What Is Wireless Survey?

If you're feeling lost in the woods, don't worry. We've got you covered. Knowing what you're working with is essential as you're looking to get the most out of your wireless network. A wireless site survey is a crucial step in the planning process and can help you determine what kind of coverage and capacity you need and how well the network will perform in real-world conditions. The best way to start your wireless site survey is by evaluating the physical structures involved. For example, if trees or other buildings nearby could interfere with reception, this must be considered when designing your wireless network. An excellent wireless survey also considers coverage, capacity and overall quality of service. For example, if there are areas where users have trouble connecting to the network because they don't have access to enough bandwidth, this could lead to problems down the road when more people start using it at once (such as during peak hours). Like all good things, a wireless survey is best when it's done right. A wireless survey analyzes an area and determines what kind of wireless service can be provided and what kind of interference might happen there. For example, if you're looking to build a new building and want to know what kind of wireless coverage you can get in the space, this is where you'd start. Engineers look at intrusion or signal problems in different areas of the defined site. Other testing types involve different methodologies for signal strength and reception potential. Some professionals break down wireless surveys into three significant categories: passive, active and predictive. A passive survey deliberately tends to rely on the local network traffic to look at how signals move and where the access points are. An active survey can involve more actual logging of data transmission rates and time frames and look at packet transmission success rates. The third category, predictive survey, is based on a simulation or model of the environment and is more theoretical in looking at blueprints and other resources.