Chapter 15 Radio Frequency Site Survey Fundamentals

• WLAN Site Survey Interview

• Documentation and reports

• Vertical market Considerations

Exam Essentials• Define the site survey interview.

– Be able to explain the importance of the interview process prior to the wireless site survey. Understand that the interview is for educating the customer and clearly defining all their wireless needs.

• Identify the questions necessary to determine capacity and coverage needs.– Understand the importance of proper capacity and coverage

planning. Define all the numerous considerations when planning for RF cell coverage, bandwidth, and throughput.

• Explain existing wireless network troubleshooting concerns. – Be able to explain the questions necessary to troubleshoot an

existing WLAN installation prior to conducting a secondary site survey.

Exam Essentials• Define infrastructure connectivity issues.

– Understand all the necessary questions that must be asked in order to guarantee proper integration of the WLAN into the existing wired infrastructure.

• Identify site survey documentation and forms. – Correctly identify all the documentation that must be

assembled and created prior to the site survey. Be familiar with all the information and documentation that is needed in the final deliverables.

• Explain vertical market considerations. – Understand the business requirements of different

vertical markets and how these requirements will alter the site survey and final deployment.

Site Surveys• Administrative perspective

– What do you need to know, and who do you need to talk to

• What preparation and document gathering needs to be done.

• Final reports for delivery

Pg 502

WLAN Site Survey Interview• Is a site survey needed

– YES

• Planning– Small locations are relatively easy– Large locations often require proper prep

• Interview is to help customer and technician sync expectations– So WLAN meets the mobility, coverage, and

capacity needsPg 502

Customer Briefing• Prepare customer for reality of WLAN

– More than plug and play– Explain advantages and limitations

• Explain bandwidth ratings vs. throughput– Half duplex

• RF signals and interference

Pg 502

Business Requirements• What is the purpose of the WLAN

– Applications needs/VoWiFi….• Different requirements

• Warehousing vs. Hospital– Different needs

Pg 503

Business Requirements• What applications will be used

• Who will be using the WLAN

• What types of devices will be connecting to the WLAN

Pg 503

Capacity and Coverage Requirements• What capacity is needed• What is the coverage area

– Everywhere??– Outdoors– Closets– Bathrooms

• Additional areas are additional costs– Hallways may need semidirectional rather

than dipole

Pg 504

Capacity and Coverage Requirements• Capacity Needs

– Plan for cell sizing– Colocation if high user density/high throughput needs

• Data applications– 12 to 15 users per AP

• User Density– How many users now– How many users in the future– Where are they located

Pg 504

Capacity and Coverage Requirements• Peak on/off use

– When will usage peak

• Existing Transmitters– Sources of interference

• Microwaves, cordless headsets, cordless phones, wireless devices, etc

• Mobile vs. Mobility– Mobile-Move from one location to another and

reconnect– Mobility-Seamless motion while staying connected

• roamingPg 504

Capacity and Coverage Requirements

• 802.11g (ERP) protection– Backward compatibility?

Pg 504

Existing Wireless Networks

• What about when you are fixing an existing network– Additional site survey

• Need to evaluate settings/ power/placement of existing APs, clients– Look for interference, hidden node, etc

Pg 506

Existing Wireless Networks• What are the current problems with the existing WLAN

– Get clear description

• Are there known sources of RF interference– Kitchen near AP, headsets, etc

• Are there any known coverage dead zones– Is there existing documentation

• What Equipment is currently installed– Technology version and vendor details– Security settings– Power

• Use site survey to adjust existing may fix problem

Pg 506

Infrastructure Connectivity

• Plan for good integration with wired network– Where/How will APs connect to infrastructure– Where is WLAN controller/ RADIUS server,

etc

• Network diagrams are often “secured” documents– May need an NDA

Pg 507

Infrastructure Connectivity

• Roaming

• Wiring Closets

• Antenna Structure

• Hubs/Switches

• PoE

Pg 507

Infrastructure Connectivity

• Segmentation

• Naming Convention

• User Management

• Infrastructure management

Pg 507

Security Expectations• Need to coordinate wireless security with

network management– Data privacy– Authentication, Authorization, Accounting

requirements

• Use of WIDS or WIPS– Rogue APs

• Encryption overhear needs to be part of plan– VPN, etc

• Be aware of other regulations– Health, finance, etc

Pg 509

Guest Access

• Do they need is

• Separate WVLAN?

Pg 510

Documents and Reports

• Need good documents– Up to date if possible

• Documents are used to create final report

• Customer Docs– Blueprints

• Can be used with software for survey

– Topographic Map• For outdoor connections

Pg 510

Documents and Reports

• Blueprints– Can be used with software for survey

• Topographic Map– For outdoor connections

Pg 510

Documents and Reports• Network Topology Map

– As stated before, understanding this is needed for planning AP placement and layer 3 boundaries

• Security credentials– For you to access physical locations

• Interview Checklist– Questions and docs to get

• Installation Checklist– Hardware placement, antenna type, power, etc

• Equipment checklist– What was used for the survey

Pg 510

Deliverables

• Documents/Materials in the report

• Purpose Statement

• Spectrum Analysis

• RF Coverage Analysis

• Hardware Placement and Configuration

• Application Analysis

Pg 512

Additional Reports• In addition to site survey, installation

recommendations can be made• Vendor Recommendations

– Particular product line• Implementation Diagrams

– Design diagram with AP placements• Bill of materials• Project Schedule and Costs• Security Solution recommendations• Wireless Policy Recommendations• Training Recommendations

Pg 513

Vertical Markets

• Outdoor Surveys– Weather constraints– National Electrical Manufacturers Association

(NEMA) enclosures– RF Regulations

• Aesthetics– Most businesses want APs out of sight– Also want them secured

Pg 514

Vertical Markets• Government

– Security

• Education– Multi OS environment

• Drivers

– Old buildings• RF Transmissions

• Healthcare– Other equipment in ISM range– RFID tags

Pg 514

Vertical Markets• Hotspots

– Mostly 2.4 Ghz

• Retail– Other equipment can cause interference– Racks and metal

• Warehouses– Racks and metal– Legacy deployments– Survey at peak times

• Inventory will affect propogation

Pg 514

Vertical Markets

• Manufacturing– Safety– Harsh Environments

• Multitenant Buildings– Other businesses and their equipment– Use 5 Ghz where you can

Pg 518

Exam Essentials• Define the site survey interview.

– Be able to explain the importance of the interview process prior to the wireless site survey. Understand that the interview is for educating the customer and clearly defining all their wireless needs.

• Identify the questions necessary to determine capacity and coverage needs.– Understand the importance of proper capacity and coverage

planning. Define all the numerous considerations when planning for RF cell coverage, bandwidth, and throughput.

• Explain existing wireless network troubleshooting concerns. – Be able to explain the questions necessary to troubleshoot an

existing WLAN installation prior to conducting a secondary site survey.

Exam Essentials• Define infrastructure connectivity issues.

– Understand all the necessary questions that must be asked in order to guarantee proper integration of the WLAN into the existing wired infrastructure.

• Identify site survey documentation and forms. – Correctly identify all the documentation that must be

assembled and created prior to the site survey. Be familiar with all the information and documentation that is needed in the final deliverables.

• Explain vertical market considerations. – Understand the business requirements of different

vertical markets and how these requirements will alter the site survey and final deployment.