DTS Communications, Inc. is a leader in timely and accurate site surveys.  When setting up a new or extending onto a current wireless deployment there are a few steps that must be taken to offer successful site surveying techniques. 

 

1.      Obtain a diagram of the complete survey area in order to identify the potential radio frequency (RF) obstacles or holes.

2.      Visually inspect the facility to look for potential barriers or the propagation of RF signals and identify metal racks, paying special attention to any water holding devices.

3.      Identify activity levels of the user areas. Determine the specific amount of AP’s that will be needed.

4.      Determine preliminary access point (AP) locations. Document AP specifics; including power and wired network access, cell coverage, overlap of signals, channel selection, mounting locations, antenna type and alignment.

5.      Perform verifications of the AP locations. Testing equipment will be equivalent to the proposed networking solution. While the survey is performed, APs will be relocated and re-tested.  This ensures that a complete saturation of the area is accomplished with all power and transmit levels adjusted accordingly.

6.      Record the locations and data rates at outer boundaries. Log signal readings as accurately as possible. Complete final documentation of all above findings.

 

A radio frequency (RF) site survey is the first step in the deployment of a Wireless network and the most important step to ensure desired operation will be successful. A site survey is a task-by-task process by which the DTS Communications studies the facility to understand the exact RF behavior, RF coverage areas, RF interference and determines the appropriate placement of Wireless devices.

In a Wireless network, many issues can arise which can prevent the radio frequency (RF) signal from reaching all parts of the facility. Examples of RF issues include multi-path distortion, hidden node problems, and near/far issues. In order to address these, DTS Communications will find the regions where these issues occur. An accurate site survey will help do this by documenting and logging all actions taken.

Another area that a site survey helps defines the contours of RF coverage in a particular facility. It helps to discover regions where mulitpath distortion can occur, areas where RF interference is high and find solutions to eliminate such issues. A site survey that determines the RF coverage area in a facility also helps to choose the number of Wireless devices that a customer will need to meet its business requirements.  To many AP’s is the most common problem for wireless networks problems, simply removing AP’s at a given location can cure most wireless problems in most instances.

A proper site survey provides detailed information that addresses coverage, interference sources, equipment placement, power considerations and wiring requirements. The site survey documentation serves as a guide for network design and for the installation and verification of the Wireless communication infrastructure.

DTS Communications, Inc. provides state-of-the-art telecommunication equipment, network design and installation. We specialize in WiFi mesh networks for private, government and municipal institutions. Our highly skilled engineers and attentive sales team look forward to helping your company advance in technology through a secure and intelligent wireless solution.

Data Rates	Minimum Cell Edge Signal Strength (Data)	Minimum SNR  (Data)	Minimum Cell Edge Signal Strength (Voice)	Minimum SNR (Voice)
54	-71	25	-	-
36	-73	18	-	-
24	-77	12	-	-
12 or 11	-82	10	-67	25
6 or 5.5	-89	8	-74	23
2	-91	6	-76	21
1	-94	4	-79	19