled floorplan. Get the blueprints and use these as the basis for any WiFi site survey project whether it's a manual site survey or a virtual Wi-Fi site survey.
  2. Visually inspect the facility. Either perform an on-site engagement to perform tests, calibrate the predictive RF CAD model, and identify unique obstructions, or combine digital photographs of the site with help from an on-site partner who can capture RF data for later analysis using tools like AirMagnet, NetStumbler, Cognio, AiroPeek, or Sniffer Wireless.
  3. Identify user areas. Be sure you differentiate those areas that require 802.11 coverage from those that don't. A Wi-Fi site survey that develops installation plans for an unnecessary are is not the way to produce a cost-effective design.
  4. Determine preliminary access point locations. Do NOT draw circles on a floorplan to estimate coverage zones. Access points don't create circular coverage patterns and a Wi-Fi wireless network design that is based on a fixed radius of coverage will not work for today's advanced wireless applications like Voice-over-IP and streaming video over WLAN.
  5. Verify access point locations. When you install the first access point, using your virtual Wi-Fi site survey as a guide, you must verify that the installation location provides the predicted level of coverage. If an RF CAD model is created as part of a virtual site survey (using the right predictive RF CAD modeling and simulation software like that from Motorola Wireless Valley Enterprise and LAN Planner) it is expected to be accurate to within +/- 3 dB. Often, the virtual RF CAD modeling software must be calibrated by on-site Wi-Fi signal strength, noise, and interference measurements to create the most accurate predictive model and virtual site survey results.

 

       
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